David retrieves the Ark of the Covenant and dances before the Lord with joy, while his miserable wife Michal becomes barren.
2 Samuel 6: The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.
3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart,
4 with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.
Uzzah and the Ark
5 And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.
8 And David was angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah, to this day.
9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?"
10 So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
11 And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
12 And it was told King David, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing.
13 And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.
David and Michal
16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts
19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honoured himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"
21 And David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD---and I will make merry before the LORD.
22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor."
23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Things to think about…
1. The Philistines and Jebusites are defeated, and the city of Jerusalem is now the capital of Israel. Construction is moving ahead in the city of David. It is time for the Ark of the Covenant to reside there. Abinadab was a Levite of Kirjath-jearim, in whose house was the ark of God, when it was returned by the Philistines, where it remained seventy years, 1 Samuel 7:1; 1 Chronicles 13:7. Where is the Ark of the Covenant today? The Ark of the Covenant does not appear in the second temple and was most likely taken by the Babylonians. It is not mentioned again in the scriptures. Many people surmise where it may be. It matters not. Christ is our new presence, and He represents the Mercy Seat. The veil was torn in two at Christ’s death and we can now boldly enter the holy of holies. The ark is no longer required. We can go with confidence to the Lord in prayer and enter directly into His presence. Hallelujah!
2. David is grieved and angry when God killed Uzzah for touching the Ark, 2Sam 6:7-9. Surely Uzzah was only trying to help. The Ark would have fallen off the cart if he hadn’t reached out his hand. Would it? The decree was ‘don’t touch it, because it is holy to the Lord’. Anyone who touched it would die because God’s presence is holy. The ark should have been carried by Uzzah and the preists as prescribed using poles, not the cart, Ex 25:14, 15. God doesn’t need our help folks. He can look after Himself. We are graciously used by Him, but He doesn’t need us in the slightest. It’s a mercy and blessing to us that He uses us at all. He has done all the work in creation, Gen 1 and salvation, Heb 12:2. Let’s rejoice that when Jesus said, “It is finished”, that’s exactly what He meant.
3. It is interesting that the ark is then moved to Obed-edom – the Gittite. Obed-edom means ‘servant of Edom’. We know Edom represents Esau, not the line of blessing Jacob – Israel. Not only that, but he is also a Gittite, which means ‘from Gath’, a Philistine city. 1Chronicles 26 says this man was a doorkeeper for the ark. How can a non-Israelite and a non-Levite enter into holy service being a doorkeeper for the Ark of the Covenant? As support personal they did not have to be of the line of Aaron. But this man clearly identified with the God of Israel and received acceptance and inheritance as a Gentile. This of course has happened to every non-Jew who is in Christ. Praise God for Christ’s inheritance and blessing where we can also say we are also “heirs according to promise”, Gal 3:26-4:6.
David was not one to miss out on a blessing. Obed-edom was being blessed when the ark stayed at his place for 3 months, 2Sam 6:11,12. Time to get over his disappointment in God and move it the nation’s capital. When God’s presence is near this is cause for much celebration. David danced “with all his might”, 2Sam 6:14,16 – he clearly wasn’t a Baptist J. But here we see the joy of the Lord being outwardly expressed. Like the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive ointment, Mt 26:6-13, our worship of the Lord should be clearly on display to the world. The ark of the covenant, which represented God’s presence comes into Jerusalem with David the king. There is rejoicing, singing and sacrifice. All of these were involved when Jesus rode into the Jerusalem on a donkey. The people rejoiced for their King and the presence of God. Though we know in both cases, not everyone was happy.
David blesses everyone in Israel with bread, meat and a cake of raisons. He returns to bless his own house only to be cursed by one of his wives, Michal. She probably had a far bit to be bitter over, but she was way out of line here. She was in fact cursing God, not David. David is totally unapologetic – he will rejoice in the Lord. He says he will rejoice even more and be exalted by both God and man. The judgement on Michal – childless. A burden and a shame in ancient Israel. Perhaps David never went into her again either, which seems very likely. Regardless of our past or circumstances we cannot stay in the past and allow it to define us. Michal did not rejoice in her returned life with David, a man whom she once loved, and rejoice in the God of Israel who had chosen her to be the first wife of the king. Who knows, it is semantics to consider, but if she repented and sought the Lord and honoured her husband, she may have not only had children but could have been the one whom the line of Christ was descended. Instead that honour fell to Bathsheba, a situation that first began with adultery and murder. Regardless of our circumstances and personal differences+- we should honour the Lord by exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, Gal 5:22, 23.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Lockdown is the likely reality for the next two weeks. If you can gather virtually, go for it.
The reading for Sunday came from Psalm 59.
1. A lot of what we are experiencing impinges on our freedoms and people are struggling with what should be considered fair and reasonable. How are you coping at the moment, both mentally and spiritually?
2. David had been promised the kingdom and yet here he is 10 or so years after being anointed by Samuel and is being harassed by Saul (the current king of Israel). Explain what you remember to be going on and the context of Psalm 59. Remember David had just married Saul’s daughter Michal.
3. What has God promised you. We know all those who desire to live godly lives will suffer persecution, that is a promise, 2Tim 3:12. But this is also countered with other promises like the fact that “he will grant you the desires of your heart” Ps 37:4. That if you “Call unto me and I will answer you” Jer 33:3, and of course the promise by Jesus “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do” Jn14:13. How do you reconcile these texts with the reality that not all our prayers or perhaps things that are promised are always given?
4. We certainly don’t want what is fair? Jesus was sent to the cross by the Father. This was certainly unfair. But if our sin is paid for as a result, it is just. As such our names are written in heaven and in the Book of Life. Explain this exchange in your own words.
Prayer Points
1. That there would still be fellowship and blessing through the Lockdown.
2. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points.
1. Ability to meet, albeit it virtually online.
2. The unity and grace on display at CBC.
Announcements
1. Members’ meeting 15 Aug – assuming no lockdowns, which seems unlikely at this stage.
2. PlayPatch for toddlers at church, Fridays 9:30-11am. Please get the word out. See Maddison for details. Not this week due to lockdown.
3. Recharge Youth – 6:30-8:30pm. Noty this week due to lockdown.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
