Lessons for the Week (Apr. 25)

Temptation
He can help those who are tempted, because he himself was tempted and suffered. (Hebrews 2:18)

Getting Started
We all have temptations. Giving in to them may seem harmless. Cheating on a test or telling a lie might not seem like a big deal. But giving in to temptation can sometimes have ugly consequences. Giving in to some temptations can lead to strong habits that are difficult to break. Do you ever feel like you are powerless to resist temptation? How can you overcome temptations? How would your life be different if you could conquer your worst temptation?

Vocabulary
temptation (n) – desire to have or do something, especially something bad or wrong
consequence (n) – the result of our actions
resist (v) – to say no to something tempting; to refuse to give in
conquer (v) – to overcome something difficult
retreat (v) – to back away, usually from danger
besiege (v) – to surround a place with an army in order to capture it
mourn (v) – to express grief or sadness
contempt (n) – a total lack of respect for someone

Reading God’s Word

2 Samuel 11:2-5

2 One day, late in the afternoon, David got up from his nap and went to the palace roof. As he walked around up there, he saw a woman taking a bath in her house. She was very beautiful. 3 So he sent a messenger to find out who she was, and learned that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. 4 David sent messengers to get her; they brought her to him and he made love to her. . . 5 Afterward she discovered that she was pregnant and sent a message to David to tell him.

At that time, David’s army was at war. Joab was the commander of that army. Uriah was a soldier.

2 Samuel 11:14-17

14 David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. 15 He wrote: "Put Uriah in the front line, where the fighting is heaviest, then retreat and let him be killed." 16 So while Joab was besieging the city, he sent Uriah to a place where he knew the enemy was strong. 17 The enemy troops came out of the city and fought Joab's forces; some of David's officers were killed, and so was Uriah.

2 Samuel 11:26-27

26 When Bathsheba heard that her husband had been killed, she mourned for him. 27 When the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to the palace; she became his wife and bore him a son. But the Lord was not pleased with what David had done.

2 Samuel 12:7b-9 and 13
And this is what the Lord God of Israel says: "I made you king of Israel and rescued you from Saul. 8 I gave you his kingdom and his wives; I made you king over Israel and Judah. If this had not been enough, I would have given you twice as much. 9 Why, then, have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle; you let the Ammonites kill him, and then you took his wife!

13 "I have sinned against the Lord," David said. Nathan replied, “The Lord forgives you; you will not die. 14 But because you have shown such contempt for the Lord in doing this, your child will die.”

Taking a Closer Look
1. What was David’s temptation? (2 Samuel 11:2-5)
2. What are some things David could have done differently? How do you think he could have resisted the temptation?
3. What was David’s plan to hide his sin? (2 Samuel 11:15)
4. David’s first sin led to another, and then another. Has this ever happened in your life?
5. Who suffered because of David’s sin? (2 Samuel 11: 17)
6. What did the Lord say he had given David? What else would he have given him? (2 Samuel 12:7-8)
7. Did David admit his sin? How do you think he felt about it? (2 Samuel 12:13)
8. Did God remove the consequences of David’s sin? (2 Samuel 12:14)

Taking Action
1. To avoid giving in to temptation, ask God to help you make the right choices. Stay away from places, people or situations that might bring temptation.
2. Tell a trusted friend about your struggle with temptation, and ask them to help you resist temptation when it comes.
3. If you have given in to temptation, confess your sin to God and ask for his forgiveness and help. This is an important step in overcoming temptation when it strikes again.

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Chinese Translation
Past Lessons