1 Chronicles 11 recounts how the people make David their king. He leads them to Jerusalem and conquers the city. David has three chief warriors Jashobeam, Joab and Eleazar. They are referred to by the name the Three. With David they win many victories. Once during a battle David becomes thirsty. The Three break into the Philistine camp and draw water from the well. David doesn’t drink it though because they risked their lives to get it. David also has an elite team called the Thirty who do many mighty deeds.

In 1 Chronicles 12 David rebuilds alliances with those who followed Saul. They become a mighty army.

1 Chronicles 13 David gathers all the people of Israel together along with the priests and Levites. They retrieve the ark of God and begin to bring it to Jerusalem. When Uzzah is killed by God for touching the ark David leaves the ark with Obed-edom for three months. God blesses him during this time.

1 Chronicles 14 describes King Hiram of Tyre’s gift of supplies and workers to build David’s house. David’s reign is established. David and the Philistines engage in battle again. David ultimately wins the battle with God’s help. His fame spreads to all the lands around Israel and they fear God.

In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul continues to boast of how God has worked in his life so the Corinthians will listen to him. He describes an out of body experience where he went to Paradise (what we call heaven). He does not say that he specifically was the person but intimates it strongly.

Paul implies that he has experienced many powerful revelations of the Lord. He says he would rather boast of his weaknesses though. He speaks of a thorn in his flesh Satan uses to torment him. Even though he has asked God to remove it God has refused, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you.” He encourages us to be content with our weaknesses and struggles because it is in our weakness that Christ can be revealed.

He again, compares his weakness with the “strength” of the super apostles saying that he will not burden the Corinthian church. He is willing to be spent for them. Everything he and Titus have done is for the building up of the church. Paul also expresses his concern about how he will find the church, that they have not remained strong in the faith since he has been away.

There is a lot of sarcasm expressed in this part of the letter. Paul is clearly angry and disappointed by the church at Corinth. It must have been very disappointing to go into a place to bring the gospel and yet see that the people return to their old ways in his absence. Paul has stated that he is strong in his letters so that he can be gentle in person. Certainly we are seeing very strong opinions being expressed here.