Study Desk

He caused them great distress by pouring out his anger and fierce rage, which came as messengers of death.

He did not restrain his anger or spare their lives, but killed them with a plague.

Then he led his people out like a shepherd and guided them through the desert.

He brought them to his holy land, to the mountains which he himself conquered.

He drove out the inhabitants as his people advanced; he divided their land among the tribes of Israel and gave their homes to his people.

But they rebelled against Almighty God and put him to the test. They did not obey his commandments,

God was angry when he saw it, so he rejected his people completely.

He abandoned his tent in Shiloh, the home where he had lived among us.

He allowed our enemies to capture the Covenant Box, the symbol of his power and glory.

He was angry with his own people and let them be killed by their enemies.

He drove his enemies back in lasting and shameful defeat.

There he built his Temple like his home in heaven; he made it firm like the earth itself, secure for all time.

He chose his servant David; he took him from the pastures,

where he looked after his flocks, and he made him king of Israel, the shepherd of the people of God.

God presides in the heavenly council; in the assembly of the gods he gives his decision:

I am listening to what the Lord God is saying; he promises peace to us, his own people, if we do not go back to our foolish ways.

Surely he is ready to save those who honor him, and his saving presence will remain in our land.

The Lord built his city on the sacred hill;

His enemies will never succeed against him; the wicked will not defeat him.

I will crush his foes and kill everyone who hates him.