Get the Big Picture

I spent so much of my time when I was a young Christian going deep into the specifics of the Bible passages I was studying. After all, that’s what I saw my pastors doing every week from the pulpit. I was likely inept and diving into certain things in an unhealthy way. I’m sure you wouldn’t do that. You would never make a mountain out of a mole hill.

Well, fast forward to this week, where I had the opportunity to plan a Sunday School lesson for 2 Samuel 16:15-19:39. Let’s just say that I never spent the time to “dig deep” into this passage before. I was always digging deep into an epistle, probably from the Apostle Paul. The passage I was assigned is longer than some of Paul’s epistles in the New Testament. We do seem to skip a lot of the content that God spends much time on in His word.

Fortunately, a few years ago, I created the habit of reading through the Bible every year. I started acting like a layman, if you will. Instead of trying to be my own pastor, I started focusing on getting the big picture of the Scriptures. Reading my 3 or 4 chapters of the Bible a day, praying through a Psalm, etc. In fact, coming to this passage, I felt I hadn’t understood the big picture enough! Who is Zadok really? What’s his deal? Why is he mentioned in Ezekiel of all places when he was hanging around with David in 2 Samuel?

So, I made the chart below to help my Sunday School class get the big picture. I share it with you, knowing that there are probably a few mistakes in it (sorry about that!). I also share it thinking that it would have been nice to start a chart like this years ago. Even now, I started to see big picture connections. Those who blessed David, God’s true king at the time, were blessed by God down through their line (hence Zadok’s mention in Ezekiel). Those who turned against David were snuffed out pretty quickly in the Scriptures.

Feel free to enjoy the chart, or just use it as an example of the kind of thing that you can do to study the Bible. I benefitted from making it either way.

Name	Position	Starts	Ends	Notable Actions
Absalom	David’s third son	2 Sam 3:3 Born at Hebron	2 Sam 18:15 Killed by Joab	Stole hearts of Israel from his father. “King” for a time.
Ahithophel	Counselor	2 Sam 15:12 David’s counselor	2 Sam 17:23 Suicide	Part of A’s conspiracy. Gives A concubine counsel. Strangled himself when A chose Hushai’s counsel instead.
Hushai	David’s friend	2 Sam 15:32	2 Sam 17:15	Stays with A at D’s request. Gives A bad counsel on purpose.
Zadok	Priest	2 Sam 8:17	1 King 2:35 Replaces Abiathar	Tries to bring ark with D out of Jerusalem. Remains in Jerusalem as informant to D. Anoints Solomon as king. God blesses with faithful descendants (Ez 44:15).
Abiathar	Priest	1 Sam 22:20 Notified David of Saul killing priests	1 King 2:35 Replaced by Zadok	In the house of Eli. Messenger to Judah with Zadok. Goes with Adonijah near David’s end.
David	King	1 Sam 16:13 Samuel annoints as king	1 Kings 2:10 Dies	Shepherd. Man after God’s own heart. Wrote many Psalms. Messiah would come from his line.
Amasa	Commander	2 Sam 17:25 A chooses as commander	2 Sam 20:12 Killed by Joab	David chooses Amasa to replace Joab as commander. Joab kills in a similar way to Abner.
Barzillai	Provider	2 Sam 17:27 Assisted David	2 Sam 19:39 Doesn’t go into Jerusalem	Provided food and drink for all those with D when A was “king”. Invited into Jerusalem by David; sent Chimham instead.
Joab	Commander	2 Sam 2:13	1 Kings 2:31 Solomon killed at altar	Brother of Asahel and Abishai. Abner killed brother Asahel. Killed Abner and Amasa. D’s chief commander throughout.
Abishai	Commander	1 Sam 26:6 With D for Saul’s spear	2 Sam 21:17 Loyal to David	Brother of Joab. Chief among D’s thirty mighty men.
Ittai	Commander	2 Sam 15:19	2 Sam 18:12	Foreigner and exile, loyal to D.
Ahimaaz	Zadok’s son	2 Sam 15:27	2 Sam 18:29	Informs D of A’s plan. Delivers news about A’s death.
Shimei	House of Saul	2 Sam 16:5	1 Kings 2:44	Curses D when D is leaving Jerusalem.“ Repents” of the curse; D swears not to kill. Solomon warns; kills when leaves Jerusalem.
Mephibosheth	Son of Jonathan	2 Sam 4:4 Dropped as child	2 Sam 21:7 Spared by David	Honored by D because of Jonathan. Misled by Ziba, couldn’t flee with D. True repentance when D returns to Jerusalem.
Ziba	Servant of Saul	2 Sam 9:2	2 Sam 19:29	Caretaker of Mephibosheth. Probably lies about Mephibosheth. Splits land with Mephibosheth.
Chimham	Servant	2 Sam 19:37	2 Sam 19:40	Servant (or son) or Barzillai. Honored by D in place of Barzillai.