Study Desk

So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you."

"And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."

And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

Now they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

But when David returned to bless his own household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel dignified himself today! For he exposed himself today in the sight of his servants' female slaves, as one of the rabble shamelessly exposes himself!"

Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you."

"Go and say to My servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: "Should you build Me a house for My dwelling?

"For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place.

"And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have eliminated all your enemies from you; I will also make a great name for you, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.

"And I will establish a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will malicious people oppress them anymore as previously,

even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.

"He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

"And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord GOD, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And this is the custom of mankind, Lord GOD.

"Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Lord GOD!

"For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know.

"For this reason You are great, Lord GOD; for there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

"And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, because of Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods?

"For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, LORD, have become their God.

"For You, LORD of armies, God of Israel, have given a revelation to Your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house'; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.