Study Desk

The Lord is our God. He rules the whole world.

At the time God said this, there were only a few of his people, and they were strangers there.

Say to him, "Save us, God our Savior. Bring us back together, and save us from the other nations. Then we will give thanks to your holy name and joyfully praise you."

Praise the Lord , the God of Israel! He always was and will always be worthy of praise! All the people praised the Lord and said "Amen!"

Heman and Jeduthun were with them. They had the job of blowing the trumpets and playing cymbals. They also had the job of playing other musical instruments when songs were sung to God. Jeduthun's sons guarded the gates.

Nathan answered David, "You may do what you want to do. God is with you."

But that night the word of God came to Nathan.

God said, "Go and tell this to my servant David: The Lord says, ‘David, you are not the one to build a house for me to live in.

Nathan told David about the vision and everything God had said.

Then King David went to the Holy Tent and sat before the Lord . David said, " Lord God, you have done so much for me and my family. And I don't understand why.

Besides all these things, God, you let me know what will happen to my family in the future. Lord God, you have treated me like a very important man.

There is no one like you, Lord . There is no God except you. We have never heard of any god doing wonderful things like those!

You took Israel to be your people forever, and you, Lord , became their God!

Keep your promise so that people will honor your name forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord All-Powerful is Israel's God!' I am your servant. Please let my family be strong and continue to serve you.

"My God, you spoke to me, your servant. You made it clear that you would make my family a family of kings. That is why I am being so bold—that is why I am asking you to do these things.

Lord , you are God, and you yourself promised to do these good things for me.

Let's be brave and strong while we fight for our people and for the cities of our God! May the Lord do what he thinks is right."

David had done a bad thing in God's sight, so God punished Israel.

Then David said to God, "I have done something very foolish. I have committed a terrible sin by counting the Israelites. Now, I beg you to take the sin away from me, your servant."

Then Gad went to David. He said to David, "The Lord says, ‘David, choose which punishment you want: three years without enough food, or three months of running away from your enemies while they use their swords to chase you, or three days of punishment from the Lord . Terrible sicknesses will spread through the country, and the Lord 's angel will go through Israel destroying the people.' David, God sent me. Now, you must decide which answer I will give to him."