September/October 2006   SBW Syllabus

SBW - 19 BIBLE WOMEN

LESSON 19

Of the Old Testament

The Jewish Age

Coronation to the Division

120 Years; 1 Sam. 10 to 1 Kings 12

 

PERIOD OF POWER

(References in 1 Samuel)

HISTORY:

1.      Who was David, and how did he first become king (1 Sam. 16:1-13)?

A.     His original occupation: verse 11

B.     His appearance: verse 12, 17:42

C.    His age 17:55-56

D.    His abilities: 16:17-23; 17:34, 35

E.     His heart: prudent 17:18; champion of God 17:26; courageous 17:32; faithful 17:34-37, 45; humble 17:28-29, 58; wise 18:5  Comments are encouraged.

F.     His best friend: (1 Sam 18:1-6; 19:1-2)?  (Keep in mind the wide age difference between David and this person, who had a son David’s age.

 

MICHAL—TO MENACE

1.            Who was Michal (1 Sam 14:49-51)?  Everyone should to get this one.

2.            Who was her father; what was his position, and how was this acquired (1 Sam 9:1-2; 11:14-15; 9:3-10:26)?  Put this answer into your own words to make it shorter.

3.            How were David and Michal separated (2 Sam 3:14)?  The story of Jonathan’s attempt to end David’s exile, and Saul’s response (a show of his determination to kill David), begins David’s permanent exile.

4.            What was done with Michal during David’s exile (1 Sam 25:44)?

5.            How and when were they reunited (2 Sam 2:4)?

6.            What incident was the turning point in David’s and Michal’s relationship (2 Sam 6:12-23)?

7.            What lessons can we take from the account of Michal’s life (2 Tim 3:3—despisers of those that are good; Pro 14:1-2 (Hebrew # 959—to dis-esteem, despise, disdain, contemn(tible), think to scorn, vile person) 21, (Hebrew # 936—to disrespect; contemn, despise utterly)?

 

ABIGAIL—SOURCE OF JOY

1.            History of Abigail's David: I Sam. 21: 1‑15, 22:1‑8; ch 23, 24) A fugitive, outcast, man with a price on his head, Israel 's most wanted man, but righteous! Unjustly chased, captain over about 400 loyal men, ch 23 champion of the oppressed (Keilah, of Judah, Josh. 15:1, 44) humble and faithful (ch 24: 10-15).  Before he became king in Jerusalem , his army multiplied until it became like the army of God (1 Chr 12:22).  There is a lot of reading here, but well worth the time it takes to do it.  This should broaden your understanding of King David.

2.            Who was Abigail, and where did she live (1 Sam. 25: 1‑3)? Also see map and/or Bible atlas. What was her physical situation like?

3.            She was the wife of what wealthy man (25:3a)?

A.     What was said of her husband’s wealth (25:2)?

B.     Contrast the appearance of Abigail and Nabal (25:3bc).

i.           *David sends men to Nabal for mutual favors; relate it (25:4-12).

ii.         What revenge did David plan (25:13)?

iii.       This plan is related to Abigail; tell about it (25:14-17).

4.            Under what circumstances did David and Abigail meet (25: 18‑35)?

A.     How did David get Abigail for his wife (25:36-42)?

B.     What wealth did David become heir to through Abigail (25:2)?

C.    Where do we further see the heart of Abigail (25:18‑20; 26; 28‑31, 41)?

5.            Follow Abigail's life/journeys with David: I Sam 26, 27, 28:1‑2, ch 29.

6.            What scare did David & Abigail have at the hands of the Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:1-19)?

7.            What happened at the same time as this incident with the Amalekites that changed the lives of David and Abigail drastically (2 Sam. 1:1‑4; 2:14)?

8.            Describe a blessed occasion of her life (2 Sam 2:1-4).

9.            What child(ren) was/were born to David and Abigail (2 Sam 3:1‑3)? Chileab (restraint of father), also called Daniel (1 Chr. 3:1—Judge of God)

10.       Afterward: David and his wives lived 7½ years in Hebron where David was king of Judah . After a long war between the house of David and Saul, David was crowned king of Israel as well as Judah , and reigned in Jerusalem 33 years.

11.       What can be learned from the life of Abigail (Mat. 5:5, 9; Pro. 18:21; Pro 17:13, 15; Pro. 19:14, 17; 1 Pet. 2:18‑19)?

 

AHINOAM—BROTHER OF PLEASANTNESS

1.            Where was Ahinoam from, and when did she become the wife of David (1 Sam. 25:42‑43)?

2.            For her safety, where was she taken by her husband (2 Sam 2:2-3)?

3.            Later she was taken captive by whom (30:1, 5)?

4.            After being rescued, where did she go with David (2 Sam 2:2, 3)?

5.            In Hebron , what son did she bear (2 Sam 3:2)?

6.            How did her married life resemble Abigail's (27:1‑3, 30:3‑5; 2 Sam 3:1‑3)?

7.            Who was her son? What did he do to alienate himself from his brethren, and eventually bring about his early death (2 Sam. 13:1‑39)?

8.            Make a list of some of her rivals (2 Sam 3:3-5).

 

POINTS TO CONSIDER:

1.            What do you think of miss-mated companions?

2.            Why did Abigail likely marry such a reprobate as Nabal?

A.     If parents arranged the marriage, should the priority have been finances?

B.     When modern women marry for money, it can bring tragic consequences.

C.    What are the dangers of marrying to reform a person?

D.    Did Abigail know of Nabal’s folly (1 Sam 25:25-26)?

3.      What do you think of her diplomacy in dealing with a potentially difficult situation?