Theme

Recognising God’s ways in others and in ourselves

Questions

• Think about people you admire. When you discover their flaws do you still admire them, or does your views about them change?
• God tells Samuel to move on from Saul as king, but Samuel is frightened about how Saul will react (v.1-2). Are there times when your commitment to a person needs to change (you need to take a step back from them)? How do you know if that’s the right thing to do?
• Why does Samuel immediately think that Eliab is the one God has chosen to be king (v.6-7)? Do you ever find yourself judging a person’s abilities based on their appearance?
• “The Lord looks at the heart” (v.7), but what is he looking for [see, for example, Psalm 147:10-11 for an idea]?
• When David is finally presented to Samuel he is described as “ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features” (v.12). Why do you think this description is included, when God tells Samuel not to consider appearance?
• Once David becomes king, the Bible records events that David sets in motion in order to sleep with another man’s wife – he takes advantage of the woman, he manipulates circumstances to try and cover up her pregnancy, and when that didn’t work he plans for the death of her husband (you can read the story in 2 Samuel 11). How does this story reflect on the heart of David?
• God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David about his spiral of sin. Nathan tells David a parable, then reveals that he knows of David’s behaviour. Look at 2 Samuel 12:7-10.
  • What does this passage tells us about God’s knowledge of human actions? Do you think God was grieved by David’s behaviour?
  • Should Christians confront one another if their attitudes and behaviour seem less than Godly? How do you know when to speak up?
• David wrote Psalm 51 after Nathan confronted him about his sin. How does this psalm reflect David’s heart? [look, for example at v.3-4, v.10-12]

• Psalm 51 is a prayer of confession (admitting to thoughts or actions) and repentance (regret for those actions and a commitment to change). Are there times when you need to confess things to God and repent of your actions? How easy is this to do?

• If you could ask David one question, what would it be? (what do you think his answer would be?)