1Chronicles 15-17; Psalms 67

1Chronicles 15

Preparing to Move the Ark

15David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it.H6213H1004H5892H1732H3559H4725H727H430H5186H1682Then he commanded, "No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The LORD has chosen them to carry the Ark of the LORD and to serve him forever."H1732H559H5375H727H430H3881H3068H977H5375H727H430H8334H5704H57693Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.H1732H6950H3478H6950H3389H5927H727H3068H4725H35594This is the number of the descendants of Aaron (the priests) and the Levites who were called together.H1732H622H1121H175H38815From the clan of Kohath, 120, with Uriel as their leader.H1121H6955H222H8269H251H3967H62426From the clan of Merari, 220, with Asaiah as their leader.H1121H4847H6222H8269H251H3967H62427From the clan of Gershon

, 130, with Joel as their leader.H1121H1647H3100H8269H251H3967H79708From the descendants of Elizaphan, 200, with Shemaiah as their leader.H1121H469H8098H8269H251H39679From the descendants of Hebron, 80, with Eliel as their leader.H1121H2275H447H8269H251H808410From the descendants of Uzziel, 112, with Amminadab as their leader.H1121H5816H5992H8269H251H3967H8147H624011Then David summoned the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.H1732H7121H6659H54H3548H3881H222H6222H3100H8098H447H599212He said to them, "You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.H559H7218H1H3881H6942H251H5927H727H3068H430H3478H355913Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the LORD our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly."H7223H3068H430H6555H1875H494114So the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to bring the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem.H3548H3881H6942H5927H727H3068H430H347815Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the LORD had instructed Moses.H1121H3881H5375H727H430H3802H4133H4872H6680H1697H306816David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.H1732H559H8269H3881H5975H251H7891H3627H7892H5035H3658H4700H8085H7311H6963H805717So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.H3881H5975H1968H1121H3100H251H623H1121H1296H1121H4847H251H387H1121H698418The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel

, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel.H251H4932H2148H1122H3268H8070H3171H6042H446H1141H4641H4993H466H4737H5654H3273H777819The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals.H7891H1968H623H387H8085H4700H517820Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps

.H2148H5815H8070H3171H6042H446H4641H1141H5035H596121Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were chosen to play the lyres

.H4993H466H4737H5654H3273H5812H3658H8067H532922Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill.H3663H8269H3881H4853H3256H4853H99523Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen to guard

the Ark.H1296H511H7778H72724Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark.H7645H3146H5417H6022H2148H1141H461H3548H2690H2690H2689H6440H727H430H5654H3174H7778H727

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

25Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army

went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the LORD's Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.H1732H2205H3478H8269H505H1980H5927H727H1285H3068H1004H5654H805726And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the LORD's Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.H430H5826H3881H5375H727H1285H3068H2076H7651H6499H7651H35227David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment

.H1732H3736H4598H948H3881H5375H727H7891H3663H8269H4853H7891H1732H646H90628So all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD's Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams' horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.H3478H5927H727H1285H3068H8643H6963H7782H2689H4700H8085H5035H365829But as the Ark of the LORD's Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him.H727H1285H3068H935H5892H1732H4324H1323H7586H8259H2474H7200H4428H1732H7540H7832H959H3820

1Chronicles 16

16They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.H935H727H430H3322H8432H168H1732H5186H7126H5930H8002H6440H4302When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD.H1732H3615H5927H5930H8002H1288H5971H8034H30683Then he gave to every man and woman in all Israel a loaf of bread, a cake of dates

, and a cake of raisins.H2505H376H3478H376H802H376H3603H3899H829H8094David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the LORD—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.H5414H3881H8334H6440H727H3068H2142H3034H1984H3068H430H34785Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres.H623H7218H4932H2148H3273H8070H3171H4993H446H1141H5654H3273H5035H3627H3658H623H8085H47006The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God's Covenant.H1141H3166H3548H2689H8548H6440H727H1285H430

David’s Song of Praise

7On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the LORD.H3117H1732H5414H7218H3034H3068H3027H623H2518Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.H3034H3068H7121H8034H3045H5949H59719Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.H7891H2167H7878H638110Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD.H1984H6944H8034H3820H8055H1245H306811Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.H1875H3068H5797H1245H6440H854812Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,H2142H6381H6213H4159H4941H631013you children of his servant Israel, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.H2233H3478H5650H1121H3290H97214He is the LORD our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.H3068H430H4941H77615Remember his covenant forever—the commitment he made to a thousand generations.H2142H5769H1285H1697H6680H505H175516This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.H3772H85H7621H332717He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant.H5975H3290H2706H3478H5769H128518"I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession."H559H5414H776H3667H2256H515919He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.H4557H4962H4592H148120They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.H1980H1471H1471H4467H312H597121Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf.H3240H376H6231H3198H442822"Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets."H5060H4899H5030H748923Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.H7891H3068H776H1319H3117H3117H344424Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.H5608H3519H1471H6381H597125Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.H1419H3068H3966H1984H3372H43026The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the LORD made the heavens!H430H5971H457H3068H6213H806427Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.H1935H1926H6440H5797H2304H472528O nations of the world, recognize the LORD, recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.H3051H3068H4940H5971H3051H3068H3519H579729Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.H3051H3068H3519H8034H5375H4503H935H6440H7812H3068H1927H694430Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.H2342H6440H776H8398H3559H413131Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, "The LORD reigns!"H8064H8055H776H1523H559H1471H3068H442732Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!H3220H7481H4393H7704H597033Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise, for the LORD is coming to judge the earth.H6086H3293H7442H6440H3068H935H8199H77634Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.H3034H3068H2896H2617H576935Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you."H559H3467H430H3468H6908H5337H1471H3034H6944H8034H7623H841636Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted "Amen!" and praised the LORD.H1288H3068H430H3478H5769H5769H5971H559H543H1984H3068

