Bible Readings 2024, Week 17; Apr. 22-28
April 22; 1 Sa 30-31; Ps 18, 121, 123. (Bonus reading Ps. 113).
1. 1 Sam.30: 1; "Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire."
Who were the Amalekites?
2. 1 Sam. 31:10;
"They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan."
What was "Beth-shan?" Why was it essential to the Philistines?
3. Ps. 18
What is the relationship between Ps. 18 and 1 Sam. 31?
April 23; Ps 124-125, 128-130; 2 Sa 1-2. (Bonus reading Ps. 114).
1. 2 Sam.1:18;
"He said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar."
What was the Book of Jashar?
2. 2 Sam. 2:1-4;
"After this David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up." David said, "To which shall I go up?" And he said, "To Hebron." So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When they told David, "It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,"
Why was Hebron important in the life of King David?
3. Ps. 129;
"Ps. 129 speaks of the story of Israel and God's goodness to them. How is this Psalm (Ps.129) speaks also of the story of David from the time God chose him to be king over Israel?
April 24; 2 Sam. 3-4; Ps 6, 8-9. (Bonus reading Ps. 115).
1. 2 Sam. 3:12;
"And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you."
Who was Abner?
2. 2 Sam.4:1-5;
"When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin; the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day). Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day, they came to the house of Ish-bosheth as he was taking his noonday rest."
Who was Johnathan's son? Why was he lame?
3. Ps. 6?
"How does Ps. 6 speak of David's situation with King Saul?
April 25: Psalms 10, 14, 16, 19, 21; 1 Chr. 1. (Bonus reading: Psalms 116).
1. Ps. 19:7-14;
“he law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes, the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold,even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Why was this Psalm essential to the generations in 1 Chr. 1?
2. 1 Chr. 1:42;
“The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran."
The book of first Chronicles starts with the genealogy beginning from Adam. The first ten chapters of 1 Chr. bring us all the way from Adam to the death of king Saul. 1 Chronicles 11piralel with 2 Sam.5.
Why was it essential for the author of the book of Chronicles to start his book with this genealogy?
3. Ps. 10:1;
"Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"
When did David sing this song?
April 26; 1 Chr. 2; Ps 43-45, 49. (Bonus reading Ps. 117).
1. 1 Chr. 2:3-4;
"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death. His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all."
Where in the book of Genesis do we find this story?
2. 1 Chr. 2:12-16;
"Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse. Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. And their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three."
How was David related to the three sons of Zeruiah? How did David use their help in his kingdom?
3. Ps. 49;
"Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me. For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"
How does this passage speak of David's struggle with King Saul?
April 27; Ps 84-85, 87; 1 Chr. 3-5. (Bonus reading Ps. 118).
1. 1 Chr. 3:1-4;
"These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second, Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite, the third, Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah; six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months. And he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem."
How many years did David rule from Hebron?
2. 1 Chr. 4:9-11;
"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked. Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, fathered Mehir, who fathered Eshton."
Who was Jabez? How did God change the meaning of the name Jabez?
3. 1 Chr. 5:2;
"Though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph).
Who was the chief that came from Judah?
April 28; Ps 73, 77-78. (Bonus reading Ps. 119).
1. Ps. 28;
In 2 Sam.4&5, we read the inauguration of David in Hebron as king of Israel. How is Ps. 28 suitable to be David's prayer at the beginning of his rule as king of Israel?
2. Ps. 73
Who was Asaph? Why do we read Ps. 73 after the genealogy of 1 Chr.1-5?
3. Ps. 77-78
Ps. 78:70-72;
"He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand."
How is Psalms 77-78 fit with 2 Sam.4? Please refer to Ps. 78:70-72.