When the time of David’s death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: “I am going the way of all flesh.

King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him, “Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the people, that I may know their number.” Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered: in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service; in Judah, five hundred thousand.

Absalom unexpectedly came up against David’s servants.

Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might ­destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life.

Thus says the Lord God:/ Lo, I am sending my messenger/ to prepare the way before me;/ and ­suddenly there will come to the temple/ the Lord whom you seek,/ and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire./ Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts./ But who will endure the day of his coming?/ And who can stand when he appears?/ For he is like the refiner’s fire,/ or like the fuller’s lye./ He will sit refining and ­purifying silver,/ and he will purify the sons of Levi,/ Refining them like gold or like silver/ that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord./ Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem/ will please the Lord,/ as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth,/ who have observed his law;/ seek justice, seek humility;/ perhaps you may be sheltered/ on the day of the Lord’s anger.

The Lord sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, Nathan said: “Judge this case for me!

At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.

After Nathan had spoken to King David, the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members of my house, that you have brought me to this point?