Thy Kingdom Come!
Verse of the week to live by:
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9).
Bible Readings 2025, Week 16; April 14-20.
April 14; 1 Sa 27-28; John 6;
1. 1Sam.27:2; “So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath.”
Where was Gath?
2. John 6:32-35; “Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
How do you understand the words of Jesus that He is the bread of life?
3. John 6:37-40; “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
How do the words of Jesus in v.40 teach about the perseverance of the believers?
April 15; 1 Sa 29-31; John 7;
1. 1Sam. 31:4; “Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.” But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.”
How did the death of Saul open the way for David and God’s kingdom?
2. John7:37; “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”
Which festival?
3. John 7:42; “Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”
Where in the Old Testament do we read about Jesus coming from David’s descendants? What is the relationship between Jesus, David, and the kingdom of God?
April16; 2 Sa 1-2
1. 2Sam.1:14; “David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
How do you understand the phrase the LORD’s anointed?
2. 2Sam.1:18; “He ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):
What was the book of Jashar?
3. 2Sam.2:1-4; “In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.”
When David was told that the men from Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul.”
Where was David becoming a king first?
April 17; 2 Sa 3-5; John 8
1. 2 Sam. 4:4; “(Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)”
How did David keep his covenant with Johnathan?
2. John 8:36-37; “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.”
Please explain the underlined.
3. John 8:56-58; “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Why did Jesus say, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” not before Abraham was born, I was?
April 18; 2 Sa 6-7; John 9;
1. 2Sam. 6:22; “Will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.”
Please compare this saying of David and the saying of John the Baptist “He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (John1:27). How do you describe your relationship with Christ?
2. John 9:2; “His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
What is wrong with this question?
3. John 9:35-37; “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Where in this passage does Jesus declare He is the Son of God?
April 19; 2 Sa 8-10
1. 2 am.9:6-8; “When Mephibosheth Son of Jonathan, the Son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
Why did David honor Johnathan’s son, Mephibosheth?
2. 2Sam.9:9; “Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.
Who was Ziba?
3. 2Sam. 10:15; “After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped.”
Who were the Arameans?
April 20; 2 Sa 11-12; John 10;
1. 2Sam.11:1-2; “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautifu.”
What was David’s famous sin? Did God forgive David for this sin? Please refer to Ps.51.
2. John 10:7; “Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”
What did Jesus mean by saying that He is the gate for the sheep?
3. John 10:27-30; “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
How do you understand the underlined passages? How was the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus guaranteeing our eternal life?