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Post by Admin on Apr 30, 2022 18:31:56 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Apr 30, 2022 18:48:57 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Apr 30, 2022 18:58:39 GMT -5
16-22 MAY MW [PS 67-75] 1. Why could David call Jonathan “my brother”? ( 2 Sam 1:26) "“Brother” is also applied to those united in a general cause and having similar aims and purposes. For example, King Hiram of Tyre called King Solomon his brother, not simply because he was an equal in rank and position but also perhaps because of mutual interests in supplying timbers and other things for the temple. (1Ki 9:13; 5:1-12) “Look! How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” David wrote, implying that it is not blood relations alone that make for peace and unity between fleshly brothers. (Ps 133:1) In fact, mutual affection and interest, not common parentage, prompted David to call Jonathan his brother. (2Sa 1:26) Companions having similar natures and dispositions, even when such are bad, are properly called brothers.—Pr 18:9." [ it-1 369 par 2][/ul] 23-29 MAY MW [PS 76-84] 2. What do we learn from David’s reaction to Jehovah’s wrath? ( 2 Sam 6:8, 9) "David as king had to bear some responsibility for this. His reaction shows that even those who have a good relationship with Jehovah can occasionally react badly to trialsome situations. First David became angry. Then he grew afraid. (2 Samuel 6:8, 9) His trusting relationship with Jehovah was severely tested. Here was an occasion when seemingly he failed to throw his burden on Jehovah, when he did not follow his commands. Might that be the situation with us sometimes? Do we ever blame Jehovah for problems that result because we ignore his instructions?—Proverbs 19:3" [ w96 4/1 29 par 1][/ul] 30-05 JUIN MW [PS 85-93] 3. How did David’s defeat of the Moabites fulfill prophecy? ( 2 Sam 8:2) "Balaam’s Prophecy. It was before the Israelites entered the Promised Land that the prophet Balaam said to Moab’s King Balak: “Do come, let me advise you what this people [Israel] will do to your people afterward in the end of the days. . . . A star will certainly step forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will indeed rise out of Israel. And he will certainly break apart the temples of Moab’s head and the cranium of all the sons of tumult of war.” (Nu 24:14-17) In the initial fulfillment of this prophecy, the “star” proved to be King David, the subduer of the Moabites. (2Sa 8:2) Evidently, therefore, in that fulfillment of this particular prophecy, “the end of the days” began with David’s becoming king. Since David foreshadowed Jesus as Messianic King, the prophecy would also apply to Jesus at the time when he subdues his enemies.—Isa 9:7; Ps 2:8, 9." [ it-2 206 par 2][/ul] 06-12 JUIN MW [PS 94-103] 4. Why were Hanun’s actions such an insult to Israelite men? ( 2 Sam 10:4, 5) "Among many ancient peoples of the East, including the Israelites, a beard was cherished as an evidence of manly dignity. God’s law to Israel prohibited the cutting off of the “sidelocks,” the hair between the ear and the eye, and the extremity of the beard. (Le 19:27; 21:5) This was doubtless because among some pagans it was a religious practice." [ it-1 266][/ul]
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2022 6:07:30 GMT -5
13-19 JUNE MW [PS 104-112] 5. What are some reasons why Jehovah did not have David and Bath-sheba put to death? ( 2 Sam 12:13) "Jehovah was watching, however, and uncovered the whole reprehensible matter. If Jehovah had permitted the case involving David and Bath-sheba to be handled by human judges under the Mosaic Law, both of the wrongdoers would have been put to death, and of course, the unborn offspring of their adultery would have died with the mother. (De 5:18; 22:22) However, Jehovah dealt with the case himself and showed mercy to David because of the Kingdom covenant (2Sa 7:11-16), no doubt because David himself had shown mercy (1Sa 24:4-7; compare Jas 2:13) and because of repentance that God observed on the part of the wrongdoers. (Ps 51:1-4) But they did not escape all punishment. By the mouth of the prophet Nathan, Jehovah pronounced: “Here I am raising up against you calamity out of your own house.”—2Sa 12:1-12." [ it-1 590 par 1] 20-26 JUNE MW [PS 113-121] 6. What does Absalom’s example teach us about true beauty? ( 2 Sam 14:25, 26) "By way of contrast, consider Absalom, one of David’s sons. He turned out to be an undesirable man in spite of his enviable appearance. The Bible says of him: “Now compared with Absalom there proved to be no man so beautiful in all Israel as to be praised so much. