AGENDA – A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

OPENING PRAYER - Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to read and study Your Word. Please guide our thoughts and open our hearts to understand the truths You want to reveal. In Jesus' name, Amen.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – DAVID AND GOLIATH
POINT OF INTEREST - Six cubits and a span put Goliath anywhere from 6 feet, 9 inches to 10 feet! Clearly, Goliath's size was intimidating and in great contrast to the young David. 
TRAIL CROSSING - Saul gave David his armor, but it was so heavy and cumbersome that David removed the armor before going to battle Goliath. Instead of using heavy armor, David trusted in God's protection. Read Ephesians 6:10-17 to hear more about the armor of God.
SCENIC VIEW - One of the low points of Saul's story is when he consults a medium, someone who claims to speak to the dead, which is strictly prohibited in Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6. Read the story of Saul and the medium at Endor in 1 Samuel 28:3-25.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – DAVID BRINGS THE ARK TO JERUSALEM
SCENIC VIEW - The psalms that David wrote would become the prayer book of God's people through the centuries, the very same prayers of praise and longing and grief and joy that are sung and said in churches and synagogues around the world today. You can find those psalms of David, as well as some by other, unknown authors, in the Bible's book of Psalms.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – GOD'S COVENANT WITH DAVID
POINT OF INTEREST - David wants to build a house for God, but God reminds David that he has always moved around in the midst of the people in a tent, like a nomad, and has never asked for a house. Nevertheless, in the coming decades, David's son, Solomon, will be the one who builds the temple, God's house. What God does promise is that God's Kingdom will be established through David. We will see this fulfilled in Jesus, who comes from David's lineage (Matthew 1:1).
POINT OF INTEREST - Almost every time that Bathsheba is mentioned in the Bible, she is called "the wife of Uriah," as a reminder of David's sin. Yet even so, it is through Bathsheba that the Messiah will come, and she is named in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:6.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – DAVID HAS URIAH KILLED
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – NATHAN CONDEMNS DAVID
TRAIL CROSSING - The kind of story that Nathan tells David is a parable. It is a little story with a big point that is meant to teach David, the listener, about himself, his actions, and God. Later in the New Testament, we will see that Jesus often teaches through parables. Check out a few of Jesus' most famous stories in Luke 15:4-32 and Matthew 13:31-44.
Scripture Citations 1 SAMUEL 17:1-11, 32-52
QUESTIONS FOR THE JOURNEY 
1.	The story of David and Goliath is familiar, and yet most of the time we barely scratch the surface when reading it. What did you notice, reading the story this time, that you might not have noticed before? 
2.	What does David's relationship with God look like? What impact might the example of his life and relationship with God have on our relationship with God? 
3.	In what ways are Saul and David similar as leaders? In what ways do they differ? What does each king's reign teach us about God? 
4.	Nathan tells David a story that helps David see his own life and actions more clearly. Have you ever had a story (from books, movies, or history) that helped you see your life more clearly? What was it and what did it teach you? 
5.	In our journey with God, there are times when we make a wrong turn, as David does in this story. Repentance means "turning around" and getting back on track. What does turning around look like in David's story? When are sometimes when you have taken a wrong turn and needed to turn around?
It is fascinating how the stories of David—from the shepherd boy with a sling to the broken king seeking mercy—continue to offer new layers of depth every time we revisit them. Here are some reflections on those specific questions.

