_In this Samuel Bible study we will go through the three processes of Understanding, Application and Communication.
_A. The Process of UnderstandingWe use the acronym "START" to determine how the original receivers of 2 Samuel understood the message.
1. Situation
2 Samuel 11 verse 1 describes the situation of the well known story of the two lovebirds, David and Bathsheba.
“In
the spring, when the kings normally went out to war, David sent out
Joab, his servants, and all the Israelites. They destroyed the Ammonites
and attacked the city of Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.
Click here
for more information on the background of Exodus
2. Type of Literature
2 Samuel 11: 1-5 is in Prose form. The form of Prose is Narrative and the genre (type) is Story.
3. Analyze the passage
We have seen that the plot structure is the main thing to determine. The plot structure of 2 Samuel 11: 1-5 is Problem – Resolution.
The plot structure is:
Tension - Problem (verses 2-4a): David's eyes wander off
Relief of tension - Resolution (verse 4b): David gets what he wants (she too, maybe)
Result (verse 5 ): Trouble
Message of 2 Samuel 11: 1-5
You
are responsible for your choices. Choices have consequences. No one
is exempt from temptation. Be faithful to your partner.
4. Relate the message to the rest of the Bible
In this step we determine whether the findings of the previous steps relate to the rest of the Bible.
The
message of 2 Samuel 11 relates to the rest of the Bible (Exodus 20:
13,14; Luke 8: 20;). It is very clear that this message is an essential
and therefor applicable to us. There are no references to the triple C's
(Ceremonial - and Civil law as well as Cultural practices).
5. Test your findings
In this step you test your own findings (Biblical interpretation) against those of others.(e.g. commentaries and study Bibles)
The commentaries and study Bibles confirm that the message to the original receivers is:
The message to the original receiver is:
You
are responsible for your choices. Choices have consequences. No one
is exempt from temptation. Be faithful to your partner.
B. The Process of Application
In
this process we determine whether the message to the original receiver
is applicable (essential) or not (incidental) to our situation.
It is very clear that this message is an essential. There are no references to the triple C's (Ceremonial - and Civil law as well as Cultural practices).
C. The Process of Communication
In this process we communicate the message to a specific target group.
Please read Day 66 of “The Bible as Your GPS” or Page 56 of ‘Hearing God’s Tweet” and answer the following questions.
1. What touched you the most in this story and why?
2. The name “David” conjures up images of a shepherd, a poet, a brave soldier, a king and the precursor of Jesus. He is one of the great characters in the Old Testament. But David also had a dark side, which the Bible does not hide. He was a deceiver, a liar, an adulterer and a murderer. Yet David is still called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Why do you think he is called a man after God’s own heart?
Read Day 67 from “The Bible as Your GPS” to get to the answer.
3. Why is it not easy to admit (confess) our wrongdoings?
4. Why is it important to deal with the garbage in our life? Read James 1: 13-15.
5. It is believed that David wrote Psalm 51 after the Bathsheba-episode. Read it as a prayer to close this session.
