The scriptures read are 2 Samuel 4-6. Psalm 91 and Acts 6.
2 Samuel 4. When are people gonna realize that David does not reward king-killers? Unless you consider death a reward.
2 Samuel 5. David is approached by the other tribes and is finally anointed king over all Israel.
David captures Jerusalem and makes it his city. (The enigmatic reference to the water system probably refers to the well shaft that connected the city with the spring in the valley. Either David cut off the water supply or his men may have chimneyed up the shaft to get into the city.) Zion is on a hill and therefore a good place to defend. No doubt David secured the water supply and the tunnel to it after making Jerusalem his.
2 Samuel 6. David fetches the Ark of the Covenant to consolidate the secular and spiritual power of Israel in one place, Jerusalem. Bit tricky getting the Ark there. Don't know why he didn't have Levites carry it as it was designed to be moved.
David gets carried away dancing before the Ark as it enters the city. Michel, his first wife, thinks he's flashing the ladies on purpose. There goes that relationship. But David has plenty of other women. Unfortunately.
Psalm 91. God protects the one who trusts him. Another beautiful and memorable psalm. Satan quotes verses 11 and 12 to Jesus during his temptation in the wilderness.
Acts 6. Tension develops between the Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking believers--all Jews at this point. The Hellenists think their widows are being discriminated against in the distribution of food to the poor in the church. The Apostles decide to delegate this ministry to a group of men whom the laity elect. Thus we get the creation of deacons, the first order of ordained ministry to emerge in the church. Synagogues had a similar office that dealt with taking up offerings and giving it to the most needy members. Among these deacons is Stephen who inspires envy and jealousy. So he is accused of what sounds like a combination of what Jesus and later Paul would be charged with: tearing down the temple and throwing out the law of Moses.
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