The first portion of 2 Samuel 23 continues in the poetry of chapter 22 but it really speaks to God's initiative of the monarchy. It is God who has anointed and raised up David to be God's servant. The purpose of David's anointing was do rule over the people justly. The purpose of the king is not to rule as the king sees fit, but to act on behalf of God to maintain God's justice in the world.
Like God's covenant with Israel, the covenant with the king is everlasting, in other words it is not dependent upon this world but is originated and maintained by God. It is God's Will that will determine success.
The second portion is a list of the mighty men who have journeyed with David. While these are mighty men, notice that the accolades begin by describing that their victories are garnered by the support and power of God Almighty. This is important because Israel is to understand that it is God that leads Israel in and out of power. Also, it is not just David doing all the work, God's work is spread among many in a rather democratic way.
The middle section in vs. 13-17 form a section that speak of a story of the human David, who is mighty warrior yet very human. It is another means of creating this aura of great man, who is relatable to the average person.
Finally, the last section involves lesser heroes, including Uriah, the Hittite.
So why is God angry at David in 2 Samuel 24? We really do not know, but we are told that God incites David to sin, and this sin involves a census. What is so bad about the census? Well it is an oppressive action for it is used for either tax purposes or military purposes, both are not necessarily a good thing. When Moses takes a census of the tribes it is to prepare for the invasion of the Promised Land. The second time it is taken, it signifies the new generation that has been raised following the forced wandering after Israel's refusal to enter into the Promised Land. For David to conduct a census demonstrates the danger of the king, it is the bureaucracy that will now run the nation and not God.
Joab understands what this census represents and he protests as only he can. David will not relent and the next eight to nine months are spent determining the number of fighting men Israel and Judah contain, roughly 1.3 million men.
At some point in time David comes to an understanding that he has sinned. Through the prophet Gad, David is given three choices, but it would seem that David is again paralyzed and cannot take responsibility for this actions. He leaves the punishment up to God, who then sends pestilence upon the people. Just when the pestilence is about to consume Jerusalem, God relents, God repents. In yet another sign of God's amazing depth, we see the compassion the God holds for his children.
David is then instructed to build an altar on the threshing floor of a descendent of the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of Jerusalem. David must pay for this floor and build the altar as his penance. He does and God hears his prayer and supplication.
God hears, at the beginning of Samuel, God hears Hannah. At the end, God hears David. God's existence is one of hearing and living with the Children of God.
1 Corinthians 10
Leading up to this chapter Paul has been trying to show the Corinthians how eating meals sacrificed to other gods might not be the best behavior. At first he points out that to do so might lead the "weakest" in the community to doubt in their belief. Second he points out that just because we are free, that does not mean we can do whatever we want. In following Paul's example the church at Corinth learns to subvert their own freedom for the sake of others. Finally in this chapter, Paul uses the history of Israel to point out how close the Corinthians are to worshiping idols.
Israel has shown through its errors that one should not put God to the test, that God is a jealous God who does not allow idolatry to go unpunished. Paul warns the people that if they know that the meal they are partaking in is being dedicated to another god, whether that god exists or not, they are participating in idolatry. Paul shows several examples from Israel's history how the Corinthians present behavior is idolatry and he warns them.
He then contrasts the meals that they are participating in with the covenantal meal that is celebrated in the Church. By partaking of the meal, the community is spiritually one with Christ and one another. If one partakes of this meal, one cannot then partake of a meal that worships demons and other powers.
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