The Life of King David
The Life of King David
31 studies, in the order they were taught. All series
Saul Rejected, a New King Needed
1 Samuel 15
Starting a study of David. King Saul disobeys God's clear command and makes excuses, so God rejects him as king. Partial obedience is still disobedience.
God Looks at the Heart
1 Samuel 16:1–12
God sends Samuel to Jesse's family to anoint a new king. He passes over the impressive older sons and chooses David, because God looks at the heart.
David Anointed and Saul Tormented
1 Samuel 16:13–23
God's Spirit comes powerfully on young David when Samuel anoints him, and leaves Saul. David enters Saul's service as a harp player who calms the troubled king.
David and Goliath
1 Samuel 17
A teenage shepherd faces the giant Goliath, whom the whole army fears. David trusts God, not armor or size, and wins the battle in the Lord's name.
Jonathan's Friendship and Saul's Jealousy
1 Samuel 18
David's fame makes King Saul jealous, while Jonathan becomes his closest friend. Great friendships rest on a shared faith, and success tests the heart.
David on the Run from Saul
1 Samuel 19–21
Saul tries to kill David, but Jonathan, Michal and God's protection help him escape. David becomes a fugitive and must learn to rely on God.
David Loses His Crutches
1 Samuel 22
Hiding in the cave of Adullam, David has lost the people he leaned on, and he gathers a band of troubled men. God removes our crutches to teach us to rely on him alone.
Overcoming Obstacles on the Run
1 Samuel 23
David keeps fleeing Saul while the Ziphites betray his hiding place. Jonathan visits to strengthen him, and David writes Psalm 54, trusting God to overcome the obstacles.
David Spares Saul in the Cave
1 Samuel 24
David has the chance to kill Saul in a cave but only cuts his robe. He chooses mercy and leaves justice to God, even when he has been wronged.
David's Faith in the Valleys
Psalm 13
A guest teacher looks at David's faith through hard times. In Psalm 13 David cries out and wonders how long God will wait, yet ends up trusting in God's love.
Abigail and Foolish Nabal
1 Samuel 25
David nearly takes revenge on the foolish Nabal, until Nabal's wise wife Abigail steps in. She stops him from needless bloodshed, and we should accept correction.
David Among the Philistines
1 Samuel 26–30
David spares Saul a second time, then flees to the Philistines and loses his faith for a while. When Ziklag is burned, he turns back to God and wins back everything.
The Death of Saul
1 Samuel 31
Saul and his sons die in battle with the Philistines. Chronicles says Saul died because he was unfaithful and did not seek the Lord, and David mourns in 2 Samuel 1.
David's Lament and Rise to Judah
2 Samuel 1:17–3:1
David grieves for Saul and Jonathan in a song, and then asks God where to go. He becomes king over Judah, and he trusts God to bring the kingdom in his time.
Abner, Joab and a Kingdom in Turmoil
2 Samuel 3–4
As Saul's general Abner turns to David, Joab murders him, and Saul's son is killed too. David refuses to profit from the killings and so keeps his integrity.
David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
2 Samuel 5–6
David becomes king of all Israel and takes Jerusalem. His first try to bring the ark home goes wrong, and God must be approached his way.
God's Promise to David
2 Samuel 7
David wants to build God a house, but God says he will build David's house instead. He promises a king from David's line whose throne lasts forever.
A King Who Serves Justly
2 Samuel 8
David wins battles on every side, and God gives him victory. He rules with justice for all the people, because he answers to God and not to man.
David and Bathsheba
2 Samuel 10–11
David stays home during war, sees Bathsheba, and sins with her, then has her husband Uriah killed. Sin starts with small choices, so we guard our hearts.
Trouble in David's Family
2 Samuel 13
David's son Amnon wrongs his half-sister Tamar, and her brother Absalom plots revenge. Unaddressed sin and anger spread through a family and bring pain.
Absalom Returns and Plots
2 Samuel 14–15:12
David lets Absalom come home, and Absalom wins people's loyalty to steal the throne. In the middle of the storm, David is reminded who God says he is.
David Flees Jerusalem
2 Samuel 15:13–37
Absalom's revolt forces David to leave Jerusalem. Loyal friends such as Ittai follow him, and David trusts God to decide his future as he climbs the Mount of Olives.
Responding to Criticism
2 Samuel 16:5–14
A man named Shimei curses David and throws stones at him. David stays calm, treats the criticism as possibly true, and trusts God, showing how to respond when criticized.
Ahithophel's Advice and Hushai's Loyalty
2 Samuel 16:15–17:23
David's friend Hushai joins Absalom to undermine him, and Absalom must choose between two plans. God works behind the scenes to protect his chosen king.
Absalom's Army and a Father's Grace
2 Samuel 17:24–18:5
Absalom gathers an army to chase David, who gives orders to go easy on his son. Psalm 103 shows a father's grace is a picture of God's.
The Death of Absalom
2 Samuel 18:6–19:8
Absalom dies in battle, and David grieves deeply for his rebel son. Absalom chased his own wishes and is remembered for it, while a good name is worth more.
Shimei's Apology and Coming Home
2 Samuel 19:15–23
As David returns, the man who cursed him, Shimei, hurries to apologize. His quick, honest apology gives a model for saying sorry, and David's mercy points to God's.
Mephibosheth and Barzillai
2 Samuel 19:24–40
Returning to Jerusalem, David meets Saul's grandson Mephibosheth and old Barzillai, who had supported him. Their stories show loyalty, gratitude and knowing when to step back.
Sheba Stirs Up Division
2 Samuel 19:41–20:2
Israel and Judah argue over David, and a troublemaker named Sheba stirs up a revolt. David needs wisdom to keep the nation united and deal with the trouble.
The Famine and the Gibeonites
2 Samuel 21:1–14
A three-year famine strikes, and David seeks the Lord. It is because Saul broke Israel's old promise to the Gibeonites, so David works to make it right.
David's Last Days
1 Chronicles 28
The final study on David looks at his death. He served God's purpose in his own generation, and he is reminded that death is certain, so we should live well.