Study Desk

I ask God to punish me if I don't help David get what the Lord promised him!

God said that he wouldn't let anyone in Saul's family ever be king again and that David would be king instead. He also said that David would rule both Israel and Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.

So do it! After all, God said he would use his servant David to rescue his people Israel from their enemies, especially from the Philistines."

Then they brought some food to David and told him he would feel better if he had something to eat. It was still daytime, and David said, "I swear to God that I'll not take a bite of bread or anything else until sunset!"

I am the chosen king, but Joab and Abishai have more power than I do. So God will have to pay them back for the evil thing they did."

The Lord God was very angry at Uzzah for doing this, and he killed Uzzah right there beside the chest.

David got angry at God for killing Uzzah. He named that place "Bursting Out Against Uzzah," and that's what it's still called.

Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true.

You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God.

And now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants.

Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, "The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David's descendants are his chosen kings."

After all, you really are Israel's God, the Lord All-Powerful. You've told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That's why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.

Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise.

Be brave and fight hard to protect our people and the cities of our God. I pray that the Lord will do whatever pleases him."

Then Nathan told David: You are that rich man! Now listen to what the Lord God of Israel says to you: "I chose you to be the king of Israel. I kept you safe from Saul

So David went without eating to show his sorrow, and he begged God to make the boy well. David would not sleep on his bed, but spent each night lying on the floor.

and took the crown from the statue of their god Milcom. The crown was made of seventy-five pounds of gold, and there was a valuable jewel on it. David put the jewel on his own crown. He also carried off everything else of value.

"Please," she replied, "swear by the Lord your God that no one will be allowed to kill my son!" He said, "I swear by the living Lord that no one will touch even a hair on his head!"

We each must die and disappear like water poured out on the ground. But God doesn't take our lives. Instead, he figures out ways of bringing us back when we run away.

In fact, I knew that you would listen and save my son and me from those who want to take the land that God gave us.