My Church Notes: Lesson 92

Lesson 92: 2 Samuel 12:10–24:25

I. 2 Samuel 12:10–31 Nathan prophesies of the consequences of David’s sins

---Before class write the following phrases on the board:

Cheating on a homework assignment

Lying to parents

Refusing to forgive someone

---Invite students to read the phrases on the board aloud.

---What are some possible unforeseen consequences of making these choices?

---Who wants to recount the sinful choices King David made involving Bathsheba and Uriah.

---After the prophet Nathan taught the parable of the ewe lamb, he told David the consequences of his choices and actions. Look for principles as you study 2 Samuel 12–24 that can help you when you are tempted to sin.

2 Samuel 12:10–14 looking for the consequences of King David’s sinful choices.

---Mark these consequences in their scriptures.

---What consequences would result from David’s sins?

---What do you think the phrase “the sword shall never depart from thine house” means (verse 10)?

(the sword is symbolic of violence & war. For the rest of his life & reign, conflict and war would plague his family & kingdom.)

---Who else would be affected by David’s sins?

(People in his kingdom, including his wives and children.)

---What principle can we learn from these verses about the consequences of sin?

When we choose to sin, we may bring unforeseen and long-term consequences upon ourselves and others.

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“It is a fundamental truth that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed. We can become virtuous and pure. However, sometimes our poor choices leave us with long-term consequences. One of the vital steps to complete repentance is to bear the short- and long-term consequences of our past sins.”

---What are some examples of poor choices that might result in unforeseen and long-term consequences both for us and for others?

---Summary of the rest of 2 Samuel 12: As Nathan had prophesied, “The child born of [David and Bathsheba’s] illicit union did not live, but there is no reason to look upon that as ‘punishment’ of the child for the sins of the parents. Removal from this earth by the hand of the Lord must come at one time or another and can be a blessing to an individual, brought about for his best interest at whatever time the Lord sees it to be optimum.” . David and Bathsheba had another son, whom they named Solomon.

II. 2 Samuel 13–18 Turmoil and strife in David’s family lead to civil war

---2 Samuel 13–18 describes tragic events involving two of King David’s sons, Amnon and Absalom. These chapters also show the fulfillment of the prophesied consequences of David’s sins.

Three groups. Each group will be assigned to study a scripture block and to prepare to do the following (put ? on board):

1. Summarize the events described in these verses.

2. Explain the possible short-term consequences of Amnon’s or Absalom’s choices.

3. Explain what you think might have been some of the unforeseen or long-term consequences of Amnon’s or Absalom’s choices.

Group 1: Amnon

---Read 2 Samuel 13:1–18 aloud in your group, and look for the sin that Amnon committed against his half-sister Tamar.

Group 2: Absalom

---In 2 Samuel 13:1–20 we read that David’s son Amnon lusted after his half-sister Tamar. Using deception, Amnon raped her.

---Read 2 Samuel 13:21–39 aloud in your group, and look for how Tamar’s brother Absalom responded to what Amnon did to Tamar.

Group 3: Absalom

---In 2 Samuel 13–14 we read that David’s son Absalom conspired to have his half-brother Amnon killed because Amnon had raped Tamar, Absalom’s sister. Absalom fled to the land Geshur for three years before he returned to Jerusalem.

---Read the following verses aloud in your group, and look for what Absalom planned to do and what his actions led to: 2 Samuel 15:1–6, 10–17; 2 Samuel 16:20–22.

---Give students several minutes to read their assigned verses and discuss their responses to the instructions on the board.

FIRST GROUP

---Write the words love and lust on the board.

---Which word best describes Amnon’s behavior?

---Read 2 Samuel 13:4 silently, looking for how Amnon described his feelings toward Tamar.

---Report what you find.

---Why might some people mistake lust for love?

Brother Tad R. Callister, Sunday School general president, given while he was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy:

“Satan is the great counterfeiter. He tries to [present] lust as love. There is a simple test to detect the difference. Love is motivated by self-control, obedience to God’s moral laws, respect for others, and unselfishness. On the other hand, lust is motivated by disobedience, self-gratification, and lack of discipline.”

---How would you summarize the difference between love and lust?

2 Samuel 13:10–15 looking for evidence that Amnon lusted after Tamar rather than loved her.

---According to verses 12–13, how did Tamar respond to Amnon’s desire to lie with her?

---How did she try to persuade him not to commit sin?

---The word folly in this context means something that is morally wrong.

