2 Samuel 7-8 Acts 14

2 Samuel 7-8
10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. " 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me ; your throne will be established forever.' "

I assume God is telling David about Jesus, how Jesus will be punished for our sins and how God will set up an eternal kingdom through Jesus. (Vs 10-15) and that when God refers to a place where the Israelites won't be disturbed, he's talking about heaven? It's good to read through the 2 gospels that show the line of David and how Jesus came through them.

David had a high view of God! God continued to bless David and gave him victory wherever he went. (vs 14) 22 "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O LORD, have become their God.
28 O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."

15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

Sovereign Lord, You are God! Thank you God for being in charge, for being trustworthy, for promising us eternal life in your kingdom. Thank you for giving life to the gentiles and now just the jew. Just as David did with his people, help me to do what is just and right in Your sight.

Acts
2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

The words that we say effect other people! Here we have disgruntled Jews who "stirred up and poisoned minds"! We see this too when Stephen was stoned, men bringing false witnesses to testify against him!

Still, despite the opposition, Paul and Barnabas "spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord." (vs 3) God enabled them to perform signs and miracles for the people. Paul walks over to a lame man and was able to SEE how he had faith to be healed. (vs 9) I wonder what that looked like? A crippled man looking intently by, could Paul read his thoughts or see his soul?

Paul was persecuted for speaking boldly and then asked the people....15"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. Their response (vs 19) They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 21They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

27On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

After being stoned, Paul got up and walked right back into the city! Wow. He continued to preach the good news through various places, he strengthened and encouraged the disciples and testified that we as Christians will face hardships, in fact, it says "MANY" hardships!