Beginning
David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
15 David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David. Then he prepared a place for the ark of God. He set up a tent for it. 2 He said, “Only Levites can carry the ark of God. That’s because the Lord chose them to carry his ark. He chose them to serve him forever in front of the place where his throne is.”
3 David gathered the whole community of Israel together in Jerusalem. He wanted to carry up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it.
4 He called together the members of the family line of Aaron. He also called the Levites together. Here are the men who came from the families of the Levites.
5 From the families of Kohath
came the leader Uriel and 120 relatives.
6 From the families of Merari
came the leader Asaiah and 220 relatives.
7 From the families of Gershon
came the leader Joel and 130 relatives.
8 From the families of Elizaphan
came the leader Shemaiah and 200 relatives.
9 From the families of Hebron
came the leader Eliel and 80 relatives.
10 From the families of Uzziel
came the leader Amminadab and 112 relatives.
11 David sent for Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He also sent for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab. They were Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the leaders of the families of Levi. You and the other Levites must set yourselves apart to serve the Lord and his people. You must carry up the ark of the Lord. He is the God of Israel. Put the ark in the place I’ve prepared for it. 13 Remember when the anger of the Lord our God broke out against us? That’s because it wasn’t you Levites who tried to carry up the ark the first time. We didn’t ask the Lord how to do it in the way the law requires.” 14 So the priests and Levites set themselves apart. Then they carried up the ark of the Lord. He is the God of Israel. 15 This time the Levites used the poles to carry on their shoulders the ark of God. That’s what Moses had commanded in keeping with the word of the Lord.
16 David told the Levite leaders to appoint other Levites as musicians. He wanted them to make a joyful sound with lyres, harps and cymbals.
17 So the Levites appointed Heman, the son of Joel. From his relatives they chose Asaph, the son of Berekiah. Other relatives were from the family of Merari. From them they chose Ethan, the son of Kushaiah. 18 Along with them they chose their relatives who were next in rank. Their names were Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They guarded the gates.
19 Heman, Asaph and Ethan played the bronze cymbals. 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah played the lyres according to alamoth. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah played the harps according to sheminith. 22 Kenaniah was the leader of the Levites. He was in charge of the singing because he was good at it.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah guarded the ark. 24 Some of the priests blew trumpets in front of the ark of God. Their names were Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer. Obed-Edom and Jehiah also helped guard the ark.
25 David and the elders of Israel went to carry up the ark of the covenant of the Lord. So did the commanders of military groups of 1,000 men. With great joy they carried up the ark from the house of Obed-Edom. 26 God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. So seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 27 David was wearing a robe made out of fine linen. So were all the Levites who were carrying the ark. And so were the musicians and the choir director Kenaniah. David was also wearing a sacred linen apron. 28 So the whole community of Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord. They shouted. They blew rams’ horns and trumpets. They played cymbals, lyres and harps.
29 The ark of the covenant of the Lord was brought into the City of David. Saul’s daughter Michal was watching from a window. She saw King David dancing and celebrating. That made her hate him in her heart.
Serving God in Front of the Ark
16 The ark of God was carried into Jerusalem. It was put in the tent David had set up for it. The priests brought burnt offerings and friendship offerings to God. 2 After David finished sacrificing those offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 He gave to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread. He also gave each one a date cake and a raisin cake.
4 He appointed some of the Levites to serve in front of the ark of the Lord. David wanted them to give honor, thanks and praise to the Lord. He is the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the leader of those Levites. Zechariah was next in rank. Then came Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They played the lyres and harps. Asaph played the cymbals. 6 Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, blew the trumpets. They blew them at regular times in front of the ark of the covenant of God.
7 That day was the first time David appointed Asaph and his helpers. He appointed them to give praise to the Lord with these words.
8 Give praise to the Lord. Make his name known.
Tell the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him. Sing praise to him.
Tell about all the wonderful things he has done.
10 Honor him, because his name is holy.
Let the hearts of those who trust in the Lord be glad.
11 Look to the Lord and to his strength.
Always look to him.
12 Remember the wonderful things he has done.
Remember his miracles and how he judged our enemies.
13 Remember, you his servants, the children of Israel.
Remember, you people of Jacob. Remember, you who are chosen by God.
14 He is the Lord our God.
He judges the whole earth.
15 He will keep his covenant forever.
He will keep his promise for all time to come.
16 He will keep the covenant he made with Abraham.
He will keep the promise he made to Isaac.
17 He made it stand as a law for Jacob.
He made it stand as a covenant for Israel. It will last forever.
18 He said, “I will give you the land of Canaan.
It will belong to you.”
19 At first there weren’t very many of God’s people.
There were only a few. And they were strangers in the land.
20 They wandered from nation to nation.
They wandered from one kingdom to another.
21 But God didn’t allow anyone to treat them badly.
To keep them safe, he gave a command to kings.
22 He said to them, “Do not touch my anointed ones.
Do not harm my prophets.”
23 All you people of the earth, sing to the Lord.
Day after day tell about how he saves us.
24 Tell the nations about his glory.
Tell all people about the wonderful things he has done.
25 The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise.
People should have respect for him as the greatest God of all.
