The Lord’s Covenant with David

7 When the king had settled into his palace^(A) and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, ² the king said to the prophet Nathan,^(B) “Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”^(C)

³ So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your mind, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴ But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: ⁵ “Go to my servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build me a house to dwell in?^{(D) 6} From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as my dwelling.^{(E) 7} In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’

⁸ “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.^{(F) 9} I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name^(G) for you like that of the greatest on the earth.^{(H) 10} I will designate a place^(I) for my people Israel and plant them,^(J) so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done ¹¹ ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel.^(K) I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you. ¹² When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.^{(L) 13} He is the one who will build a house for my name,^(M) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^{(N) 14} I will be his father, and he will be my son.^(O) When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. ¹⁵ But my faithful love will never leave him^(P) as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.^{(Q) 16} Your house and kingdom will endure before me^[a] forever,^(R) and your throne will be established forever.’”^(S)

¹⁷ Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

¹⁸ Then King David went in,^(T) sat in the Lord’s presence, and said,

Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹ What you have done so far^[b] was a little thing to you, Lord God, for you have also spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is a revelation^[c] for mankind, Lord God. ²⁰ What more can David say to you? You know your servant,^(U) Lord God. ²¹ Because of your word and according to your will, you have revealed all these great things to your servant.

²² This is why you are great,^(V) Lord God. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you,^(W) as all we have heard confirms. ²³ And who is like your people Israel? God came to one nation on earth in order to redeem a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to perform for them^[d] great and awesome acts,^[e] driving out nations and their gods before your people you redeemed for yourself from Egypt.^{(X) 24} You established your people Israel to be your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.^(Y)

²⁵ Now, Lord God, fulfill the promise forever that you have made to your servant and his house. Do as you have promised, ²⁶ so that your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, “The Lord of Armies is God over Israel.” The house of your servant David^(Z) will be established before you ²⁷ since you, Lord of Armies, God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant when you said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you. ²⁸ Lord God, you are God; your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. ²⁹ Now, please bless your servant’s house so that it will continue before you forever. For you, Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing your servant’s house will be blessed forever.^(AA)

David’s Victories

8 After this, David defeated the Philistines,^(AB) subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah^[f] from Philistine control.^{[g](AC) 2} He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one full length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.^(AD)

³ David also defeated Hadadezer^(AE) son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured seventeen hundred horsemen^[h] and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses^(AF) and kept a hundred chariots.^[i]

⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus^(AG) came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand Aramean men. ⁶ Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.^(AH)

⁷ David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.^{(AI) 8} King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah^[j] and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

⁹ When King Toi of Hamath^(AJ) heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. ¹¹ King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued^(AK)— ¹² from Edom,^[k] Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ David made a reputation^(AL) for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites^[l] in Salt Valley.^{[m](AM) 14} He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.^(AN) The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.^(AO)

¹⁵ So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.^(AP)

Jesus Faces Pilate

23 Then^(A) their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. ² They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes^(B) to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”

³ So Pilate asked him,^(C) “Are you the king of the Jews?” ^(D)

He answered him, “You say so.”^[a]

⁴ Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds^(E) for charging this man.”

⁵ But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people,^(F) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee^(G) where he started even to here.”

Jesus Faces Herod Antipas

⁶ When Pilate^(H) heard this,^[b] he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,^(I) who was also in Jerusalem during those days. ⁸ Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle^[c] performed by him. ⁹ So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.^{(J) 10} The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked^(K) him, dressed him in bright clothing,^(L) and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.^[d](M) Previously, they had been enemies.

Jesus or Barabbas

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,^{(N) 14} and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.^(O) But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds^(P) to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will have him whipped^[e](Q) and then release him.”^[f]

¹⁸ Then^(R) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!^(S) Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus,^(T) Pilate addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

²² A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?^(U) I have found in him no grounds^(V) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”

²³ But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices^[g] won out. ²⁴ So^(W) Pilate decided to grant their demand^{(X) 25} and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.^(Y)

Psalm 59

God Our Stronghold

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him.^(A)