After the story of 1 Samuel, where we learned about how David was chosen by God to be the next king of Israel, the story continues in the book of 2 Samuel. It’s all about David becoming king and the great things and mistakes he experienced as he ruled the people.
1. David Becomes King When King Saul died, David became the king of Israel. The people loved David because he was a good and fair king. He trusted God and always asked for God’s guidance in making important decisions. One of the first things David did as king was bring the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God’s presence, to Jerusalem, the new capital city. He was so happy to have God’s presence with him that he danced with joy!
Lesson: Like David, we should be joyful and excited about having God in our lives. His presence brings us peace and happiness.
2. God’s Promise to David David wanted to build a beautiful temple for God, but God had a different plan. He told David that it wasn’t David who would build the temple, but David’s son would do it instead. However, God made a special promise to David. He said that David’s family would rule Israel forever, and one day, a great King would come from David’s family who would rule forever. This was a promise about Jesus, who came many years later!
Lesson: God always keeps His promises. Just as He promised a great King from David’s family, Jesus came to be our Savior. We can trust that God’s plans are always good, even if they take time.
3. David’s Victory and Kindness During David’s time as king, he won many battles and defeated Israel’s enemies. God helped him become a strong and successful king. But David wasn’t just a strong warrior—he was also kind. David remembered a promise he made to his friend Jonathan, who was Saul’s son. After Jonathan died, David showed kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, who couldn’t walk. David invited him to live in the palace and took care of him.
Lesson: David teaches us that even when we have power, we should be kind and take care of others, especially those who need help.
4. David’s Big Mistake Even though David loved God, he made a big mistake. One day, David saw a woman named Bathsheba and wanted to marry her, but she was already married to a man named Uriah. Instead of doing what was right, David made bad choices to get what he wanted. He sent Uriah to the battlefield where he was killed, and then David married Bathsheba. God was not happy with David’s actions.
God sent a prophet named Nathan to tell David that he had sinned. David realized his mistake and felt very sorry. He prayed to God, asking for forgiveness, and God forgave David, but there were still consequences for his actions.
Lesson: Everyone makes mistakes, but what’s important is that when we do, we say sorry to God and ask for His forgiveness. God is always ready to forgive us when we turn back to Him.
5. Trouble in David’s Family Because of David’s mistake, trouble came into his family. One of his sons, Absalom, wanted to become king, even though David was still king. Absalom led a rebellion against his father, and there was a lot of sadness and fighting. David didn’t want to fight his son, but Absalom’s rebellion didn’t end well. David was heartbroken when his son died.
Lesson: When we don’t follow God’s ways, it can lead to sadness and trouble. But even in hard times, God is with us, just like He was with David during the difficult times in his family.
Key Lessons from 2 Samuel:
- God is with us when we trust Him, just like He helped David become a strong and wise king.
- We should be kind to others, like how David showed kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth.
- Even when we make mistakes, God forgives us when we say sorry, just like He forgave David when he prayed for forgiveness.
- God always keeps His promises, like the promise He made to David about Jesus coming from his family.
- When life gets hard, we can trust that God is always with us and will help us through difficult times.
The story of 2 Samuel reminds us that God is forgiving, loving, and always in control. Even when David made mistakes, God didn’t give up on him. God loves us too, and He has a plan for each of our lives. Like David, we can trust God, follow His ways, and know that He will always be with us.
