January 7, 2024 – 2 Samuel 7 – 10

Lesson Date: January 7, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: 2 Samuel 7:1-16; 9:1-8

AIM: To lead students to examine promises made by God and by David to help them determine what makes promises believable, and to encourage them to believe and act on God’s promises.

Before class: Read the notes on 2 Samuel 7 – 10 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Promise” on the board.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the word “Promise” written on the board.  Ask: “What is a promise?” (a vow or pledge to do something).

Ask: “Has anyone ever made a promise to you and then kept that promise?” (yes).  Ask a few volunteers to tell about a promise someone kept to them.  Ask: “How do you feel when someone does exactly what they promised?” (pleased and willing to trust that person in the future).

Ask: “Are there some people you believe if they make a promise to you, but others you might not believe?” (yes).  Ask: “What makes the difference?” (the believability of a promise is based upon the character and trustworthiness of the person making the promise).  Tell the class that some people simply cannot be trusted while others are always as good as their word.

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is Promises.  Tell them as we study 2 Samuel 7 and 9, we will learn about some promises God made to David and a promise David made to a friend.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are studying the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Marriage – Man’s Way or God’s Way?; we examined David’s family life to see if he followed God’s plan for marriage or the world’s customs).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (Eph. 5:31).
2. David Wanted to Build a Temple.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 7:1-3.
   • Ask: “According to verse 1, what were King David’s circumstances at this time?” (he was king, he was sitting in his palace, and the Lord had given him rest from his enemies).
   • Tell the class David spoke to the prophet Nathan.
   • Ask: “According to verse 2, what did David say to Nathan?” (that he lived in a magnificent palace, while the Ark of God was housed in a tent).
   • Ask: “What do you think David wanted to do?” (build a permanent Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant).
   • Ask: “What did Nathan tell David?” (go ahead and do it because the Lord is with you).
   • Read 2 Samuel 7:4-5a.
   • Ask: “What happened that night?” (the word of the Lord came to Nathan, with a message he was to deliver to David).
   • Read 2 Samuel 7:5b-10.
   • Explain the following:
     • The Lord asked rhetorically if David should build Him a house (v. 5b).
     • God said His Ark had never been in a house but had always been in a tent (v. 6).
     • Throughout all of Israel’s wanderings, the Lord had never asked any of the tribes to build Him a house (v. 7).
     • The Lord reminded David that He had taken David from being a lowly shepherd and made him into a king (v. 8).
     • God had been with David, giving him victory over his enemies and making his name and reputation great (v. 9).
     • The Lord reminded David that He had planted Israel in the land of Canaan (v. 10).
   • Summarize: King David wanted to build a Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, but the Lord denied his request.
3. The Lord’s Promises to David.
   • Tell the class that in the next verses God made several very specific promises to David.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 7:11.
   • Ask: “What did God promise David?” (to make David a “house,” a dynasty that would continue after he was dead).
   • Explain that David wanted to build the Lord a permanent house (a building), but the Lord instead promised to build David a house (a permanent dynasty over God’s people forever).
   • Read 2 Samuel 7:12.
   • Ask: “What did God promise David?” (that his natural-born son would succeed him as king and that God would establish that son’s kingdom).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 7:13.
   • Ask: “What did God promise David?” (that David’s son would build the permanent Temple and that God would establish that son’s kingdom forever).
   • Tell the class the ultimate fulfillment of that promise is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, David’s descendant who rules forever.
   • Read 2 Samuel 7:14.
   • Ask: “What did God promise David?” (to maintain a special father-son relationship with David’s son and successor).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 7:15.
   • Ask: “What did God promise David?” (His mercy would not depart from David’s son).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 7:16.
   • Ask: “What did God promise David?” (that David’s house and throne would endure forever).
   • Tell the students that Nathan delivered God’s message to David, after which David praised and thanked the Lord.
   • Summarize: The Lord promised that David’s son would build the Temple, and also promised that David’s lineage and rule would endure forever.
4. David Kept His Promise to Jonathan.
   • Tell the class that in chapter 8, David defeated some enemies and enlarged his kingdom.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 9:1.
   • Ask: “What did David want to know, and why?” (he wondered if there were any surviving descendants of Saul to whom he could show kindness).
   • Explain the following:
     • It was common in ancient times for a new king to kill any surviving members of the previous king’s family, to prevent them from trying to reclaim the throne.
     • David and Saul’s son Jonathan loved each other very much (1 Sam. 18:1-3).
     • David had promised Jonathan that he would be kind to Jonathan’s descendants (1 Sam. 20:14-17).
   • Read 2 Samuel 9:2-3.
   • Tell the students that one of Saul’s servants was brought to David, and David asked the servant if King Saul had any surviving descendants.
   • Ask: “What did the servant tell David?” (Jonathan had a surviving son who was lame).
   • Remind the class that we learned about this son, Mephibosheth, in 2 Samuel 4:4.
   • Read 2 Samuel 9:4-8.
   • Ask: “According to verse 6, what did Mephibosheth do when he was brought before David?” (he humbled himself).
   • Ask: “What did David promise Mephibosheth in verse 7?” (to show him kindness, to restore to him all the land that belonged to Saul, and to feed him at David’s table for the rest of his life).
   • Ask: “How did Mephibosheth respond to David’s promise?” (he was overwhelmed by David’s goodness).
   • Tell the class that in chapter 10, David and his army defeated the Ammonites and Syrians.
   • Summarize: David kept his promise to Jonathan by extending kindness and provision to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct the students’ attention to the word “Promise” written on the board, and remind them that the title of today’s lesson is Promises.  Tell them that God made some wonderful promises to King David.  Ask: “Could David trust God to keep those promises?” (yes).  Ask: “How did David know God would keep His promises?” (he had walked with God for many years and found Him to be a God who always kept His Word).

Remind the students that God had previously promised to make David king of Israel; in spite of Saul’s continual harassment and attacks, David patiently waited for God to fulfill His promise in His time and in His way.  Stress the fact that David knew God could be trusted.

Tell the class that God kept all the promises He made to David in chapter 7: the book of 1 Kings reveals that David’s son Solomon succeeded him on the throne and built the Temple David dreamed of building.  Explain that David’s dynasty endured for hundreds of years, after which God sent His Son through the lineage of David to reign over His people forever.

Remind the class that David made a very kind and loving promise to his friend Jonathan.  Ask: “Did David keep that promise?” (yes).  Stress the fact that David did not know Mephibosheth; the only reason he was kind to Mephibosheth was because of the promise he had made to Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan.  Ask: “Why do you think Mephibosheth believed David’s promises?” (because David was a man of his word; his character and reputation proved that he could be trusted).

Tell the students that God has made many promises to us through His Word.  Ask if they can name a few of God’s promises to us.  Ask: “What makes God’s promises believable?” (far more than any human being, God is absolutely trustworthy; in fact, He cannot lie [Titus 1:2]).  Stress the fact that God’s character and reputation are such that we can trust whatever He says.

Tell the class that God’s greatest promise is that anyone who truly trusts in Jesus Christ will be saved.  Read Romans 10:13, which says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Ask: “Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?  If not, do you want to?”   Tell the students if they confess their sins and place their trust in Jesus, He has promised to give them eternal life; they can trust God to keep that promise.

Allow a moment for silent prayer, then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Romans 10:13.  Invite any who placed their faith in Jesus today to stay and speak to you after class.  Encourage everyone else to believe and trust God’s promises found in the Bible.