Study Desk

They came to encourage David to eat while it was still day. But he made a promise, saying, "May God punish me terribly if I eat bread or anything else before the sun sets!"

He became stronger and stronger, because the Lord God All-Powerful was with him.

Then he and all his people went to Baalah in Judah to bring back the Ark of God. The Ark is called by the Name, the name of the Lord All-Powerful, whose throne is between the gold creatures with wings.

They put the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of Abinadab's house on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, led the new cart

which had the Ark of God on it. Ahio was walking in front of it.

When David's men came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of God.

The Lord was angry with Uzzah and killed him because of what he did. So Uzzah died there beside the Ark of God.

The people told David, "The Lord has blessed the family of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because the Ark of God is there." So David went and brought it up from Obed-Edom's house to Jerusalem with joy.

Then David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!"

Nathan told David everything God had said in this vision.

Then King David went in and sat in front of the Lord . David said, "Lord God , who am I? What is my family? Why did you bring me to this point?

But even this is not enough for you, Lord God . You have also made promises about my future family. This is extraordinary, Lord God .

"What more can I say to you, Lord God , since you know me, your servant, so well!

This is why you are great, Lord God ! There is no one like you. There is no God except you. We have heard all this ourselves!

There is no nation like your people Israel. They are the only people on earth that God chose to be his own. You made your name well known. You did great and wonderful miracles for them. You went ahead of them and forced other nations and their gods out of the land. You freed your people from slavery in Egypt.

You made the people of Israel your very own people forever, and, Lord , you are their God.

"Now, Lord God, keep the promise forever that you made about my family and me, your servant. Do what you have said.

Then you will be honored always, and people will say, ‘The Lord All-Powerful is God over Israel!' And the family of your servant David will continue before you.

" Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, you have said to me, ‘I will make your family great.' So I, your servant, am brave enough to pray to you.

Lord God , you are God, and your words are true. And you have promised these good things to me, your servant.