The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 12:17? 2. How does David's fasting in 2 Samuel 12:17 demonstrate genuine repentance? 3. What can we learn about intercession from David's actions in 2 Samuel 12:17? 4. How does David's response connect with Psalm 51's theme of repentance? 5. How should we respond when God doesn't answer our prayers as expected? 6. What role does humility play in seeking God's mercy, as seen in 2 Samuel 12:17? 7. Why did David's servants refuse to eat with him in 2 Samuel 12:17? 8. How does fasting in 2 Samuel 12:17 reflect repentance and humility? 9. What cultural significance does fasting hold in the context of 2 Samuel 12:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 12? 11. Who was Ahithophel in the Bible? 12. 1 Chronicles 14:2 - Why would God's favor be linked to David's increasing power and multiple wives, despite biblical warnings against polygamy elsewhere? 13. 2 Samuel 6:12-15 - Why does the Ark's presence generate such transformative effects, yet no archaeological evidence of its power or existence is found? 14. In 2 Samuel 12:15-23, how can the moral or spiritual purpose of the child's death be reconciled with the idea of a loving and merciful God? Discussion Questions 1. How does David's response to his sin in 2 Samuel 12:17 reflect the biblical principle of repentance, and how can we apply this in our own lives?2. In what ways can the support of a faith community, like the elders in David's household, help us during times of personal crisis or repentance? 3. How does fasting, as demonstrated by David, serve as a tool for spiritual growth and seeking God's guidance in our lives today? 4. What can we learn from David's humility in this passage about our own posture before God when we have sinned? 5. How does the account of David's repentance and God's forgiveness encourage us to approach God with our own failures and seek His mercy?1. What does Nathan's parable teach us about confronting others about their sin? 2. How do you see David's response to his sin as a model of repentance? 3. In what ways does the consequence of David's sin affect his personal life and kingship? 4. Why do you think God chose to punish David so harshly? 5. How does David's reaction to his son's death reflect his understanding of God? 6. Why was it significant that David stopped mourning after his son's death? 7. How does Solomon's birth illustrate God's grace and forgivenessafter David's fall? 8. Compare and contrast David's actions in the case of Uriah and the Ammonites. What does this say about the complexity of his character? 9. How does 2 Samuel 12 relate to the New Testament teaching on sin, repentance, and forgiveness? 10. In our modern context, what can we learn from the way David handled the consequences of his actions? 11. How would you react if you were in Nathan's place, tasked with confronting a king about his sins? 12. How does God's punishment of David inform your understanding of divine justice? 13. In what ways do we experience the consequences of our sins today, even after we have sought and received forgiveness? 14. What role does accountability play in your life, and how can you be more like Nathan in your own environment? 15. How can we find hope and redemption in our own lives, similar to the birth of Solomon after a period of grief and guilt? 16. How does David's story challenge the way you think about personal mistakes and the possibility of redemption? 17. David's repentance led to forgiveness, but not the removal of consequence. How does this influence your understanding of God's forgiveness? 18. David comforted Bathsheba after their child's death. How does this act highlight his compassion and responsibility amidst his guilt? 19. What can David's mixed legacy teach us about the impact of our actions on others, our community, and our relationship with God? 20. If you were to retell the story of David, Bathsheba, and Nathan in a modern context, what might it look like, and what lessons would it convey? Links 2 Samuel 12:17 NIV2 Samuel 12:17 NLT 2 Samuel 12:17 ESV 2 Samuel 12:17 NASB 2 Samuel 12:17 KJV 2 Samuel 12:17 Commentaries Bible Hub |



