David-Ark of the Covenant II Samuel 6

Ii Samuel 6:2 "And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims."

David learned in this chapter that one can do the right thing the wrong way. He also learned that he could learn to do the right thing the right way and be blessed.

The ark was put in the house of Abinadab after the Philistines stole it and brought it back to Israel. The Philistines loaded it on a cart and sent it down the road. That did not work out so well for them. David also put it on a cart and headed down the road with it. There was a problem with David doing it like the Philistines did it rather than like the LORD said to do it. See Numbers 4:15.

v3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart."

The oxen had a problem when they came to the threshingfloor of Nachon. Here it says the oxen shook the ark. In Chronicles it further states that the oxen stumbled. Regardless Uzzah reached out to steady it and in so doing he broke the command of the LORD and was struck down.

v6 "And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it."

It may seem a harsh punishment. The offense was harsh. It brings up the issue of sinful man approaching God and why it is necessary to have a savior who can bridge the gap between the sinfulness of man and the purity of God. We have discussed that before. Jesus shed his blood and suffered the penalty for sin so that we can approach God without fear. Although we are sinful, God sees the purity of his Son and therefore accepts us.

When Uzzah died, David was stunned. (It is the best word I can think of.) It was commanded earlier that the laws of God should be in the hands of the king so that he would know how to lead the people and how to obey God. I think after doing it the wrong way that David went back and read up on how he should have done it.

For now look at David's condition after doing it the wrong way: He was displeased,v8 afraid v9 and would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him v10.

v11 "And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household."

I noticed one thing in this part of the chapter. As we have said, David prayed. Before he made a move, 'David enquired of the LORD'. He may have prayed this time but the Bible does not record it. v1 "Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.' v2 "And David arose, and went with all the people..." Maybe, he forgot to pray in his excitement.

Doing the right thing the right way!

v2 "And it was told king David saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom and all that pertainth unto him, because of the ark of God. So, David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness."

Now we see the difference in David when he moved the ark the right way. He does it with gladness. He came down the street dancing with joy. One verse said he danced before the LORD with all his might. This is the warrior who stood before the giant and in the midst of a thousand of the enemy and won. He now put all that energy in celebration of the LORD.

v14-15 "And David danced before the LORD with all his might: and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and ll the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet."

His wife Michal saw only the physical side of the event and criticized David. She did not see the magnitude of the importance of bringing the ark of the LORD to the capitol city.

In First Chronicles, we get more details of the happenings. Chapters 13, 14, 15.

I Chronicles 15:14-15 "And the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD."

The ark is now in the tabernacle that David prepared for it. Actually for the LORD so we should say as the Bible says for him. v17 ...set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle..."

See here for a lesson on David feeding the multitude as Jesus feed those he taught.

Psalm 9:1 "I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart, I will shew forth all thy marvellous works."

Keywords: Old Old Story, blog, Bible Study, Old Testament, David, tabernacle, Jerusalem, City of David, Levites, Milton Southerland. The ark is brought home.