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there proved to be no defect in him.” (2 Samuel 14:25) However, Absalom’s ambition impelled him to rebel against his own father and usurp the throne. He even violated his father’s concubines. As a result, Absalom incurred divine wrath and suffered a painful death.—2 Samuel 15:10-14; 16:13-22; 17:14; 18:9, 15. Do you feel drawn to Absalom? Of course not. All in all, he was a repulsive individual. His outstanding physical beauty did not compensate for his arrogance and disloyalty, nor did it prevent his ruin. On the other hand, the Bible contains many examples of wise, appealing people about whom nothing is said of their physical appearance. Evidently, what mattered most was their inner beauty." [ g04 12/22 8-9] 27-03 JULY MW [PS 122-130] 7. What does David’s rash decision teach us? ( 2 Sam 16:4) "As individuals, we may also become victims of injustice because half-truths or incomplete information is circulated about us. Consider the example of King David and Mephibosheth. David showed generosity and kindness to Mephibosheth, returning to him all the land of his grandfather Saul. (2 Sam. 9:6, 7) Later, however, David received a negative report about Mephibosheth. Without verifying the information, David decided to strip Mephibosheth of all his property. (2 Sam. 16:1-4) When David finally spoke with him, David recognized his error and restored to Mephibosheth a share of the property. (2 Sam. 19:24-29) But this injustice could have been avoided had David taken the time to get the facts instead of rashly acting on incomplete information." [ w18.08 6 par 11]
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Post by Admin on May 23, 2022 12:03:27 GMT -5
04-10 JULY MW [PS 131-140] 8. How can we draw strength from Mephibosheth’s example? ( 2 Sam 19:24-30) "If you live with limitations and feel that you are misunderstood, you may be able to draw strength from the example of Mephibosheth. (2 Sam. 4:4) He had to deal with being infirm, and he was misjudged by King David. Mephibosheth did nothing to bring these trials on himself. Yet, he did not allow himself to become negative; he appreciated the positive things in his life. He was thankful for the kindness David had shown him in the past. (2 Sam. 9:6-10) So when David misjudged him, Mephibosheth saw the complete picture. He did not allow David’s mistake to make him bitter. And he did not blame Jehovah for what David had done. Mephibosheth focused on what he could do to support Jehovah’s appointed king. (2 Sam. 16:1-4; 19:24-30) Jehovah had Mephibosheth’s excellent example recorded in His Word for our benefit.—Rom. 15:4" [ w20.04 30 par 19] 11-17 JULY MW [PS 141-150] 9. What lessons can we draw from this account? ( 2 Sam 21:15-16) " Once again there was war between the Phi·lisʹtines and Israel.+ So David and his servants went down and fought the Phi·lisʹtines, but David became exhausted. 16 A descendant of the Rephʹa·im+ named Ishʹbi-beʹnob, whose copper spear weighed 300 shekels*+ and who was armed with a new sword, intended to strike David down. 17 At once A·bishʹai+ the son of Ze·ruʹiah came to his aid+ and struck the Phi·lisʹtine down and put him to death. At that time the men of David swore this oath to him: “You must not go out with us to battle anymore!+ You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel" [ w13 1/15 31 par 14] 18-24 JULY MW [PS 141-150] 10. How did Jehovah’s humility make David great? ( 2 Sam 21:15-16) "God’s example of humility had a tremendous effect on the psalmist David. He sang to Jehovah: “You will give me your shield of salvation, and it is your humility that makes me great.” (2 Sam. 22:36) David attributed any greatness he had in Israel to Jehovah’s humility—to God’s condescending, or humbling himself, to pay attention to him. (Ps. 113:5-7) Is it any different with us? In the way of qualities, abilities, and privileges, what do any of us have that we “did not receive” from Jehovah? (1 Cor. 4:7) The person who conducts himself as a lesser one is “great” in that he becomes more valuable as a servant of Jehovah. (Luke 9:48, ftn.) Let us reflect on how this is so." [ w12 11/15 17 par 7] 25-31 JULY MW [PS 141-150] 11. Why did David refuse to drink the water? ( 2 Sam 21:15-16) "David had such a deep respect for God’s law on life and blood that on this occasion, he refrained from doing what even resembled a violation of that law. We must cultivate such an attitude toward all of God’s commands." [ w05 5/15 19 par 6]
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Post by Admin on Jul 25, 2022 11:01:26 GMT -5
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