Worship at Jerusalem and Gibeon

37David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the LORD's Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.H5800H6440H727H1285H3068H623H251H8334H6440H727H8548H3117H1697H311738This group included Obed-edom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight other Levites as gatekeepers.H5654H251H8346H8083H5654H1121H3038H2621H777839Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the LORD at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the LORD.H6659H3548H251H3548H6440H4908H3068H1116H139140They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the LORD each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the Law of the LORD, as he had commanded Israel.H5927H5930H3068H4196H5930H8548H1242H6153H3789H8451H3068H6680H347841David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the LORD, for "his faithful love endures forever."H1968H3038H7605H1305H5344H8034H3034H3068H2617H576942They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God

. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.H1968H3038H2689H4700H8085H7892H3627H430H1121H3038H817943Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.H5971H3212H376H1004H1732H5437H1288H1004

1Chronicles 17

The Lord’s Covenant Promise to David

17When David was settled in his palace, he summoned Nathan the prophet. "Look," David said, "I am living in a beautiful cedar palace

, but the Ark of the LORD's Covenant is out there under a tent!"H1732H3427H1004H1732H559H5416H5030H3427H1004H730H727H1285H3068H34072Nathan replied to David, "Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you."H5416H559H1732H6213H3824H4303But that same night God said to Nathan,H3915H1697H430H5416H5594"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in.H3212H559H1732H5650H559H3068H1129H1004H34275I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another in a Tabernacle.H3427H1004H3117H5927H3478H3117H168H168H49086Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel's leaders

, the shepherds of my people. I have never asked them, "Why haven't you built me a beautiful cedar house?"'H1980H3478H1696H1697H259H8199H3478H6680H7462H5971H559H1129H1004H7307"Now go and say to my servant David, 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.H559H5650H1732H559H3068H6635H3947H5116H310H6629H5057H5971H34788I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!H1980H3772H341H6440H6213H8034H8034H1419H7769And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the past,H7760H4725H5971H3478H5193H7931H7264H1121H5766H1086H3254H722310starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies."'Furthermore, I declare that the LORD will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!H3117H6680H8199H5971H3478H3665H341H5046H3068H1129H100411For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.H3117H4390H3212H1H6965H2233H310H1121H3559H443812He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever.H1129H1004H3559H3678H5704H576913I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you.H1H1121H5493H2617H5493H5493H644014I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.'"H5975H1004H4438H5769H3678H3559H5704H576915So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said in this vision.H1697H2377H5416H1696H1732

David’s Prayer of Thanks

16Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?H1732H4428H935H3427H6440H3068H559H3068H430H1004H935H198817And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great

, O LORD God!H6994H5869H430H1696H5650H1004H7350H7200H8448H120H4609H3068H43018"What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like.H3254H1732H3254H3519H5650H3045H565019For the sake of your servant, O LORD, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known.H3068H5650H3820H6213H1420H3045H142020"O LORD, there is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!H3068H430H2108H8085H24121What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations that stood in their way.H259H1471H776H5971H3478H430H1980H6299H5971H7760H8034H1420H3372H1644H1471H6440H5971H6299H471422You chose Israel to be your very own people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.H5971H3478H5414H5971H5704H5769H3068H43023"And now, O LORD, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever.H3068H1697H1696H5650H1004H539H5704H5769H6213H169624And may your name be established and honored forever so that everyone will say, 'The LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel's God!' And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.H539H8034H1431H5704H5769H559H3068H6635H430H3478H430H3478H1004H1732H5650H3559H644025"O my God, I have been bold enough to pray to you because you have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him—a dynasty of kings!H430H1540H241H5650H1129H1004H5650H4672H6419H644026For you are God, O LORD. And you have promised these good things to your servant.H3068H430H1696H2896H565027And now, it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing, O LORD, it is an eternal blessing!"H2974H1288H1004H5650H6440H5769H1288H3068H1288H5769

Psalms 67

67[For the choir director: A song. A psalm, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.] May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. InterludeH5329H5058H4210H7892H430H2603H1288H6440H215H55422May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.H1870H3045H776H3444H14713May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.H5971H3034H430H5971H30344Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. InterludeH3816H8055H7442H8199H5971H4334H5148H3816H776H55425May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.H5971H3034H430H5971H30346Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us.H776H5414H2981H430H430H12887Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.H430H1288H657H776H3372

1Chronicles 15-17; Psalms 67 - Prayer Tents