Study Desk

You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord , became their God.

"And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever.

And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven's Armies is God over Israel!' And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.

"O Lord of Heaven's Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!'

For you are God, O Sovereign Lord . Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord 's will be done."

Then Nathan said to David, "You are that man! The Lord , the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.

David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground.

Then she said, "Please swear to me by the Lord your God that you won't let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed." "As surely as the Lord lives," he replied, "not a hair on your son's head will be disturbed!"

She replied, "Why don't you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me? You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son.

All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

and rescue us from those who would cut us off from the inheritance God has given us.

Yes, my lord the king will give us peace of mind again.' I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. May the Lord your God be with you."

He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!"

Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city.

Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. "If the Lord sees fit," David said, "he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again.

So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.

When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning.

Absalom followed Ahithophel's advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.

Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "Everything is all right!" He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king."