“God intended the history of David’s fall to serve as a warning that even those whom He has greatly blessed and favored are not to feel secure and neglect watchfulness and prayer. And thus it has proved to those who in humility have sought to learn the lesson that God designed to teach. From generation to generation thousands have thus been led to realize their own danger from the tempter’s power.” (PP. 724.1)
Reading Plan, Week 13
Patriarchs and Prophets
Chapters: 70–73
Monday: 703.1–714.3
Tuesday: 714.4–722.4
Wednesday: 6723.1–732.3
Thursday: 735.1–745.4
Friday: 746.1–755.4
All page/paragraph numbers are the original page numbers and can be used with any edition of Conflict of the Ages (shown in gray on the inside margin within The Conflict Beautiful).
The following is an overview of this week’s reading. Each chapter is introduced with a short paragraph, followed by a couple of thoughts/questions for you to consider.
Chapter 70: The Reign of David
David establishes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and attempts to move the Ark of the Covenant there. The death of Uzzah highlights the importance of carefully following all the commands God has made plain to us. At last, David celebrates the arrival of the Ark in Jerusalem and prepares to build the temple. After Nathan delivers God’s message that David’s son should do this instead, David continues to gather materials to make his son’s job easier. Defeating a large alliance led by the Ammonites, David fulfills God’s promise to Abraham as Israel occupies the land “from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18).
What light has God revealed to you, your family, or your faith community? How can you live in obedience to that today?
Where do you see God’s faithfulness in promises He has fulfilled over many years?
Chapter 71: David’s Sin and Repentance
David’s self-confidence causes his reliance on God to weaken, and he becomes entangled in a web of sin, deception, and murder. Under David’s direction, Joab also becomes an accomplice. When rumors begin to spread, God is dishonored and sends Nathan to reprove David. Conscience-stricken, David acknowledges his sin against Bathsheba, Uriah, and God and pleads for the life of his newly-born child. Though God assures David of His forgiveness, He can no longer hold back the consequences of sin.
What methods do you use to halt the thought-behavior chain of temptation and sin in your life?
How can you live with confidence in God’s forgiveness while still suffering the natural consequences of your past mistakes and sins?
Chapter 72: The Rebellion of Absalom
Due to the guilt David feels over his own sin, he neglects to take decisive action when Amnon violates Tamar, leading Absalom to take the law into his own hands. First banished and then returned to Jerusalem, Absalom begins to curry favor with the people and finally stages a coup. Thanks to the support of friends, David is able to escape safely and mount a military response during which Absalom is killed. David’s grief over his son’s death threatens the impact of victory.
What products do you use to make your hair lustrous and strong? 😉
Take a few moments to trace the intergenerational effects of sin and moral weakness in your own genealogy. What patterns do you notice? What areas do you need to pay special attention to?
Chapter 73: The Last Years of David
Despite the strong connection David enjoyed with God in his early years, the temptations of wealth and power continue to overtake him. His decision to take a census puts the entire nation under God’s judgment. David’s repentant offering halts the plague and consecrates the site of the future temple. Adonijah attempts to seize the throne but is defeated. David abdicates, and Solomon becomes king. David passes along the materials he has collected for building the temple as well as hard-earned wisdom about remaining close to God and following His commandments. God’s promise of an eternal kingdom to David’s lineage prefigures the coming Messiah.
No matter how your faith journey started or how it has progressed up to this point, how can you ensure that your faith journey will end well?
Thinking over the larger narrative that encompases the Creation, the Flood, Abraham, the Exodus, the settling of Canaan, Saul, and David, what have you learned about faith? What have you learned about faithfulness?