Study Desk

Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had finished passing out of the city.

Then the king said to Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.

So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel's advice.

Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" And he bowed down facedown before the king. He continued, "Blessed be the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king."

And say to Amasa, 'Aren't you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!'"

and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the Angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.

And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saul's father Kish. After they had done everything the king had commanded, God answered their prayers for the land.

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence.

In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried out to my God. And from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears.

For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.

For in you I can charge an army; with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the rock except our God?

God is my strong fortress and He makes my way blameless.

The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! And may God, the rock of my salvation, be exalted-

the God who avenges me and brings down nations beneath me,

These are the last words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:

The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, 'He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,