K INGDOM OF R IGHTEOUSNESS & G RACE I NTRODUCTION TO 2 S AMUEL

W HY R EAD 2 S AMUEL ? 1.What Is the Old Testament About? Gives God's wonderful promise to fix the messed up world Prepares us for Jesus as the fulfilment of that promise 2.How Do We Read the Old Testament? We read the stories in light of their fulfilment in Jesus We read the fulfilment in light of the story it fulfils 3.What Is the Power of the Old Testament Stories? 4.What Is 2 Samuel About?

W HY R EAD 2 S AMUEL ? 1.What Is the Old Testament About? Gives God's wonderful promise to fix the messed up world Prepares us for Jesus as the fulfilment of that promise 2.How Do We Read the Old Testament? We read the stories in light of their fulfilment in Jesus We read the fulfilment in light of the story it fulfils 3.What Is the Power of the Old Testament Stories? To show us how much we need Jesus To deepen our understanding of his wonderful rule over us 4.What Is 2 Samuel About? Written at a time of huge leadership trouble in Israel Story of what God did about those troubles So anticipates what God will finally do for the world and its leadership troubles

T HE B ACKGROUND TO 2 S AMUEL In Biblical Theology -Creation/Fall (Gen 1-3) -Abraham (Gen 12) -Moses & Joshua -Judges -Samuel -Saul (c BC) -David (c BC) -Solomon (c BC) -Kingdom Split & Decline -Assyrian destruction of Israel -Babylonian conquest of Judah -Return to the land under Persia -Between the Testaments -Jesus Historical Period Covered By 1 & 2 Samuel

W HY R EAD 2 S AMUEL ?

-The Bible’s main theme is the kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus Jesus taught his disciples to pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ (Matt 6:9-10) Jesus’ teaching is summarized as: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’ (Mk 1:15) The Bible’s message is that Jesus is king over all: ‘And he [Jesus] has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’ (Rev 19:16)

W HY R EAD 2 S AMUEL ? -The Kingdom of God is: God’s PEOPLE In God’s PLACE Under God’s RULE -The story of the kingdom of Israel, ruled by David, is the central illustration of the kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus God’s People: The Nation Israel In God’s Place: Israel/Canaan Under God’s Rule: David, God’s chosen king (Messiah)

W HY R EAD 2 S AMUEL ? -This means that David is the pivotal character in the OT Everything in the OT before him prepares for his reign (Gen-1 Sam) Everything in the OT after him looks back to David’s kingdom as beginning something of central importance for the whole world (1 Kgs-Mal) -One of Jesus’ key titles: ‘the son of David’ ‘The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David’ (Matt 1:1) ‘The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David’ (Lk 1:32) ‘[The gospel] concerning his son, Jesus Christ…who was a descendant of David…’ (Rom 1:3)

W HY R EAD 2 S AMUEL ?

T HE B ACKGROUND TO 2 S AMUEL Summary of 1-2 Samuel -Originally 1 book, but now in 2 parts -1 Samuel: From the end of the Judges to the end of Saul -2 Samuel: The rise, failure & mixed character of David’s kingdom 1 Samuel In More Detail: -1 Sam 1-7: Israel’s desperate state, God’s grace in Samuel -1 Sam 8-15: Saul, the king chosen according to human power -1 Sam 16-17: David, the king chosen according to God’s grace -1 Sam 18-31: Powerful Saul falls, persecuted David rises 2 Samuel in More Detail: -2 Sam 1-6: David established as king over all Israel; retakes conquered areas -2 Sam 7-9: God promises David the kingdom of justice & grace -2 Sam 10-12: David’s failure brings disaster -2 Sam 13-20: David’s family & kingdom divided -2 Sam 21-24: David’s final word – God is good, but there’s more to come!

T HE M ESSAGE OF 2 S AMUEL -Why is the background important? Because it shows us the main message of 2 Samuel: GOD WILL BRING IN HIS KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS & GRACE THROUGH THE KING WHO RULES THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND GRACE

T HE S TRUCTURE OF 2 S AMUEL 2Sa 1-6 2Sa 7-92Sa Sa DAVID ESTABLISHED David wins over Saul’s house (1-4) David king over all Israel in Jerusalem (5-6) KINGDOM OF R & G God promise to David: An everlasting kingdom through the Son (7) David rules in righteousness & grace (8-9) FAILURE OF R & G David fails in righteousness & grace: Bathsheba (10-11) God forgives David, BUT… (12) KINGDOM IN TURMOIL David’s family in turmoil: Amnon, Tamar & Absalom (13- 18) David’s restored, but fragile & broken (19-20) 2Sa SUMMARY OF DAVID Problem: God’s Wrath Remains (21) David’s Song: God’s R & G (22) David’s Last Words: A Coming King of R & G (23) David’s Last Acts: Failure & Grace in Atonement (24)

T HE K EY T HEMES & C HAPTERS OF 2 S AMUEL -2 Sam 4-6 -David becomes king over all 12 tribes in Jerusalem -Brings the Ark to Jerusalem (cf. 1 Sam 4-6) -2 Sam 7 -God’s promise to David: -Your son will be my son & rule my kingdom forever -2 Sam 8-9 -David’s rule characterised by righteousness (2 Sam 8:15) & grace (2 Sam 9:1) -2 Sam 11 -David fails in righteousness & grace -Casts a long, dark shadow of failure over his kingdom -2 Sam 22:1-23:7 -The ‘bottom line’ of David’s rule -God has treated his king with righteousness & grace -His true king will reign with righteousness & grace

H OW D OES 2 S AMUEL P OINT TO J ESUS ? 1.It Gives Us a Shadow of God’s King & His Kingdom A shadow is like its reality (real hints of R & G under David) A shadow is unlike its reality (failures of R & G under David) 2.It Shows Us that God Is the True King of the World God rules over all human powers & experience Human rulers have great power, and great weaknesses God keeps his promises through the mess of human life God is passionately committed to filling the world with his righteousness & grace 3.It Prepares Us to Recognise the Coming King We Need An unexpected king A persecuted, suffering king A king who trusts in God’s grace, not human power A king who rules in righteousness and grace

T IPS FOR R EADING /T EACHING & Q UESTIONS