2 Samuel 23:3-4

23:3 The God of Israel spoke,

the protector of Israel spoke to me.

The one who rules fairly among men,

the one who rules in the fear of God,

23:4 is like the light of morning when the sun comes up,

a morning in which there are no clouds.

He is like the brightness after rain

that produces grass from the earth.

2 Samuel 23:1

David’s Final Words

23:1 These are the final words of David:

“The oracle of David son of Jesse,

the oracle of the man raised up as

the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob,

Israel’s beloved singer of songs:

2 Samuel 18:14

18:14 Joab replied, “I will not wait around like this for you!” He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree.

Psalms 45:6-7

45:6 Your throne, O God, is permanent.

The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.

45:7 You love justice and hate evil.

For this reason God, your God has anointed you

with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.

Psalms 72:2

72:2 Then he will judge your people fairly,

and your oppressed ones equitably.

Psalms 75:2

75:2 God says,

“At the appointed times,

I judge fairly.

Psalms 78:71-72

78:71 He took him away from following the mother sheep,

and made him the shepherd of Jacob, his people,

and of Israel, his chosen nation.

78:72 David cared for them with pure motives;

he led them with skill.

Psalms 89:14

89:14 Equity and justice are the foundation of your throne.

Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule.

Psalms 101:1-8

Psalm 101

A psalm of David.

101:1 I will sing about loyalty and justice!

To you, O Lord, I will sing praises!

101:2 I will walk in the way of integrity.

When will you come to me?

I will conduct my business with integrity in the midst of my palace.

101:3 I will not even consider doing what is dishonest.

I hate doing evil;

I will have no part of it.

101:4 I will have nothing to do with a perverse person;

I will not permit evil.

101:5 I will destroy anyone who slanders his neighbor in secret.

I will not tolerate anyone who has a cocky demeanor and an arrogant attitude.

101:6 I will favor the honest people of the land,

and allow them to live with me.

Those who walk in the way of integrity will attend me.

101:7 Deceitful people will not live in my palace.

Liars will not be welcome in my presence.

101:8 Each morning I will destroy all the wicked people in the land,

and remove all evildoers from the city of the Lord.

Isaiah 9:7

9:7 His dominion will be vast

and he will bring immeasurable prosperity.

He will rule on David’s throne

and over David’s kingdom,

establishing it and strengthening it

by promoting justice and fairness,

from this time forward and forevermore.

The Lord’s intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.

Jeremiah 22:15-16

22:15 Does it make you any more of a king

that you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar?

Just think about your father.

He was content that he had food and drink.

He did what was just and right.

So things went well with him.

22:16 He upheld the cause of the poor and needy.

So things went well for Judah.’

The Lord says,

‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’

Jeremiah 23:5-6

23:5 “I, the Lord, promise that a new time will certainly come

when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David.

He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding

and will do what is just and right in the land.

23:6 Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety

and Israel will live in security.

This is the name he will go by:

‘The Lord has provided us with justice.’

Amos 5:15

5:15 Hate what is wrong, love what is right!

Promote justice at the city gate!

Maybe the Lord, the God who commands armies, will have mercy on those who are left from Joseph.

Amos 5:24

5:24 Justice must flow like torrents of water,

righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.