1. New Perspectives on David vs. Goliath
While we often focus on the "underdog" victory, a closer look reveals a few overlooked details:
•	The Armor Issue: David doesn't just reject Saul’s armor because it’s heavy; he rejects it because he hasn't "tested" it. He relies on what he knows—his experience as a shepherd. It’s a reminder that God uses our specific life skills, not someone else's "equipment."
•	The Five Stones: People often ask why he took five stones if he only needed one. Some scholars suggest Goliath had four brothers. It shows David wasn't just brave; he was prepared for a larger battle than the one immediately in front of him.
•	The Theological Stance: David is the only person on the battlefield talking about God. While the soldiers are talking about the giant’s height and weapons, David is focused on the covenant.
2. David’s Relationship with God
David’s relationship with God is defined by radical intimacy and brutal honesty.
•	The "Man After God's Own Heart": This doesn't mean David was perfect (he clearly wasn't). It means his heart was oriented toward God. When he succeeded, he danced; when he failed, he wept and repented.
•	Impact on Us: David’s life gives us permission to be "messy" before God. It teaches us that God values authenticity over performance. Our relationship with God isn't a legal contract; it’s a living connection that can survive our darkest moments if we remain honest.
3. Saul vs. David: A Tale of Two Kings
Both men were chosen by God, handsome, and successful in battle, but their leadership styles diverged significantly:
Feature	King Saul	King David	
Source of Identity	Public opinion and his own reputation.	His relationship with God.	
Response to Sin	Blames others or makes excuses.	Takes full ownership ("I have sinned").	
Focus	Keeping his power and throne.	Seeking God's presence and the Ark.	
What they teach us about God:
Saul shows us that God respects our free will—He gave the people the king they asked for, even if he wasn't best for them. David shows us that God’s grace is greater than our greatest failure. God doesn't look for the most qualified leader, but the most surrendered one.
4. The Power of "Nathan’s Story"
Nathan used a parable about a rich man stealing a poor man's lamb to bypass David’s defenses. This is the "Mirror Effect" of storytelling.
•	Why it works: Stories allow us to judge a situation objectively before we realize we are judging ourselves.
•	Personal Reflection: Many people find that books like The Chronicles of Narnia or movies like The Lion King (themes of identity and returning home) act as mirrors. They teach us that we cannot run from who we are meant to be.
5. The Meaning of "Turning Around"
In the Hebrew tradition, repentance (teshuva) is a physical turning.
•	In David's Story: After Nathan confronts him, David doesn't execute the messenger or hide the evidence. He writes Psalm 51. He turns away from his pride and back toward God's mercy. He accepts the consequences of his actions without bitterness.
•	In Our Lives: Turning around usually happens when we hit a wall of our own making. It looks like stopping the "forward motion" of a bad habit or a lie, admitting the error, and physically changing direction—even if the new path is uphill and difficult.
NEXT STEPS 
•	Many of the most beloved poems and hymns in the book of Psalms are attributed to David. Read a few psalms (Psalm 23, 51, 63, and 139 are good possibilities, among others). What do you notice in reading these psalms? How do they help you understand David? What do they say about David's relationship with God? What might you learn from them about how to talk with God? 
•	The friendship between David and Jonathan is legendary. Read the story of their friendship in 1 Samuel 18-20. Reflect on some of the central friendships in your life. This week, take time to give thanks for those friendships, remembering them in your prayers. Write at least one of your friends a note, telling them what they have meant in your life.  
It is moving to see how David’s life is balanced between these two pillars: his vertical relationship with God (the Psalms) and his horizontal relationship with others (Jonathan). Reading the Psalms alongside his life story makes him one of the most relatable figures in history because he expresses the full spectrum of human emotion.

Reflections on the Psalms
When you read these specific Psalms together, a few striking patterns emerge:
•	Radical Vulnerability: David doesn’t "perform" for God. In Psalm 51, he is utterly broken by his own moral failure, while in Psalm 139, he is overwhelmed by the fact that God knows his every thought. He doesn't try to hide his shadows; he brings them into the light.
•	The "Thou" Relationship: David’s language is intensely personal. He doesn't talk about God as a distant concept; he talks to God as a Shepherd, a Shield, and a Sanctuary. In Psalm 63, he describes his soul "thirsting" for God in a dry land, showing that his relationship was based on deep, felt need rather than religious duty.
•	Wrestling with Reality: David shows us that talking to God isn't just about giving thanks—it’s about processing life. He complains, he questions, and he cries out.
What we learn about talking with God: David teaches us that the "right" way to pray is to be honest. We don’t have to wait until we are "good" or "calm" to approach God. We can bring our mess, our guilt, and our excitement to Him exactly as they are.

The David and Jonathan Bond
The friendship between David and Jonathan is a beautiful example of what it means to be "for" someone else.
•	Selflessness: Jonathan was the heir to the throne, yet he recognized God’s hand on David and supported him anyway. True friendship, as seen here, is free from the poison of comparison or competition.
•	A "Safe Harbor": In 1 Samuel 20, we see the elaborate risks Jonathan takes to protect David. Their friendship provided a safe space for David when the rest of the world (specifically King Saul) was hostile.
A Moment for Reflection:
Think of a friend who has "strengthened your hand in God" during a difficult season. Much like Jonathan did for David, these friends are often the ones who remind us of our true identity when we are too exhausted or afraid to remember it ourselves.

CLOSING PRAYER - Lord, thank you for this time of study and for Your Word. As we leave, please help us to carry the truths we've learned into our daily lives and to live out Your teachings. May we continue to grow in faith and reflect Your love to others. Amen.