I have sinned against the Lord(2 Sam 11-12q)

I have sinned against the Lord

2Sam 11-12
Key verse 12:13
1. When and what occasion did this thing happen [1]? In respect to war, who were defeated and who was yet to be conquered and what was the situation of that war[8:1-14; 10:1-19]? What might have gone through the mind of David regarding this war that David sent Joab along with king’s army to the battle field?
2. What time of the day did David get up from the bed, when he happened to see a woman bathing? When he saw the woman, what might he want to find out about her and why? Who was the woman and why did David think that he could take her even for a night? What was the outcome of the affair[5]?
3. What scheme did David devise in order to cover up the affair [6-11]? Why did this attempt fail? What was Uriah’s understanding about this war and his role and how was it different from that of David [11]? According to Uriah’s statement, who or what were at the camp and who were with David in his palace? What might be the mindset of the one who was alone with kingly power and authority?
4. What was the second attempt [12-13]? How and why was it foiled? Think about this in terms of Uriah’s mindset and the nature of David’s scheme. What was the third attempt to resolve this issue [14-15]? How did he execute the plan [16-17]? What was the unwanted side effect of this plan [17]? What was unusual about such tactic of war [19-21b]? When it was reported to David, what was David’s response[25]? After the death of Uriah, what did David do [27]? How did God view what David did [27b]? What sins did David commit according to the law of God?
5. Why did David confide this plan to Joab? What kind of a man was he [3:31-39; 18:11-15; 19:5-7]? What might he owe to David?
6. When the Lord sent Nathan to David, what story did Nathan tell to David? What or who was the traveler in the story analogous in David’s affair? In this story what was wrong with the rich man? What word[s] would you use to describe the wrongs of this rich man? When David heard this, how did David show his empathy with the poor [5]? How did he condemn the rich? In what respect, was this story not relevant in pointing out David’s sin? In what respect did this story reflect David’s sin? If this story deals with the root of David’s sin, what do you think that was[2 Sam 5:2]? In what aspect, did the chief commander of David’s army Joab share the same sin as a primary offender and as an accomplice?
7. What was God’s rebuke to David? What was the key point of God’s argument against David’s premise of sin [7-8]? What was the specific charge against David [9]? What would God do to David in retribution for his sin [10,11]?
8. When Nathan rebuked David with God’s word, how did he respond? When he identified himself to be the rich man, what punishment did he assign to himself [5]? According to God’s charge [9], what was due penalty for his sin? When David said, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’ what was he willing to take regarding the charge? Describe what a true ‘repentance’ is.
9. What was God’s response spoken through Nathan to David’s confession of sin [13]? What does it mean that ‘the Lord has taken away your sin’? Discuss this in view of judgment that God already delivered in vv 10-12, 13b and God’s assuring word, ‘you are not going to die’. Why would God take away David’s sin and not demand full payment of David’s sin against the Lord?
10. In his plead for the child, what did David do [16-17]? What or how did his men understand about David’s such action [18]? After hearing the death of the child what did David do [20]? Why did David’s drastic changes in his attitude surprise his men? How did David explain about his action [22-23]? Discuss the meaning of ‘The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live’ What is the main difference between people’s understanding of David’s action and what went on David’s heart?
11. Read v 24. What did David do first after the death of the child [24a]? What does his attitude toward Bathsheba reveal about his understanding on God’s judgment on this affair? As another child was born through Bathsheba, what did God do a particular thing to this child [25]? Why [24b]? Discuss David’s understanding on God’s judgment and forgiveness. What did God affirm such faith of David?
12. Read 26-31. What was the situation of the war against Ammonites [11:1b] at the beginning of this event and at the end of this event [12:27] What might be the effect of David’s sinful affair on the war? What did David do as he got a call from Joab [28-31]? Why was this not possible so far and why was this possible at this time? What does this victory tells about resolution of David’s sin?
13. Discuss the differences between Saul [1 Sam 13, 15] and David in sin. In terms of the kind of offense, root of sin, attitude toward rebuke, repentance, and forgiveness, resolution of sin and God’s grace.