Study Desk

In my trouble I called to the Lord ; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

He rescued me from my powerful enemies and from all those who hate me— they were too strong for me.

This God—how perfect are his deeds, how dependable his words! He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.

He trains me for battle, so that I can use the strongest bow.

You give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies.

They look for help, but no one saves them; they call to the Lord , but he does not answer.

David son of Jesse was the man whom God made great, whom the God of Jacob chose to be king, and who was the composer of beautiful songs for Israel. These are David's last words:

The second of the famous three was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh. One day he and David challenged the Philistines who had gathered for battle. The Israelites fell back,

David answered, "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by people. Let the Lord himself be the one to punish us, for he is merciful."

and asked, "Your Majesty, why are you here?" David answered, "To buy your threshing place and build an altar for the Lord , in order to stop the epidemic."

But the king answered, "No, I will pay you for it. I will not offer to the Lord my God sacrifices that have cost me nothing." And he bought the threshing place and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver.

A search was made all over Israel for a beautiful young woman, and in Shunem they found such a woman named Abishag, and brought her to the king.

Now that Absalom was dead, Adonijah, the son of David and Haggith, was the oldest surviving son. He was a very handsome man. David had never reprimanded him about anything, and he was ambitious to be king. He provided for himself chariots, horses, and an escort of fifty men.

Then King David sent for Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah. When they came in,

Then they all followed him back, shouting for joy and playing flutes, making enough noise to shake the ground.

and Zadok and Nathan anointed him as king at Gihon Spring. Then they went into the city, shouting for joy, and the people are now in an uproar. That's the noise you just heard.

King Solomon then sent for Adonijah and had him brought down from the altar. Adonijah went to the king and bowed low before him, and the king said to him, "You may go home."

"There is something else. You remember what Joab did to me by killing the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. You remember how he murdered them in time of peace as revenge for deaths they had caused in time of war. He killed innocent men, and now I bear the responsibility for what he did, and I suffer the consequences.

He had been king of Israel for forty years, ruling seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

"Very well," she answered. "I will speak to the king for you."