2015 OCTOBER WEEK TWO LESSON

SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 11, 2015.

WEEK 41

SLANDER

Main Text: 2 Sam 16: 1-6, 19: 24 – 30

Memory Verse: Leviticus 19:16 – Do not go about spreading slander among your people.

Introduction

The word “Slander” is mentioned more than forty (40) times in the Bible. Slander means to say something false and malicious about somebody with the intention to damage his reputation. In Matt. 15:19, it is listed among the vices that proceed from a man’s heart and makes him unclean. The slanderous word may be true of the person like a past sin or weakness in his life, but it is still slander because the intention is to deliberately harm the person and damage his reputation. In today’s reading, Ziba, a crooked character slanders his master Mephibosheth because he wanted to have favour with David. He lied and presented his master in very bad light. Slander is an especially ugly sin because the victim is usually not there to defend himself or herself. When we slander people, we seek to make others hate, isolate, or punish them as people unfit for respect or recognition. In Chapter 19, David returned to Jerusalem and found out the truth about Ziba’s wicked schemes. Let’s study together.

Discussion Questions

1. What is slander?

2. Who was Mephibosheth? Who was Ziba? 2 Sam 9: 1-6

3. What did Ziba tell David about Mephibosheth? 2 Sam 16:1-3.

4. What did Ziba get from his lies? 2 Sam 16:4

5. What was the proof of Mephibosheth’s loyalty to David? 2 Sam 19:24

6. Have you ever been slandered by, or slander somebody before? What happened?

7. How can we free ourselves from the spirit of slander? Ex. 23: 1-3, Prov. 6: 1

Conclusion

The scripture has much to say about slander. In the Psalms, David is distressed by those who slander him, (Ps. 31:13, 38:20, 41:6, 54:5). Slander does to the spirit what a murderer’s sword does to the body. The slanderer can concoct any story and spread it without the victim being aware. When we are tempted to malign somebody, we should remember the Lord’s Golden rule, “Do unto others as you want them do to you”. Slander is akin to false accusations and Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Let us not join him.

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