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Then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge - 2 Samuel 3:27

Revenge cost both parties dearly

Joab enjoyed success in the military - becoming the top general
He failed because he used his position to settle old scores

Joah lured Abner to the gate of Hebron and murdered him

His revenge came at a steep price, David praise Abner and cursed Joab and his family - 2 Samuel 3:28-29

Joab lost an important part of himself, he planted seeds of his own destruction - 1 Kings 2:5-6

When someone does you wrong, make it your business to forgive and move on so you don't miss out on good things God has placed before you.

How could I go home to wine and dine while my master's men are camping in the open field? - 2 Samuel 11:11

It is admireable when a friend remains loyal and faithful even when treated shamefully

Uriah had no knowledge that David wronged him by sleeping with his wife

David's take-it-easy comment was just a attempt to cover David's sin; he later killed Uriah in battle

Uriah did his duty and demonstrated the godly trait of faithfulness

His faithfulness and loyalty cost him his life on earth

God never fails to reward those honor him

Speak, your servant is listening - 1 Samuel 3:10

Samuel is an example of a man who learned to hear the real voice of God

1st time God called - thought it was Eli's voice
2nd time God called - thought it was something he ate
3rd time God called - Eli instructed him to say to the voice, "Speak, your servant is listening" - 1 Samuel 3:9

Samuel did what he was told and his Father gave him instructions for his first act as a prophet

Samuel began a long and fruitful life of listening for God's voice

How do you learn to hear from God?

• Open your Bible
• Humbling yourself
• Making yourself available
• Letting God know that you are actively listening

Nabal 

Nabal was a crude and mean in all his dealings; his wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beatiful - 1 Samuel 25:3

Life will present you with countless opportunties to extend kindness

David sent some men to ask for a few much-needed provisions

Nabal: Who is this fellow David? Who does this son of Jesse think he is? - 1 Samuel 25:10

He proceeded to instul David's servants and sent them away.

A few days after he refused to assist the Lord's servant David, Nabal died of an apparent heart attack

Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands - 1 Samuel 25:33

David found himself on the verge of comming a terrible sin because of human anger:

• He sent 10 of his men to ask Nabal for help
• Nabal refused to help and insulted him and his men
• He reacted in vage by ordering 400 of his men to kill Nabal and all his people

Nabal's wife, Abigail, kept David from commiting a terrible sin

She did not defend her terrible husband but reminded David that killing Nabal would be a grave sin against God - 1 Samuel 25

God has given you ears to hear what your loved ones have to say to you

You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you - 1 Samuel 13:13

Full blessings from God depends on our obedience

Saul, Israel's first king, fell flat on his face

Samuel had given Saul clear instructions - Go ahead to Gilgal and wait me me - 1 Samuel 13:8

He foolishly decieded to play the role of a priest and perform sacrifices in a way that clearly violated God's law

Saul squandered his chance at greatness because he lacked the courage and wisdom to obey

Live according to his Word and you put yourself in a prefect position to receive all he had for you and your family

Jonathan loved David as he loved himself - 1 Samuel 20:17

God appointed David as Saul's successor 

This made King Saul jealous and he made serveral attempts on David's life

Jonathon stood up for his friend David - warning and encourging him whenever his father sought to harm David

Jonathan would normally had ascended to the throne after his father's death

How was it possible that Jonathan, who should have been the most mad about the appointment of David, was the one who helped his replacement?

Jonathan loved David as he loved himself - he sacrificed himself for his friend

Do you have a friend like Jonathan? Are you a friend like Jonathan?

Who is a good candidate for a Jonathan-David friendship? What would it take for you to develop such a relationship?

Ittai: I will go wherever my lord the goes, no matter what happens - 2 Samuel 15:21

He was one of 600 Gittites who were natives of Gath

They accompanied KIng David out of Jeruslem as they fled Absalom

Ittai vowed that he, his men, and their familes would follow the depoed king wherever he went even if it meant death

Following King David meant trading the safety and comfort of Jerusalem for the dangers of the dessert

Ittai followed and remain loyal to David and he richlly rewarded Ittai for it

David made Ittai command of 1/3 of Israel's army - 2 Samuel 18

God blesses your loyality to Jesus Christ

In what ways can you demonstracte that loyalty this week?

Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here - 1 Samuel 21:9

A true friend gives of himself, and even sacrifices himself, for the good of another

Ahimelech was this king of friend to David

When David was on the run from King Saul, Ahimelech help him with food and a weapon for battle

All Ahimelech knew was his friend was in need of help - his act of kindness came at a heavy price

When KIng Saul heard Ahimelech assisted David, he ordered his execution - 1 Samuel 22

Being a true friend mean making personal sacrifices. Do you have a true friend? Are you a true friend? 

David danced before the Lord will all his might - 2 Samuel 6:14

Though a man can hide some things deep within his soul, passion isn't one of them

David was a man who expressed his passion though at times his passion got the better of him

Soon after David ascended to the throne, he immediately worked to reunite the kingdom of Israel

Through his efforts. the Ark was returned to its rightful place

David could not contain his enthusiasm, he danced for the Lord with all his might

Some questioned his motives, but David knew he acted out of deep love for the Lord

David had not reservations about appearing to acting foolish - he worshiped God with everything he had

Give us a king to judge us like the other nations have - 1 Samuel 8:5

God wanted Israel to be different from any other kingdom on earth

Israel's elders wanted Samuel to give them a human king so they could fit in with the pagan nations

God: "it's me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer" - 1 Samuel 8:7-8

Samuel did as God had told him as warned the people of the consequences of rejecting their true king

When Israel's elders looked at the nations around them, they lost sight of their own identity

Things were never the same for the name

Whom do you trust to guide and lead you in every area of your life?

Have I ever... Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong - 1 Samuel 12:3

Samuel earned a reputation for unimoeachable honesty that served him well

At Saul's coronation, he asked the people to declare if Samuel was honest and person of integrity

Everyone knew the answer and didn't hesitate to give it - YES!

Samuel could speak to the people with great authority because he had carefully maintained his reputation as an honest man

How can Samuel's example help you to choose honesty?

The Lord will strike down some day - he will die of old age or in battle - 1 Samuel 26:10-11

Even if you disagree with the person, you should still repect the office they hold

God chose David to succeed Saul as Israel's king

Saul's jealously and anger at David's popularity made him a target

David might have been justified to defend himself by killing Saul but twice he refused

He knew God alone had the authority to remove Saul

David respected God's office as the One whose sovereign  will works everything out in his own good time

When you understand that remains at the helm of the universe, you can relax

Wait on God to move on your behalf

Take a cenus of all the tribes of Israel - so I may know how may people there are - 2 Samuel 24:2

It is apporopriate and even necessary to speak words of correction, even when those words are not warmly received

Joab spoke up to King David, "Why do you want to do this?" - 2 Samuel 24:3
Why must you cause Israel to sin - 1 Chronicles 21:3

Joab apparently understood that David's orders came out of his reliance on superior military strength rather than the might of heaven

Though Joab warned King David not to go through with the cenus, the king did it anyway and paid a terrible price

Saul had a spear in his hand and suddenly hurled it at David intending to pin him to the wall - 1 Samuel 18:11

Jealousy is the emotion we feel toward someone who has something we believe we should have

KIng Saul jealous toward David, who did nothing but serve the king faithfully

Saul grow angry with him because of his growing popularity

Saul promoted David to army commander where he excelled, defeating the Philistines

Jealousy took over and and Saul went insane and it his life's goal to kill David

Being jealous steals the joy and contentment the Lord wants us to experience

Who is most likely to make you feel jealous?

Rest content in the knowledge of God - He has mapped out a life of blessing specifically for you

I have sinned against the Lord - 2 Samuel 12:!3

King David in a space of a few weeks - lusted, commited adultery, lied, and murdered his lyal servant Uriah

God called David a man after his own heart, not because he was perfect - 1 Samuel 13:14

God call him this because David humbly and brokenheartedly recongnized his own sin and knew what to do

When the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin, the king acknowledged he had sinned against the Lord

Take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the Lord in a special way - Numbers 6:2

Nazirite had taken special vows of obedience to a set of rules that others didn't have to follow

Samson and Samuel followed rules like abstaining from alcoholic beverages and refusing to cut their hair

Samson on the other hand used his strength to push his own agenda
Samuel served God and his poeple selflessly and faithfully

