Study Desk

King David lived in his house. The Lord had given him rest from all those around him who hated him. At this time,

When your days are done and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your son after you, who will be born from you. And I will build his nation.

He will build a house for My name, and I will build the throne of his nation to last forever.

What other nation on earth is like Your people Israel. God went to make them free to be His people and to make a name for Himself. You did a great thing for Yourself and great things for Your land. You did them before Your people whom You have made free from Egypt, from nations and their gods.

Now, O Lord God, make sure forever the word which You have spoken about Your servant and his family. Do as You have said.

Then David won the battle against Hadadezer the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to get his power again at the Euphrates River.

So Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him and pray that good would come to him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and had won. Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him objects of silver, gold and brass.

So David ruled all of Israel. He did what was right and good and fair for all his people.

The king said, "Is there not still someone of the family of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who cannot walk because of his feet."

Mephibosheth the son of Saul's son Jonathan came to David and fell on his face to the ground in respect. David said, "Mephibosheth." And he answered, "Here is your servant!"

Again Mephibosheth put his face to the ground and said, "Who am I? Why should you care for a dead dog like me?"

Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "I have given to your owner's grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family.

So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king's table. Both his feet had been hurt and he could not walk.

After this the king of the Ammonites died. His son Hanun became king in his place.

Then David said, "I will show kindness to Nahash's son Hanun, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent some of his servants to comfort him in the loss of his father. But when David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites,

the Ammonite leaders said to their lord Hanun, "Do you think that David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Has he not sent his servants to you so they can spy out the city and destroy it?"

He put the rest of the people under the rule of his brother Abishai. He dressed them for battle against the sons of Ammon.

Be strong. Let us show ourselves to have strength of heart because of our people and the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His eyes."

The spring of the year was the time when kings went out to battle. At that time David sent Joab and his servants and all Israel. They destroyed the sons of Ammon and gathered the army around Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.

When evening came David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house. From the roof he saw a woman washing herself. The woman was very beautiful.