Study Desk

The whole assembly agreed to this, for the people could see it was the right thing to do.

The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom's house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned.

And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it.

Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it.

He said to them, "You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord , the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.

But as the Ark of the Lord 's Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him.

They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord , for he is coming to judge the earth.

Give thanks to the Lord , for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the Lord 's Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.

They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the Lord each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the Law of the Lord , as he had commanded Israel.

David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord , for "his faithful love endures forever."

Nathan replied to David, "Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you."

"Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in.

And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the past,

starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies. "‘Furthermore, I declare that the Lord will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!

For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.

He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever.