House of David Season 1 Episode 2: Bible Study & Discussion Guide
- Kevin Keating
- Sep 11
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
When House of David premiered back in February, I wasn't sure whether the series would merit a set of in-depth Bible studies and discussion guides like the discussion guides I produced for The Chosen Seasons 1-5, and so I focused primarily on producing reviews and analysis of the show. By the end of Season 1, however, it was clear that House of David was not only an excellent show but a great springboard for in-depth Bible study and discussion. Over the past few months, I've been producing and sharing studies with my monthly/annual supporters on Buy Me a Coffee, but now that Wonder Project has announced that House of David Season 2 will premiere on October 5, I'd like to share an abridged form of my first two studies more publicly for any churches, small groups, or youth ministries that want to dig into House of David Season 1 before the release of Season 2.
Below is a set of Bible study and discussion questions from my guide for House of David Episode 2 ("Deep Calls to Deep"). This episode provides (mostly fictional) backstory for David and the House of Saul in addition to depicting the start of Saul's torment at the hand of an evil/troubling spirit (1 Samuel 16:14). However, I've decided to focus the study on Deuteronomy 17:14-20, a biblical passage that provides a picture of God's ideal for kingship that helps us evaluate King's Saul's failures.
More House of David Season 1 Resources
Before Viewing House of David Season 1 Episode 2: Bible Study & Discussion Questions
Before watching the next episode, it helps to take a moment to offer your group members a brief explanation/reminder of what House of David is and to prime them to understand and reflect on its key biblical and theological insights.
Introduction: What is House of David?
House of David is a multi-season streaming series, loosely adapting the story of Saul and David,
originally told in 1 Samuel 15 – 2 Samuel 24. While the core characters and major events are drawn
from the original biblical story, the show also includes many fictional characters and events as well as
details drawn from later Jewish legends.
Bible Study: The Biblical Ideal vs. the Human Reality
After Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, God used him to deliver the Torah (laws) that
would help the Israelites establish a uniquely just and godly nation. After Moses and his assistant,
Joshua, died, the Israelites were ruled by a collection of tribal elders, priests, and military leaders
(known as judges). Still, Moses anticipated how they would one day need a king and offered a
blueprint for kingship in the Torah. As we read the story of Saul and David in the Books of Samuel,
we are supposed to evaluate their actions based on the blueprint Moses gives.
Discuss:
Why did ancient people have kings? What did people look for in a king?
What does the Torah command kings to do? What does it forbid them from doing?
By obeying the Torah, what would a king trust in? What would he not trust in?
What does Saul do that angers God? Why does he do it? Why does it anger God?
Do you think the principles in the Torah should guide how we choose leaders today?
What kind of leaders should we seek? What kind should we reject?
After Viewing House of David Season 1 Episode 2: Discussion Questions
After watching the episode, I think it helps to have a more general, open-ended discussion. While I've provided a handful of questions, don't feel like you need to finish all of them. If one question sparks a fruitful conversation, I would stick with that, even if it means you don't get to some of the later questions.
Discuss:
o What stuck out to you about the show? What could you connect with personally?
o Did you have any questions about what happened? Was anything confusing?
o Which characters reflected the truths we discussed earlier? Which characters did not?
o What’s your biggest takeaway from today’s discussion?
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Further Reading
An adaptation like House of David isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. Greg Laurie's 30 Days with the Man After God's Own Heart devotional helps readers connect the events of House of David with Scripture and their own everyday lives.
FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here for my affiliation policy.
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