David Goes to Bring the Ark

61 And David gathered again every chosen one in Israel, thirty thousand, 2 and David riseth and goeth, and all the people who 'are' with him, from Baale-Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God, whose name hath been called—the name of Jehovah of Hosts, inhabiting the cherubs—upon it. 3 And they cause the ark of God to ride on a new cart, and lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which 'is' in the height, and Uzzah and Ahio sons of Abinadab are leading the new cart; 4 and they lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which 'is' in the height, with the ark of God, and Ahio is going before the ark, 5 and David and all the house of Israel are playing before Jehovah, with all kinds of 'instruments' of fir-wood, even with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cornets, and with cymbals.

6 And they come unto the threshing-floor of Nachon, and Uzzah putteth forth 'his hand' unto the ark of God, and layeth hold on it, for they released the oxen; 7 and the anger of Jehovah burneth against Uzzah, and God smiteth him there for the error, and he dieth there by the ark of God. 8 And it is displeasing to David, because that Jehovah hath broken forth a breach upon Uzzah, and 'one' calleth that place Perez-Uzzah, unto this day; 9 and David feareth Jehovah on that day, and saith, 'How doth the ark of Jehovah come in unto me?' 10 And David hath not been willing to turn aside unto himself the ark of Jehovah, to the city of David, and David turneth it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, 11 and the ark of Jehovah doth inhabit the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months, and Jehovah blesseth Obed-Edom and all his house.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

12 And it is declared to king David, saying, 'Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he hath, because of the ark of God;' and David goeth and bringeth up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with joy. 13 And it cometh to pass, when those bearing the ark of Jehovah have stepped six steps, that he sacrificeth an ox and a fatling. 14 And David is dancing with all strength before Jehovah, and David is girded with a linen ephod, 15 and David and all the house of Israel are bringing up the ark of Jehovah with shouting, and with the voice of a trumpet, 16 and it hath come to pass, the ark of Jehovah hath come in to the city of David, and Michal daughter of Saul, hath looked through the window, and seeth king David moving and dancing before Jehovah, and despiseth him in her heart. 17 And they bring in the ark of Jehovah, and set it up in its place, in the midst of the tent which David hath spread out for it, and David causeth to ascend burnt-offerings before Jehovah, and peace-offerings. 18 And David finisheth from causing to ascend the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings, and blesseth the people in the name of Jehovah of Hosts, 19 and he apportioneth to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, from man even unto woman, to each, one cake of bread, and one eshpar, and one ashisha, and all the people go, each to his house.

20 And David turneth back to bless his house, and Michal daughter of Saul goeth out to meet David, and saith, 'How honourable to-day was the king of Israel, who was uncovered to-day before the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain ones is openly uncovered!' 21 And David saith unto Michal, '—Before Jehovah, who fixed on me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me leader over the people of Jehovah, and over Israel,—yea, I played before Jehovah; 22 and I have been more vile than this, and have been low in mine eyes, and with the handmaids whom thou hast spoken of, with them I am honoured.' 23 As to Michal daughter of Saul, she had no child till the day of her death.

God's Covenant with David

71 And it cometh to pass, when the king sat in his house, and Jehovah hath given rest to him round about, from all his enemies, 2 that the king saith unto Nathan the prophet, 'See, I pray thee, I am dwelling in a house of cedars, and the ark of God is dwelling in the midst of the curtain.' 3 And Nathan saith unto the king, 'All that 'is' in thine heart—go, do, for Jehovah 'is' with thee.'

4 And it cometh to pass in that night, that the word of Jehovah is unto Nathan, saying, 5 'Go, and thou hast said unto My servant, unto David, Thus said Jehovah, Dost thou build for Me a house for My dwelling in? 6 for I have not dwelt in a house even from the day of My bringing up the sons of Israel out of Egypt, even unto this day, and am walking up and down in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 During all 'the time' that I have walked up and down among all the sons of Israel, a word have I spoken with one of the tribes of Israel which I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, 'Why have ye not built to Me a house of cedars? 8 and now, thus dost thou say to My servant, to David: 'Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, I have taken thee from the comely place, from after the flock, to be leader over My people, over Israel; 9 and I am with thee whithersoever thou hast gone, and I cut off all thine enemies from thy presence, and have made for thee a great name, as the name of the great ones who 'are' in the earth, 10 and I have appointed a place for My people, for Israel, and have planted it, and it hath tabernacled in its place, and it is not troubled any more, and the sons of perverseness do not add to afflict it any more, as in the beginning, 11 even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I have given rest to thee from all thine enemies, and Jehovah hath declared to thee that Jehovah doth make for thee a house. 12 'When thy days are full, and thou hast lain with thy fathers, then I have raised up thy seed after thee which goeth out from thy bowels, and have established his kingdom; 13 He doth build a house for My Name, and I have established the throne of his kingdom unto the age. 14 I am to him for a father, and he is to Me for a son; whom in his dealings perversely I have even reproved with a rod of men, and with strokes of the sons of Adam, 15 and My kindness doth not turn aside from him, as I turned it aside from Saul, whom I turned aside from before thee, 16 and stedfast 'is' thy house and thy kingdom unto the age before thee, thy throne is established unto the age.' 17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so spake Nathan unto David.

