David, wearing only a linen cloth around his waist, danced with all his might to honor the LORD.

As the Box was being brought into the city, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and jumping around in the sacred dance, and she was disgusted with him.

When he had finished offering the sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty

Then David commanded the people, "Praise the LORD your God!" And the whole assembly praised the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and gave honor to the LORD and also to the king.

So that day they were very happy as they ate and drank in the presence of the LORD. For a second time they proclaimed Solomon king. In the name of the LORD they anointed him as their ruler and Zadok as priest.

Now I have built a majestic temple for you, a place for you to live in forever."

He said, "Praise the LORD God of Israel! He has kept the promise he made to my father David when he said to him,

Then Solomon and all the people offered sacrifices to the LORD.

He sacrificed 22,000 head of cattle and 120,000 sheep as fellowship offerings. And so he and all the people dedicated the Temple.

Jehoshaphat led his troops back to Jerusalem in triumph, because the LORD had defeated their enemies.

When they reached the city, they marched to the Temple to the music of harps and trumpets.

Everyone who was there joined in worship, and the singing and the rest of the music continued until all the sacrifices had been burned.

Then King Hezekiah and all the people knelt down and worshiped God.

and together they went to the Temple, accompanied by the priests and the Levites and all the rest of the people, rich and poor alike. Before them all the king read aloud the whole book of the covenant, which had been found in the Temple.

He stood by the royal column and made a covenant with the LORD to obey him, to keep his laws and commands with all his heart and soul, and to put into practice the demands attached to the covenant, as written in the book.

They gave an oral translation of God's Law and explained it so that the people could understand it.

When the people heard what the Law required, they were so moved that they began to cry. So Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra, the priest and scholar of the Law, and the Levites who were explaining the Law told all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God, so you are not to mourn or cry.

My heart breaks when I remember the past, when I went with the crowds to the house of God and led them as they walked along, a happy crowd, singing and shouting praise to God.

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the LORD's house."

Jerusalem is a city restored in beautiful order and harmony.

For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them."

and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

But Christ is faithful as the Son in charge of God's house. We are his house if we keep up our courage and our confidence in what we hope for.

Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God---Jesus, the Son of God.

Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: "This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands.