December 17, 2023 – 2 Samuel 5 – 6

Lesson Date: December 17, 2023

Focal Scripture Passage: 2 Samuel 5:1-12; 6:1-17

AIM: To lead students to discover some costs of carelessness in David’s life, and to encourage them to be careful to obey God in every area of their lives.

Before class: Read the notes on 2 Samuel 5 – 6 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Careless” on the board.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the word “Careless” written on the board.  Ask: “What does it mean to be careless?” (it means to be unconcerned, inattentive, or take a casual approach to a task).

Tell the class that carelessness is the cause of many accidents.  Explain that tens of thousands of people have died due to distracted driving, such as texting, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, or even eating while driving.  Tell them that carelessness is also the cause of many workplace accidents, especially around dangerous machinery.

Ask: “Why do we become careless, inattentive, or casual in our duties?” (often it is because of familiarity; in other words, we have done the same task, such as driving, so many times that we think we can get by without paying close attention).

State that just as we must not be careless when we drive or operate machinery, we must also guard against carelessness in our spiritual lives.

Tell the class the title of today’s lesson is Costs of Carelessness.  Tell them as we study 2 Samuel 5 – 6, we will discover some costs of carelessness in David’s life, and examine ourselves for evidence of spiritual carelessness.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are studying of the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Selfish Ambition; we learned about some people who didn’t care who they hurt as long as they could achieve their goals, and what their selfish ambition cost them).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verses (Galatians 6:7-8).
2. A Promise Finally Fulfilled.
   • Remind the class that David was king of Judah (2 Sam. 2:4), ruling from Hebron (locate on the Map).
   • Read 2 Samuel 5:1-3.
   • Tell the class that after Ish-bosheth’s death (2 Sam. 4:7), the leaders of Israel came to David at Hebron.
   • Ask: “What did they do there?” (anointed David as king over all of Israel and Judah).
   • Explain the following:
     • God rejected Saul from being king (1 Sam. 15:23-28).
     • God chose David to replace Saul as king (1 Sam. 16:1, 12-13).
     • Saul ruthlessly hunted and sought to kill David.
     • After years of fighting and being pursued, David was finally king of all Israel.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 5:4-5.
   • Summarize: God kept His promise to David, by causing all the tribes of Judah and Israel to finally accept David as king.
3. Established by God.
   • Tell the students that the country was finally united, but David needed a new capital city centrally located between the north and the south.
   • Read 2 Samuel 5:6-10.
   • Direct the students’ attention to the location of Jerusalem on the Map and the inset map of Jerusalem at the time of David.
   • Explain the following:
     • The Israelites had never conquered and claimed the city of Jerusalem.
     • Centuries earlier, Joshua led the Israelites to take the land, but they never drove out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem.
     • Jerusalem was well defended: it was built on a high hill and protected by an impregnable wall.
     • David and his men conquered Jerusalem by sneaking in through the tunnel that supplied water to the city.
     • After capturing Jerusalem, David strengthened the city’s defenses.
   • Ask: “What does verse 10 say about David?” (he grew strong and powerful, because “the Lord God of hosts was with Him”).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 5:11-12.
   • Tell the class that King Hiram of Tyre (locate on the Map) sent workmen and supplies to build King David a beautiful and impressive palace in Jerusalem.
   • Ask: “According to verse 12, what did David realize?” (that the Lord had established him as king and exalted his kingdom).
   • Stress the fact that God blessed David greatly: he was king of all Israel, he had a strong and well-defended new capital city (that came to be known as the city of David), and he even had a palace from which to rule.
   • Tell the students in verses 17-25 the Philistines attacked, but David twice sought guidance from the Lord, who gave Israel great victories.
   • Summarize: After becoming king of all Israel, David was blessed and established by God.
4. Costs of Carelessness.
   • Ask: “When are we more likely to be careless, when we’re facing difficulties and uncertainty, or when everything is going our way?” (when everything is going our way).
   • Read 2 Samuel 6:1-2.
   • Explain the following:
     • The Ark of the Covenant was the gold-covered box containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments; it represented God’s presence.
     • Years earlier, the Ark had been captured by the Philistines.
     • God sent terrible plagues upon the Philistines, so they sent the Ark back to Israel.
     • The Ark was in the house of Abinadab in Baale of Judah (an ancient name for the Israelite town of Kiriath-jearim; locate on the Map) for twenty years (1 Sam. 7:1-2).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 6:3-5.
   • Ask: “How did they transport the Ark?” (they placed it on a new ox cart, driven by Abinadab’s sons, Uzzah and Ahio).
   • Ask: “Is that the way the Israelites were supposed to transport the Ark?” (no, the Ark was equipped with long poles that went through rings at its corners so it could be carried by Levites; see Ex. 25:12-14; Num. 7:6-9).
   • Tell the class that the ox cart was the way the Philistines returned the Ark to Israel (1 Sam. 6:7); it was man’s way, but not God’s way.
   • Ask: “According to verse 5, what were David and the people doing as they transported the Ark?” (celebrating, playing music “before the Lord”).
   • Read 2 Samuel 6:6-7.
   • Ask: “What happened when the Ark rocked on the cart?” (Abinadab’s son Uzzah put his hand on the Ark to steady it).
   • Ask: “What happened to Uzzah?” (God killed him on the spot).
   • Tell the class God had warned that the penalty for touching the Ark was death (Num. 4:15).
   • Read 2 Samuel 6:8-11.
   • Tell the students that what started out as a national celebration turned into a deadly disaster.
   • Ask: “Why do you think David tried to transport the Ark the wrong way? Why do you think he didn’t ask the priests how to transport the Ark?”  Allow time for some responses.
   • Tell the class David grew careless: even though he regularly asked God for guidance about how to fight his enemies, he didn’t bother to ask God (or the priests) how to transport the most prized religious artifact in Israel.
   • Ask: “What were the costs of David’s carelessness?” (Uzzah died, David and the people were discouraged, and Israel still did not have their Ark in their capital city of Jerusalem).
   • Stress the fact that carelessness can be very costly!
   • Summarize: After experiencing God’s blessings, David was careless in his attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, resulting in death and discouragement.
5. Blessings Through Obedience.
   • Tell the class that David was upset and fearful, so he left the Ark in the home of Obed-edom for three months.
   • Read 2 Samuel 6:12.
   • Ask: “What did David learn?” (that God was blessing Obed-edom because the Ark was in his house).
   • Ask: “What did David do?” (brought the Ark up to Jerusalem, the “city of David”).
   • Ask: “Do you think David was more careful in the way they transported the Ark this time?” (yes).
   • Tell the students that 1 Chronicles 15:2 says: “Then David said, None ought to carry the Ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the Ark of God, and to minister unto Him forever.”
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 6:13-15.
   • Ask: “What does verse 13 reveal about how they transported the Ark this time?” (the Levites carried it).
   • Ask: “According to the last part of verse 13, what did they do as they transported the Ark?” (after carrying it a mere six paces out of Obed-edom’s house, they stopped to offer animal sacrifices; see also 1 Chron. 15:26).
   • Tell the class that David and the people brought the Ark into the city with great celebration.
   • Explain that David was wearing a fine linen garment (like the priests and Levites wore; see 1 Chron. 15:27), rather than his royal robes.
   • Read 2 Samuel 6:16-17.
   • Ask: “How did David’s wife Michal (Saul’s daughter) feel toward him?” (“she despised him in her heart;” she probably resented David’s love for and devotion to the Lord).
   • Ask: “Where did they put the Ark?” (in a tent David had prepared for it).
   • Summarize: When David was careful to transport the Ark of the Covenant the way God prescribed, he and the people of Israel were blessed.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the class that the title of today’s lesson is Costs of Carelessness.  Briefly review the lesson by asking: “What were the costs of David’s carelessness?” (Uzzah died, David was afraid, and the people were discouraged).

Direct everyone’s attention once again to the word “Careless” written on the board.  Ask: “What’s the opposite of careless?” (careful).  Change the word “Careless” on the board into the word “Careful.”

Ask: “What does it mean to be careful?” (to be alert, diligent, meticulous, and cautious).  Ask: “Do you think God cares how we serve Him?  Do you think it matters how we do things, as long as we are sincere?” (yes).

Read 1 Corinthians 14:40, which says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

Tell the students we have discovered some of the costs of carelessness in David’s life, and now we must examine ourselves for evidence of spiritual carelessness.

Ask: “Are you careful to read your Bible and pray every day?  Are you careful to attend church every week?  Are you careful to bring your tithes and offerings to the Lord?  Are you careful to obey God’s commands, or do you sometimes follow the world’s example?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to privately examine themselves for signs of spiritual carelessness.  Tell them to confess their sins and commit to be more careful in the ways they serve and obey God.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize 1 Corinthians 14:40.  Urge them to be careful in their spiritual life this week.