討論問題

TAFPC Adult Sunday School Bible Study

台美團契長老教會成人主日學三年讀經運動 10/29/2006 討論問題

Question 1:       2: Samuel II 21 & King I 1-2

   In these three chapters, it seems David and Solomon killed all dissidents in the name of God. Their actions actually were based on their own interest. Is it true justice and righteousness or is it “make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God”? What is your opinion?

Question 2:         2 Samuel 22: 21 - 25

   This chapter is a song of David's Thanksgiving.  Some scholars believe that it night have been David's work originally, but edited later on by another redactor into this book of 2 Samuel (v1-2).  Verses 21 - 25 were uttered along with Deuteronomy theology to claim that David had been righteous, sympathetic, and just in obeying God's commands.  However, when we review the history of David's life, we see that he committed multiple sins including adultery and murder. He is far from blameless (see chap. 11 & chap. 13-18). 

    Do you think what reason can David hold to make such a claim of his righteousness before God?  If David did not claim his own self-righteousness,( and these verses were added after David’s death to praise him instead), then for what purpose do we human tend to eulogize the historical heroes?  Please share your thoughts.

Question 3:       2 Samuel 24: 1—11  

A)        Why did God use "census event" as a way to teach David how to be a good King, a good leader of the people? A census at that time was expensive, time consuming and extremely disturbing to the people, especially the marginal members of the society. Joab carefully expressed his objection to David but David went ahead because “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He incited David against them”.

           Compare David Moses in Exodus 19:23 and 33:12-16. When an order that seemed to be harmfully for the Israelites, Moses not only reminded God what He had promised to His people, he also challenged God to “show me your ways so that I may know you.” How do we define a “good leader” from these narratives?

B)        The same story was repeated in 1 Chronicles 21: 1-27.  However, it was “Satan” , not God who incited David to conduct census in 1 Chronicles.  We profess that God exercises His power over everything but we also see bad things happen to innocent people without apparent reasons. In this story, David initiated the census even though the narratives told us that God was already angry with the Israelites. Ultimately, God punished Israelites with plaques, not David, is it fair, just and righteous to make innocent or less guilty people suffer?