Lesson: God supports those who pursue Him His way and opposes those who attempt to take short cuts to accomplish His mission. Text(s): 2 Samuel chapters 2-4; Luke 21:1-4; 18: 9-14; 10:29-37; John 13:5; Phil. 2:3-8 Ice-Breakers: (opening questions to ask the members of the group) 1. Tell the group about a time you took a shortcut and things didn’t work out so well (you may recall Geno’s story about the pasture and the bull!) 2. Why do you think God would oppose those who would take a short cut? Background: At the beginning of 2 Samuel chapter 2, David is in Ziklag asking God what to do in light of the recent death on the battlefield of Saul and Jonathan. God tells David to go up the Hebron. There the leaders of the southern tribe of Judah anoint him their king in place of Saul. Meanwhile in the north Abner, general of Saul’s now re-grouping army, places Saul’s remaining son, Ish-Bosheth, on the throne of Israel. War ensues between those loyal to the house of Saul and those loyal to David. The first verse of chapter three tells us that the civil war lasted a long time and David grew stronger while Ish-Bosheth and Abner grew weaker. Abner, the power behind the throne in the north is murdered in revenge for the earlier slaying of David’s nephew Asahel. When this occurs Ish-Bosheth and all Israel are afraid. Two militia leaders in Abner’s army rise up and kill Ish-Bosheth and take his head to David, thinking they will be rewarded. David executes them for the murder of Ish-Bosheth. Once again, people around David misunderstand his commitment to Israel’s God and His ways. Digging Deeper: - Ish-Bosheth’s reign was illegitimate because God did not call him to rule Israel. David’s reign was legit because of God’ call. What do you think Abner had in mind by supporting the reign of Saul’s last remaining son as king over Israel? What was the shortcut that they took which was outside God’s will?
- Why do you think Recab and Baanah misunderstood David’s reaction to their murder of Ish-Bosheth? (They were obviously expecting to be rewarded for easing the way for David to ascend to the throne of Israel). (See 2 Samuel 4:5-11)
- Eugene Peterson in his book about David, Leap Over A Wall, calls Joab, Abishai, Asahel, Abner, Recab and Baanah all ‘Boneheads’ for their various efforts to clear the way for David to attain the throne of Israel. Discuss how each of their efforts made it more difficult for David to gain the throne, and not less so.
- Why do you think David was more patient than the people around him, when it came to waiting for God to clear the way for his ascendancy?
- Geno used three texts in Luke’s gospel to illustrate the point that there are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity and the growing ability to serve Christ Jesus and His mission His way. Break your group into three sub-groups and have them read one of the texts and talk about the contrasts Jesus draws between those who take the shortcut and those who have learned to extend themselves in service to God and others. (21:1-4; 18:9-14; 10:29-37)
Wrap Up: - In groups of two or three share how you have been tempted to take a shortcut in your service to God. Pray for one another to have the strength and patience to continue in the more difficult path of righteousness.
- Geno talked about the fact that, like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) who stooped to help the beaten man in his path, Jesus also stooped to serve all of us and gave us such an example and instructions to so serve one another (John 13:5). Ask God for a vision for how you (and your group) can serve someone outside your immediate circle.
Reaching Out: Geno suggested that the way to join God in His mission in the world was to serve others in a sacrificial manner in order to gain a legitimate platform from which to share the Good News about Jesus. Take some time to consider how you might join God’s work in the life of someone in your life-space. Pray over that person and ask God for insight. |