Only Samuel made a lasting impact for the Lord and his people

It not what a man does on the outside that matters to God but the inside

When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry - 2 Samuel 13:21

David was often a brilliant leader on the battlefield but he defaulted on his leadership at home

His family became dysfunctional:

• Amnon raped his sister
• David did not repond
• Absalom, David's oldest son, killed Amnon and fled Jerusalem
• Amnon's murder and Absalom's absense broke David's heart
• David restored Absalom but later became embitteed against his father
• Absaloom led a rebellion against David

Don't default on your responsibility  - as a father, you have the privilege of leading others toward godliness

He was one who had provided food for the king - 2 Samuel 19:32

Barzillai was a fine example of courage in the face of risk and contrary public opinion

David's popularity had waned and the king's son, Absalom, had staged a coup.

Barzillai gave David and his men food, water, and lodging - 2 Samuel 17:27-29

He knew the risks involved with aiding David but he stood up for what was right

When David had regained his throne, he told of Barzillai's kindness and courage to his son Solomon - 1 KIngs 2:7

Gold character means doing and saying what you know is right even when no one seems to be watching

I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you - 1 Samuel 12:23

Sometimes we feel thempted to write off a brother in Christ who made a mess of their faith

Bible teach us to pray for such a man and do everthing we can to restore him

Israel made a foolish and ungodly choice - insisted on an earthly king

Samuel felt disappointed but he did not write off the people

Instead Samuel took these steps:

1. He spoke the truth about their sins
2. Encourged them to continue growing spiritually
3. Warned them to not sink further into sin
4. Reaffirmed God's love and commitment toward them
5. Pledged to continue to pray for them and encourage them 

"He stayed in Jerusalem", Ziba replied - 2 Samuel 16:3

When you spread gossip or listen to it, you probably tell or hear only part of the story

Ziba's gossip about treason damaged Mephibosheth's reputation and his standing in David's kigdom

When David listened to Ziba's hearsay, he stripped Mephibosheth of what belonged to him and gave it to Ziba instead - 2 Samuel 16:4

Mephibosheth eventually restored his name but it stands as a reminded of the damage gossip can cause even with partial information

The king has sent me on a private matter - 1 Samuel 21:2

We can overcome our fear of what men do to us by clinging to our faith and remembering God superintends everything that comes our way

David was on the run from King Saul because he was trying to kill him when he met Ahimelech

David lied to Ahimelech - The king has sent me on a private matter 

It's not hard to figure out why David lied, he feared Saul more than he trusted God

When you fear men, do you focus on the fear or trust in God who already has your future mapped out

Let a curse fall on ayone who eats before evening - 1 Samuel 14:24

King Saul had many gifts and talents but he often lacked common sense

As his soliders prepared for battle, Saul gave them the orders to not eat anything during the daylight

King Saul reasoned that daylight was for fighting

He made the order simplete to save time but God provide no such direction

King Saul's rashness and impatience led to poor decisions and outright disobedience

The Israelites defeated the Philistines but it was not decisive thanks to Saul's foolish burden on the soliders

Joel and Abijah were not like their father, for they were greedy for money - 1 Samuel 8:1-3

Samuel's sons showed the far reaching consequences of loving money more than God

They were appointed judges but were corupt and greedy men who "accepted bribes and perverted justice"

Their evil behavior hastened the end of era of judges and Israel's step toward nation rebellion 

The Hebrew people demanded a earthly king rule over them instead of relying on their heavenly king

When Joel and Abijah chose greed over contentment, they failed God and his people

Does contentemnt or greed dominate in your life?

Sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respecr for the Lord - 1 Samuel 2:12-13

Eli mentored Samuel, Israel's first prophet, but failed to teach his own son the basics of godly living

Hophni and Phinehas brazenly disrepected the Lord and forced themselves sexually upon young woman who came to the Tabernacle

Eli reprimanded his sons but they had long since listened to him

God told Eli that his sons would die and his family would foreve lose the privelege of serving the priesthood

Eli was a good man but not strong man - his children need him to be both

So he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel - 2 Samuel 15:6

David forgave and reinstated Absalom after murdering his brother

In his desire to have what he wanted right now, he lost everything

After David welcomed him back, Absalom began to plotting to kill his father so he could take the throne of Israel

He beagan his treason by first winning the people's hearts and minds

Absalom temporarly succeeded but in the end David's troops defeated him and he died a painful death