18 And king David cometh in and sitteth before Jehovah, and saith, 'Who 'am' I, Lord Jehovah? and what my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? 19 And yet this 'is' little in Thine eyes, Lord Jehovah, and Thou dost speak also concerning the house of Thy servant afar off; and this 'is' the law of the Man, Lord Jehovah. 20 And what doth David add more to speak unto Thee? and Thou, Thou hast known Thy servant, Lord Jehovah. 21 Because of Thy word, and according to Thy heart, Thou hast done all this greatness, to cause Thy servant to know 'it'. 22 Therefore Thou hast been great, Jehovah God, for there is none like Thee, and there is no God save Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 'And who 'is' as Thy people, as Israel—one nation in the earth, whom God hath gone to redeem to Him for a people, and to make for Him a name—and to do for you the greatness—even fearful things for Thy land, at the presence of Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed to Thee out of Egypt—'among the' nations and their gods? 24 Yea, Thou dost establish to Thee Thy people Israel, to Thee for a people unto the age, and Thou, Jehovah, hast been to them for God. 25 'And now, Jehovah God, the word which Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, establish unto the age, and do as Thou hast spoken; 26 And Thy Name is great unto the age, saying, Jehovah of Hosts 'is' God over Israel, and the house of Thy servant David is established before Thee, 27 For Thou, Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, Thou hast uncovered the ear of Thy servant, saying, A house I build for thee, therefore hath Thy servant found his heart to pray unto Thee this prayer; 28 And now, Lord Jehovah, Thou 'art' God Himself, and Thy words are truth, and Thou speakest unto Thy servant this goodness, 29 And now, begin and bless the house of Thy servant, to be unto the age before Thee, for Thou, Lord Jehovah, hast spoken, and by Thy blessing is the house of Thy servant blessed—to the age.'

David Extends His Kingdom

81 And it cometh to pass afterwards that David smiteth the Philistines, and humbleth them, and David taketh the bridle of the metropolis out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smiteth Moab, and measureth them with a line, causing them to lie down on the earth, and he measureth two lines to put to death, and the fulness of the line to keep alive, and the Moabites are to David for servants, bearers of a present. 3 And David smiteth Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, in his going to bring back his power by the River 'Euphrates;' 4 and David captureth from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and David destroyeth utterly the whole of the charioteers, only he leaveth of them a hundred charioteers. 5 And Aram of Damascus cometh to give help to Hadadezer king of Zobah, and David smiteth of Aram twenty and two thousand men; 6 and David putteth garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and Aram is to David for a servant, bearing a present; and Jehovah saveth David whithersoever he hath gone; 7 and David taketh the shields of gold which were on the servants of Hadadezer, and bringeth them to Jerusalem; 8 and from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, hath king David taken very much brass.

9 And Toi king of Hamath heareth that David hath smitten all the force of Hadadezer, 10 and Toi sendeth Joram his son unto king David to ask of him of welfare, and to bless him, (because that he hath fought against Hadadezer, and smiteth him, for a man of wars 'with' Toi had Hadadezer been), and in his hand have been vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass, 11 also them did king David sanctify to Jehovah, with the silver and the gold which he sanctified of all the nations which he subdued: 12 of Aram, and of Moab, and of the Bene-Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob king of Zobah. 13 And David maketh a name in his turning back from his smiting Aram in the valley of Salt—eighteen thousand; 14 and he putteth in Edom garrisons—in all Edom he hath put garrisons, and all Edom are servants to David; and Jehovah saveth David whithersoever he hath gone.

David's Officers

15 And David reigneth over all Israel, and David is doing judgment and righteousness to all his people, 16 and Joab son of Zeruiah 'is' over the host, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud 'is' remembrancer, 17 and Zadok son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech son of Abiathar, 'are' priests, and Seraiah 'is' scribe, 18 and Benaiah son of Jehoiada 'is over' both the Cherethite and the Pelethite, and the sons of David have been ministers.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

151 And all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming nigh to him, to hear him, 2 and the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring, saying—This one doth receive sinners, and doth eat with them.' 3 And he spake unto them this simile, saying, 4 'What man of you having a hundred sheep, and having lost one out of them, doth not leave behind the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go on after the lost one, till he may find it? 5 and having found, he doth lay 'it' on his shoulders rejoicing, 6 and having come to the house, he doth call together the friends and the neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep—the lost one. 7 'I say to you, that so joy shall be in the heaven over one sinner reforming, rather than over ninety-nine righteous men, who have no need of reformation.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 'Or what woman having ten drachms, if she may lose one drachm, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek carefully till that she may find? 9 and having found, she doth call together the female friends and the neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I found the drachm that I lost. 10 'So I say to you, joy doth come before the messengers of God over one sinner reforming.'

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 15:1-10

Commentary on Luke 15:1-10

(Read Luke 15:1-10)

The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost, is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to himself, and the Saviour's joy on their return to him. How careful then should we be that our repentance is unto salvation!