Study Desk

They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.

David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord —to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord , the God of Israel.

He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.

Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you."

Praise the Lord , the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted "Amen!" and praised the Lord .

They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.

Nathan replied to David, "Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you."

But that same night God said to Nathan,

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God!

"O Lord , there is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!

What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations that stood in their way.

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

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

"O my God, I have been bold enough to pray to you because you have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him—a dynasty of kings!

For you are God, O Lord . 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."

God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it.

Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing."

And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But just as the angel was preparing to destroy it, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, "Stop! That is enough!" At that moment the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.