Despite of Absalom's talents, leadership skills, and potential, his impatience messed up his chance at greatness

• No sons
• No legacy of godly leadership
• A stone memorial he built for himself - 2 Samuel 18:18

Give him all of it, I am content just to have you safely back again - 2 Samuel 19:30

Mephibosheth and David had a great relationship until Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, lied about Mephibosheth helping Absalom to take this throne

Mephibosheth found out about Ziba's deception and traveled to Jeresalum to reconcile with his old friend

When David heard Mephibosheth's account, he offered half of what he offered Ziba

Mephibosheth cared little about the offering and was satisfied with know David had returned to his rightful place

Has a relationship you onced enjoyed soured? Take a risk by taking the first step

David was afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. He pretented to be insane - 1 Samuel 21:12-13

Nothing reveals what's inside you quie like a stressfull situation

David fled to Gath become incognito from the murderous King Saul

King Achish's officers were aware of his true identity and David feared for his life and acted insane

Hardly the kind of behavior you would expect from Israel's next king

David allowed his stress rather than his God-inspired courage to rule the day

You may not be able to avoid stressful situations but you can decide for yourself how you'll respond to them

Jonathon's father had shown flashes of faith but his overall lack of spiritual focus led to his ouster as king and a strained relationship with his son

He took a different approach with his relationship with the Lord:

• Left his father and 600 men at the encampment at Gibeah to launch an overwhelmingly successful attack on the Philistines
• His dependence on God won the confidence of the armor bearer - 1 Samuel 14:7
• Left a legacy of faith and commitment to the Lord

You may not have spiriutal roots as a Christian but you can begin a legacy of faith and obedience

He noticed a woman of unusual beauty - 2 Samuel 11:2

Our enemy knows our weakness and it often comes to us through what we see

David fell because he allowed himself to stare lustfully and sinful thought quickly turned into a sinful action

He apparently learned from his blunder, he later wrote: "I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar - Psalms 101:3

Have you learned to safeguard your heart by safeguarding your eyes?

Can a man walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? - Proverbs 6:28

As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you'll never be king. Now fo and get him so I can kill him! - 1 Samuel 20:31

Few emotions can harm our hearts and relationships like uncontrolled anger

Anger led to:

• Cain slaying Abel
• Samson's downfall
• King Saul's attempts to young and faithful servant David

Saul's anger erupted out of jealousy of David's popularity and treat of becoming king

His anger was so fierce and overwhelming that he attempted to kill David at least three times

Saul's anger made it to his son Jonathan because he was tried to protect David

Saul showed his true colors when he allowed anger to control his every motivation, decision, and action

Now Samuel died and all Israel gathered for his funeral - 1 Samuel 25:1

Samuel made a nig impression on everyone who knew him - the entire nation mourned his passing

Samuel left behind a legacy of faith, obedience, and courage:

1. Faithfully and consistantly took God at his word
2. Acted on what he knew God wanted
3. Refused to worry about personal consequences

Our primary goal in life should always be to make a positive mark for the Kingdom of God

Jonathon made a solemn pact with David because he loved him as he loved himself - 1 Samuel 18:3

Sometimes God wants you to step back and allow someone else to take the lead and credit

Jonathan was content to play the role of sidekick in David's rise to power

His dad was King Saul but he wasn't called be suceed his father as king

A different man might have become angry and indignant for being overlooked but not Jonathan

In Jonathan, David had everything he could possibly want in a comrade, Jonathan was:

1. Selfless - 1 Samuel 9:1-2
2. Couragous warrior - 1 Samuel 14
3. A man of unshakable faith - 1 Samuel 14:6

Jonathan humbly stood back and rejoiced as his friend as David rose to the place God had call him

How willing are you to stand back and let others shine where they have been called by God?

Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this - 2 Samuel 13:22

Absalom showed what happens when the lines of communication between two people break down

He had every right to feel angry  about Amnon rapping his sister

What went wrong is his refusing to talk about it and making no effort to try to resolve the situation - Amnon felt sorry for what he had done

Absalom's anger grew deep inside until it became implacable hatred

He waited for the right opportunity to order his servants to kill Amnon - 2 Samuel 13:28

Absalom paid a heavy price for his failure to resolve his conflict openly and peacefully