---Why do you think Amnon “would not hearken unto her voice” (verse 14)? What may have caused him to dismiss or ignore the consequences of his actions?

---How did yielding to lust affect Amnon’s attitude and actions toward Tamar?

Speaking of the need to bridle the passions and desires of the natural man, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“The precise nature of the test of mortality … can be summarized in the following questions: Will my body rule over my spirit, or will my spirit rule over my body? Will I yield to the enticings of the natural man or to the eternal man? That, brothers and sisters, is the test. We are here on the earth to develop godlike qualities and to learn to bridle all of the passions of the flesh

---Write the following incomplete statement on the board: If we lust, then …

---Ask students to complete the principle on the board.

---Write their responses on the board. If students do not identify principles similar to the following, write them on the board as well.

---If we lust, then we lose the Spirit and may dismiss or ignore the consequences of our actions, and if we lust, then we lose the Spirit and our love and concern for others may diminish.

---Why do you think yielding to lust destroys our love and concern for others?

---What are some things we can do to avoid and resist lust?

VIDEO presentation—“Watch Your Step”

---Watch for the consequences of the choice to lust and the choice to remain morally pure.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught how we can avoid lustful desires:

“Let’s talk for a moment about how to guard against temptation. …

“Above all, start by separating yourself from people, materials, and circumstances that will harm you. … Like Joseph in the presence of Potiphar’s wife [see Genesis 39:1–13], just run—run as far away as you can get from whatever or whoever it is that beguiles you. …

“… Seek … help and welcome it. Talk to your bishop. Follow his counsel. Ask for a priesthood blessing. … Pray without ceasing. Ask for angels to help you.

“Along with filters on computers and a lock on affections, remember that the only real control in life is self-control. … If a TV show is indecent, turn it off. If a movie is crude, walk out. If an improper relationship is developing, sever it. Many of these influences, at least initially, may not technically be evil, but they can blunt our judgment, dull our spirituality, and lead to something that could be evil. …

“… Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful images and joyful memories. …

“Cultivate and be where the Spirit of the Lord is. Make sure that includes your own home or apartment, dictating the kind of art, music, and literature you keep there. … Go to the temple as often as your circumstances allow. Remember that the temple arms you ‘with [God’s] power, … [puts His] glory … round about [you], and [gives His] angels … charge over [you]’

SECOND GROUP

---What caused Absalom to hate his brother Amnon (see 2 Samuel 13:22)?

---Replace “lust” with “are angry” in the principles written on the board.

---How can anger cause us to ignore or dismiss the consequences of our actions? How can anger cause our love and concern for others to diminish?

---Replace angry with prideful in the principles written on the board.

THIRD GROUP

---How was Absalom’s conspiracy to become king a form of pride?

---How can pride cause us to ignore or dismiss the consequences of our actions? How can pride cause our love and concern for others to diminish?

---Summarize 2 Samuel 18: During the battle between Absalom’s supporters and King David’s men, Absalom became entangled in a tree. When Joab, the captain of King David’s army, found Absalom, he killed him.

2 Samuel 18:33 aloud looking for how David reacted to the death of his son.

---Despite Absalom’s rebellion, why do you think David wept over his son’s death?

---What effects did the choices of King David, Amnon, and Absalom have on their family?

--- testimony of the short- and long-term effects your choices have had on you and your family.

---Encourage students to make righteous choices that can bless them and their families both now and in the future.

---Provide students with copies of the following instructions, as well as pieces of paper they can use to record their responses. Explain that they will not be asked to share their responses with anyone.

---Consider both the positive and negative choices you are currently making and how those choices affect those around you, especially your family. Select one or two of your choices and answer the following questions:

---What effects might these choices be having on you and your family?

---What might be some of the long-term consequences of these choices and behaviors?

---As you make these choices, what changes could you make that could bless you and your family both now and in the future?

III. 2 Samuel 19–24 Insurrection, famine, and pestilence threaten David’s kingdom

---Summary of 2 Samuel 19–24: After Absalom’s death, David returned to Jerusalem. Another rebellion among the tribes of Israel was quickly put down by Joab, who led David’s army. Israel suffered a famine that lasted three years. King David displeased the Lord by counting the number of men in Judah and Israel who could serve in the military. The scriptures do not explain why this numbering of the people was offensive, but it might have been representative of David’s trust in the strength of his army rather than in the power of God. To save the people from a plague, David offered sacrifices to the Lord.