26 All the gods of the nations are like their statues.
They can’t do anything.
But the Lord made the heavens.
27 Glory and majesty are all around him.
Strength and joy are in the place where he lives.
28 Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Praise the Lord for his glory and strength.
29 Praise the Lord for the glory that belongs to him.
Bring an offering and come to him.
Worship the Lord because of his beauty and holiness.
30 All you people of the earth, tremble when you are with him.
The world is firmly set in place. It can’t be moved.
31 Let the heavens be filled with joy. Let the earth be glad.
Let them say among the nations, “The Lord rules!”
32 Let the ocean and everything in it roar.
Let the fields and everything in them be glad.
33 Let the trees in the forest sing with joy.
They will sing before the Lord.
He will judge the people of the world.
34 Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
His faithful love continues forever.
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior.
Save us. Bring us back from among the nations.
Then we will give thanks to you, because your name is holy.
We will celebrate by praising you.”
36 Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel,
for ever and ever.
Then all the people said, “Amen!” They also said, “Praise the Lord.”
37 David left Asaph and his helpers to serve in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. They served there at regular times. They did it as they were required to do each day. 38 David also left Obed-Edom and his 68 helpers to serve with them. Obed-Edom and Hosah guarded the gates. Obed-Edom was the son of Jeduthun.
39 David left Zadok the priest and some other priests in front of the holy tent of the Lord. It was at the high place in Gibeon. 40 David left them there to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar every morning and evening. They did it according to everything written in the Law of the Lord. That’s the Law he had given to Israel. 41 Heman and Jeduthun were with the priests. So were the rest of those who had been chosen by name and appointed to serve. They had been chosen to give thanks to the Lord, “because his faithful love continues forever.” 42 It was the duty of Heman and Jeduthun to blow the trumpets. They also had the duty of playing the cymbals and other instruments for the sacred songs. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at one of the gates.
43 All the people left. Everyone went home. And David returned home to bless his family.
God Makes a Promise to David
17 David moved into his palace. Then he spoke to Nathan the prophet. He said, “Here I am, living in a house that has beautiful cedar walls. But the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”
2 Nathan replied to David, “Do what you want to. God is with you.”
3 But that night a message came to Nathan from God. He said,
4 “Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him, ‘The Lord says, “You are not the one who will build me a house to live in. 5 I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt until now. I have moved my tent from one place to another. I have moved my home from one place to another. 6 I have moved from place to place with all the Israelites. I commanded their leaders to be shepherds over my people. I never asked any of those leaders, ‘Why haven’t you built me a house that has beautiful cedar walls?’ ” ’
7 “So tell my servant David, ‘The Lord who rules over all says, “I took you away from the grasslands. That is where you were taking care of your father’s sheep and goats. I appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I destroyed all your enemies when you were attacking them. Now I will make you famous. Your name will be just as respected as the names of the most important people on earth. 9 I will provide a place where my people Israel can live. I will plant them in the land. Then they will have a home of their own. They will not be bothered anymore. Sinful people will no longer crush them, as they did at first. 10 That is what your enemies have done ever since I appointed leaders over my people Israel. But I will bring all your enemies under your control.
“ ‘ “I tell you that I, the Lord, will build a royal house for your family. 11 Some day your life will come to an end. You will join the members of your family who have already died. Then I will give you one of your own sons to become the next king after you. I will make his kingdom secure. 12 He is the one who will build me a house. I will set up his throne. It will last forever. 13 I will be his father. And he will be my son. I took my love away from the man who ruled before you. But I will never take my love away from your son. 14 I will place him over my house and my kingdom forever. His throne will last forever.” ’ ”
15 Nathan reported to David all the words that the Lord had spoken to him.
David’s Prayer
16 Then King David went into the holy tent. He sat down in front of the Lord. He said,
“Lord God, who am I? My family isn’t important. So why have you brought me this far? 17 I would have thought that you had already done more than enough for me. But now, my God, you have spoken about my royal house. You have said what will happen to it in days to come. Lord God, you have treated me as if I were the most honored man of all.
18 “What more can I say to you for honoring me? You know all about me. 19 Lord, you have done a wonderful thing. You have given me many great promises. All of them are for my good. They are exactly what you wanted to give me.
20 “Lord, there isn’t anyone like you. There isn’t any God but you. We have heard about it with our own ears. 21 Who is like your people Israel? God, we are the one nation on earth you have saved. You have set us free for yourself. Your name has become famous. You have done great and wonderful things. You have driven out nations to make room for your people. You saved us when you set us free from Egypt. 22 You made Israel your very own people forever. Lord, you have become our God.
23 “And now, Lord, let the promise you have made to me and my royal house stand forever. Do exactly as you promised. 24 When your promise comes true, your name will be honored forever. People will say, ‘The Lord rules over all. He is the God over Israel. He is Israel’s God!’ My royal house will be made secure in your sight.
25 “My God, you have shown me that you will build me a royal house. So I can pray to you boldly. 26 You, Lord, are God! You have promised many good things to me. 27 You have been pleased to bless my royal house. Now it will continue forever in your sight. Lord, you have blessed it. And it will be blessed forever.”
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