Bible Study – Book Outlines (10): 2 Samuel

Chs.1-12 David’s Success – Growth and Foundation of the Kingdom – His Triumphs

• Chs.1-5:4 David’s Rise
  • The Charitable Eulogy (ch.1)
  • The Cleavage in the Kingdom (ch.2)
  • The Conflicts in the Kingdom (ch.3)
  • The Cruelty (ch.4)
  • The Crowning (ch.5:1-4)
• Chs.5:5-10 David’s Reign
  • The Capital City Established (ch.5)
  • The Centrality of the Ark Established (ch.6)
  • The Covenant Established (ch.7)
  • The Conquests Expanding (chs.8-10)
• Chs.11-12 David’s Ruin
  • His Crimes (ch.11)
  • The Consequences (ch.12)

Chs.13-24 David’s Sorrows – Grief and Folly of the King – His Tears

• Chs.13-21 Sowing and Reaping
  • Problems Within the Family (chs.13-18)
  • Problems Among His Followers (chs.19-20)
  • Problems Related to a Famine (ch.21)
• Chs.22-23 Singing and Rewarding
  • His Hymn of Praise (ch.22)
  • His Homage to God (ch.23:1-7)
  • His Honor for His Mighty Men (ch.23:8-39)
• Ch.24 Sinning and Repenting
  • The Pride Which Fostered It
  • The Plague Which Followed It
  • The Providence Which Brought Fruit from It

Three things in 2 Samuel that have great significance:

• The Purchase of the threshing floor, the place of the Temple, which has national consequence
• The Establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which has international consequence
• The Davidic Covenant, which has eternal consequences

Consider:

• 2 Samuel begins with an elegy, or praise, for Saul and Jonathan; it ends in chapter 22 with an expression of praise for God’s goodness.
• 1 Samuel related David’s sorrows because of faithfulness to God; 2 Samuel relates his sorrows because of his failure before God.

Lessons:

• The virtue of patience, waiting on God for unity (chs.1-4)
• The vileness of sin (chs.11-12)
• The vital importance of the Davidic Covenant
• The value of lives lived in devotion to David (ch.23)