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Galatians 5:16-23 teaches that at any moment we are either walking by the Holy Spirit or according to the sin nature. Walking by the Spirit, enjoying fellowship with God, walking in the light are virtually synonymous. During these times, the Holy Spirit is working in us to illuminate our minds to the truth of Scripture and to challenge us to apply what we learn. But when we sin, we begin to live based on the sin nature. Our works do not count for eternity. The only way to recover is to confess (admit, acknowledge) our sin to God the Father and we are instantly forgiven, cleansed, and recover our spiritual walk (1 John 1:9). Please make sure you are walking by the Spirit before you begin your Bible study, so it will be spiritually profitable.

1st and 2nd Samuel (2015)

1st and 2nd Samuel (2015)

February 2015 - November 2020

The quote from the title slide is from the words of a young David in 1 Samuel 17:37, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine”, that we derive the central theme for this study of 1st and 2nd Samuel, THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’s.

We all face overwhelming circumstances in our life and the only thing that can give us strength to overcome those horrific circumstances is a realization that it is not by our might or power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the only way that we can overcome and address the challenges that we have in life.

One scholar has praised the writing of Samuel: “It is no exaggeration to say that the author of Samuel produced what is still the best book ever written in the Hebrew language.”

In this series we will cover an array of significant biblical teachings on everything from how to face and surmount the giants in our lives, to biblical worship and praise, to the divine viewpoint of politics and leadership, to the importance of the Davidic Covenant and Messianic prophecies, and so much more. An understanding of these key teachings in Samuel is foundational to the rest of the Old Testament, the arrival and mission of the Messiah, the gospel, and many passages in the New Testament. Every believer should have a thorough understanding of the material covered in this series.

Note: Classes in this series are arranged with the most recent class appearing first.

Video DVDs of these lessons can be ordered here and here.

To view all video Bible studies in the 1st and 2nd Samuel series, click here (Vimeo) or here (YouTube).

To listen to this series as a podcast, copy and paste the following URL into your podcast software.
www.deanbibleministries.org/podcasts/2015-12samuel.xml
 
Tue, Jul 14, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 15 & 2 Samuel 20
Duration: 1 hr 20 mins 33 secs
Everywhere we look we see evildoers trying to destroy our country. Should we protest against them? Listen to this lesson to learn that God has established authority and believers are instructed to obey it. See the exception to that principle when someone is ordered to disobey God in some manner. Hear a panorama of biblical rebels who were doing what was right. Find out that tyrannical government is to be resisted. See if Martin Luther’s rebellion against the Roman Catholic Church was just. Learn about the Magdeburg Confession and its application.
Tue, Jul 21, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 15 & 2 Samuel 20
Duration: 1 hr 18 mins 41 secs
Must we do everything our government tells us to do no matter what they demand of us? Listen to this lesson to learn biblical principles that answer the question of whether it is ever right to say we cannot obey something that is ordered. Hear a historical summary beginning with Martin Luther of how the Bible has shown when a government is unjust. See what is the difference between the American War for Independence and what is going on in the rebellion and riots of today.
Tue, Jul 28, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 15 & 2 Samuel 20
Duration: 1 hr 21 mins
The world around us seems to be going up in flames with riots and rebellions. How can we understand what is going on? Listen to this message to learn the underlying causes of the problems. Find out the meaning of social justice. Hear a comparison between Marxism and Christianity to gain a deeper understanding of the turmoil. See what the organizations of Black Lives Matter and Antifa espouse and see the close connection between their goals. As believers see how we are to talk to those involved in these causes to win them to Christ with respect and gentleness.
Tue, Aug 04, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 21:1-14
Duration: 1 hr 16 mins 52 secs
Should people have to pay for the wrongs their families or countrymen did before they were born? Listen to this message to hear principles of biblical justice. Listen to the episode where Israel was tricked into making a covenant with the Gibeonites and what King Saul and his family did to them later. Find out how David handled the situation and made a wise decision about how the matter should be handled. As believers today, we should pray that true biblical justice would be restored to our land.
Tue, Aug 11, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 22
Duration: 1 hr 7 mins 36 secs
Are you a vampire Christian? Listen to this message to measure yourself against four ways Christians act like vampires. Contrast these with David’s praising God for delivering him when he was almost overwhelmed by his enemies. See God intervenes in the lives of those who trust Him to protect and deliver them from all the evil around them. Recognize that we are to be loyal to God at all times in spite of our failures.
Tue, Aug 18, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
Duration: 1 hr 11 mins 55 secs
That’s not fair! Everyone is outraged at times over the unfairness they see all around them. Listen to this lesson to learn that we live in a fallen world and that life is not fair. Find out that the Bible defines perfect justice and promises a time when there will be a ruler, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring justice to all. Until then, we need to accept that no group can bring justice by marching and demanding it. See that as believers we must be conformed in our thinking to God’s plan for our lives by studying the Word of God and walking by means of the Spirit.
Tue, Aug 25, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 21:15-22 & 2 Samuel 23:8-39
Duration: 1 hr 9 mins 36 secs
How does God protect us? By supernatural means or by using others around us? Listen to this lesson to learn that many times God uses others to carry out His protection of us. Hear a number of incidents when David was in need of protection and the means that God accomplished this. Find out some of David’s character virtues in the way he responded to these men. Just like David, today we need to learn that God is our defense and our deliverer and we can trust Him in every circumstance.

The movie, “American Gospel: Christ Alone‘ that Dr. Dean discussed in this lesson is available on Netflix.

Tue, Sep 01, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 24:1-25
Duration: 53 mins 30 secs
Why was it wrong for David to “number the people?” Listen to this message to learn what it means that the anger of the Lord burned against the people and find out what the mental attitude was behind taking this census. Learn what Satan’s role was in this. See the destructiveness of arrogance in a believer’s life.
Tue, Sep 08, 2020
Passage: 2 Samuel 24:1-25
Duration: 1 hr 16 mins 37 secs
What mental attitude motivated David to number the people and see how destructive it is to all of us. Find out the importance of passing the prosperity test. See reasons why the numbers mentioned here are literal numbers. Hear David’s confession of his sin, the choices God gives him for discipline, and the results of this. Watch a video of the location of Araunah’s threshing floor and the part it played in this instance.
Tue, Sep 15, 2020
Passage: Psalm 30
Duration: 1 hr 6 mins 56 secs
Have you offered praise to God today? Listen to this lesson to learn what it means to praise God and begin to study a psalm written by David when he was praising God for forgiveness after he failed the prosperity test. Find out that it is God’s character that we praise and what He has done for us in our lives. Hear about two kinds of praise and the building of both the Tabernacle and the Temple. Remember to tell others what God has done and is doing for you.