The Last Words of David
Discussion Questions
1. The message was on 2Samuel 23:1 – 7. Those seven verses were labeled as the
last words of David. Dean said that “being a man after God’s own heart” a standout
quality of David.
- What stands out to you about David and why?
2. In the 2Samuel 23:1 – 3, David repeats multiple times that what he is writing is
coming from God. Dean used this as an example of David’s humility and relationship
with God. What helps in his humility is in thinking less about himself and more about
God. Then Dean quotes Deuteronomy 6:4 – 7, which is a basis of the Greatest
Commandment spoked of by Jesus, where we are to love your God with all your
heart/soul/mind and place them in your heart… to talk about God’s commands all the
time. The following questions were posed. Please choose one and respond.
a. What occupies your mind/heart/soul most of the time… Jesus or __________?
b. Who gets the glory when you do things…Jesus or _____________?
3. Dean spoke of Hebrew literature tools which Hebrew writers used to emphasize their
main points. One used in Samuel was to begin and end the writing with the main
theme… here being God and his sovereign power of everything. These were brought
out as Hannah’s prayer in 1Samuel 2: 1 – 10, and the Last Words of David in 2Samuel
23:1 – 7. Have someone read Hannah’s prayer and then another read the Last Words
of David.
a. Compare what Hannah emphasizes vs what David emphasizes.
4. A puzzle was shown in various stages of completion, starting with one piece and
ending with the completed puzzle. It was to show both the importance of one piece but
also to show the purpose of the single piece was to be a part of the completed puzzle.
Similarly, the purpose of every verse in the Bible needs to support the main theme of
the whole Bible… God’s plan to redeem humanity and creation through Jesus Christ.
a. In this scenario, take the completed puzzle to be a picture of the church. You are one
of the pieces. Now, if one piece of the puzzle were not added to whole puzzle, the blank
would be noticed. Do you see yourself as insignificant the big picture of the church or do
you see yourself having a role in the church which God preordained which makes your
works significant in God’s eyes (Ephesians 2:10)?
5. God revealed bits and pieces of his promises to David. This did not disturb David as
he led a life of trust, faith, and obedience toward God. David went to God more than not
to get direction. He placed complete control of his life in God’s hands.
Of the types of people below, select the one which dominates in your decision to make
a commitment:
a. Holy Spirit led: Seek the Holy Spirit’s leading. Once you believe it’s from God…you’ll
commit, and through prayer and Bible reading be led by the Holy Spirit.
b. Count the Cost: Understand the commitment in terms of disruptions to your life. Look
at time, money, energy commitments. Commit if your life schedule permits.
c. Non-committal: Knowing your life is over-scheduled, will not consider committing to
anything unless absolutely necessary.
d. Cautious: Would like to commit more, but are by nature cautious. Unknowns and
What-Ifs keep you from committing. Will commit once you get comfortable with the
environment you are committing to.
6. In 2Samuel 23:4, those who are under a leader who rules in the fear of God, will
dawn on them like the morning light, sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, or like
rain that makes grass sprout from the earth.
- Share of a time when you experienced joy from one of these moments. What came to
mind?
7. Dean spoke of interpreting God’s Word as it was intended for the original
audience…for 2Samuel 23:1 – 7, that would be Hebrews who lived in David’s kingdom
around 1000 BC.
- Do you do interpret scripture as it was intended to the original audience before
applying it to your life? If not, do you plan to in the future?
8. Saul was rejected as king over Israel by God because his fear of man. The topic of
fear of God is very deep and includes knowing yourself and knowing God. Dean used a
quote from the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology.
The language of fear in the Bible is part of a larger picture of God’s controlling
and guiding purposes. God demands obedience, but he frees his followers from
fear of circumstances, their enemies and everything else, so long as they fear
(respect and honour) him… This fear puts other values into their appropriate
perspective. (New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, ed. T.D. Alexander and B.S.
Rosner, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 498)
Share either:
a. A recent experience where your fear of God prompted a decision and the outcome
from it.
b. A recent experience where your fear of circumstances or man, overrode your fear of
God. What was the outcome?
9. In 2Samuel 7:4 -17, Nathan reveals all which God has done for David as well as
including future promises to David. This makes David look to the future for an offspring
who will be greater than he. David understands the past, dwells in the moment, with a
hope that God’s promises will be fulfilled.
Select one from the list below, how others see you:
- A person who finds great pleasure in reliving past accomplishments
- A person who regrets decisions made in the past.
- A person who lives in the moment with no time to reflect in the past or future.
- A person who lives in the future…neglecting the here and now
- A person who lives in the moment, looking forward to God’s promises.