Study Desk

I can rest easy now that you have given your decision. You know the difference between right and wrong just like an angel of God, and I pray that the Lord your God will be with you.

but only to show you the other side of this problem. You must be as wise as the angel of God to know everything that goes on in this country."

Ahithophel gave such good advice in those days that both Absalom and David thought it came straight from God.

Ahimaaz called out, "We won! We won!" Then he bowed low to David and said, "Your Majesty, praise the Lord your God! He has given you victory over your enemies."

And tell Amasa, "You're my nephew, and with God as a witness, I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab."

then he lied about me. You're as wise as an angel of God, so do what you think is right.

David had their bones taken to the land of Benjamin and buried in a side room in Saul's family burial place. Then he gave orders for the bones of the men who had been hanged to be buried there. It was done, and God answered prayers to bless the land.

Our Lord and our God, you are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector.

Our Lord and God, you are my lamp. You turn darkness to light.

You alone are God! Only you are a mighty rock.

These are the last words of David the son of Jesse. The God of Jacob chose David and made him a great king. The Mighty God of Israel loved him. When God told him to speak, David said:

Our Mighty Rock, the God of Jacob, told me, "A ruler who obeys God and does right

I have ruled this way, and God will never break his promise to me. God's promise is complete and unchanging; he will always help me and give me what I hope for.

Joab answered, "I hope the Lord your God will give you a hundred times more soldiers than you already have. I hope you will live to see that day! But why do you want to do a thing like this?"

So David told Joab and the army officers, "Go to every tribe in Israel, from the town of Dan in the north all the way south to Beersheba, and count everyone who can serve in the army. I want to know how many there are." Joab answered, "I hope the Lord your God will give you a hundred times more soldiers than you already have. I hope you will live to see that day! But why do you want to do a thing like this?" But when David refused to change his mind, Joab and the army officers went out and started counting the people.

to take a message to David. Gad went to David and told him: You must choose one of three ways for the Lord to punish you: Will there be seven years when the land won't grow enough food for your people? Or will your enemies chase you and make you run from them for three months? Or will there be three days of horrible disease in your land? Think about it and decide, because I have to give your answer to God, who sent me.

Take them—they're yours! I hope the Lord your God will be pleased with you."

But David answered, "No! I have to pay you what they're worth. I can't offer the Lord my God a sacrifice that I got for nothing." So David bought the threshing place and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver.

Bathsheba answered: Your Majesty, you promised me in the name of the Lord your God that my son Solomon would be the next king.

Then he said, "The living Lord God of Israel has kept me safe. And so today, I will keep the promise I made to you in his name: Solomon will be the next king!"