2 Samuel 3-6 Acts 12-13

God, I thank you for an awesome care meeting today, that you're growing the ministry at CBC and blessing us with more people to serve!

1 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

So interesting to see that David demanded his wife (Saul's daughter) be returned to him!

Poor Abner was trying to help get David into his rightful position as King over Israel and was murdered because Joab didn't wait on the Lord for revenge but sought revenge for his brothers death himself.

2 men set out on their own agenda to kill Ish-Bosheth without consulting David. When they kill the man, David doesn't respond they way they thought he would! 11 when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!" David had them put to death!

Acts 12-
King Herod had Peter arrested (after killing James, brother of John). He had LOTS of men guarding Peter in prison! (vs 4 four squads of four soldiers each)

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

The reaction to the woman at the door stating Peter was there, it's so funny! They are praying God will release Peter and God hears and answers their prayers and they don't believe it!

12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" 15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.


God, when I pray, help me not to doubt that you 1) hear my prayers 2)can and will answer in your timing.

2 Samuel 5-6

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
10 And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

12 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

19 so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."

23 so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."

How cool to hear (vs 24) the sounds of marching in the tops of the trees because God was with them, striking down the enemies in front of them.

Again and again we see David coming before the presence of the Lord asking for guidance before making decisions.

16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

I really feel for Michal in this passage. Her father had given her away in marriage to David, then took her back and married her off to another man. Then David says he wants his wife back after 7 years and he'd already married 2 other women. Then, he becomes king and takes on more wives and concubines! She sees David happy and blessed and vs 16 says "she despised him in her heart." She ends up speaking out to her husband in disrespect (vs 20) and God didn't allow her to have any children because of it.

Sometimes the attitudes we have in our hearts can be SIN too! It's not always an outward act. We need to be fully aware of our thoughts and as Paul says in 2 Corinthians "5We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."