2 Samuel 6:20 Bless His Household!

 ”Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”“ II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. David returned to bless his household: After this day of great victory, David came home to bring a blessing to his whole family.

b. How glorious was the king of Israel today: With biting sarcasm, Michal’s criticism could have ruined this whole day for David. He might have expected such an attack after such a remarkable day of victory. “Pirates look out for loaded vessels.” (Spurgeon)

c. Uncovering himself today: Michal seemed to indicate that she didn’t object to David’s dancing, but to what David wore when he set aside his royal robes and danced as a man just like the other men, celebrating in the procession. David acted as if he were just another worshipper in Israel. (Guzik)

Bless His Household!

David returned to bless his household but instead was met with a sarcastic wife who didn’t like him acting as any other worshiper in Israel!

Over the past weekend we’ve been hit with a devastating ice storm that destroyed the power grid for 94% of our county as frozen trees weighted with ice come crashing down destroying electrical power lines. Many areas throughout the state have been affected and our governor has declared a statewide emergency.

But our household is blessed because we have a generator, food, a deep water well and even though our hot water boiler is acting up we have a wood stove for heat!

So far, nothing has hit the house or barn! God is good!

Please pray for people that they survive this storm and that the Lord uses this emergency to draw people to His kingdom. 

Also pray for warmer weather to thaw out the ice in the trees. 🙏

Blessings 

2 Samuel 16-19 Window!

 ”Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. So they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. She despised him in her heart: David’s wife Michal didn’t appreciate David’s exuberant worship. She felt it wasn’t dignified for the king of Israel to express his emotions before God.

i. “No doubt, there are particularly nice and dainty people who will censure God’s chosen if they live wholly to his praise, and they will call them eccentric, old-fashioned, obstinate, absurd, and I don’t know what besides. From the window of their superiority they look down upon us.” (Spurgeon)

b. They brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle: After many years – since the ark was lost in battle – the ark was returned to the tabernacle and set in the Most Holy Place. The emblem of God’s presence and glory was set in its proper place in Israel.

c. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD: The burnt offerings spoke of consecration. The peace offerings spoke of fellowship. This was a day of great consecration and fellowship with God. It was also a great day of grilling meat. (Guzik)

Window!

“From the window of their superiority they look down upon us.” (Spurgeon)”

I recall one time after we moved here that we went to church during a winter warning and it was snowing heavily. I had worn a military jacket and liner because we live in the woods and I didn’t have a better choice. After service a woman chided me for wearing that jacket. (You could insert Spurgeon’s quote here.)

Our church says, come as you are and we shouldn’t judge others for their clothing because we become Pharisaical in our way of thinking. 

It reminds me of the movie, Jesus Revolution when pastor Chuck Smith invited the hippies to his church and the Pharisaical reaction of some of the members.

Have you ever stood in the window of superiority? I’m guilty!

Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:12b-15 Party, Dancing and More Rejoicing!

 So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness: David was glad to know that the presence and glory of God could bring blessing instead of a curse. He was also glad to see that when they obeyed God they were blessed.

i. David explained to the priests why God struck out against them in their first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem in 1 Chronicles 15:13: For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.

ii. When the worship was in the proper order it was still filled with gladness and joy. It is a mistake to feel that “real” worship must be subdued, solemn, or only in a minor key.

b. When those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep: This was elaborate, excessive, over-the-top sacrifice. This excess of sacrifice communicated atonement, consecration, and longing for fellowship.

i. 1 Chronicles 15:11-15 shows us that David specifically commanded the priests to carry the ark the right way – on their shoulders. We often think that a “new cart” or “strength” or a “friendly” manner is the way to bring the presence and glory of God. But God always wants His presence and glory to come on the shoulders of consecrated, obedient, praising men and women.

ii. It also showed that David brought the ark to Jerusalem with a big production – bigger than the first attempt. David was wise enough to know that the problem with the first attempt wasn’t that it was a big production, but that it was a big production that came from man and not God.

c. David danced before the LORD with all his might: David didn’t hold back anything in his own expression of worship. He didn’t dance out of obligation but out of heartfelt worship. He was glad to bring the ark of the LORD into Jerusalem according to God’s word.

i. This expression of David’s heart showed that he had a genuine emotional link to God. There are two great errors in this area – the error of making emotions the center of our Christian life and the error of an emotionally detached Christian life. In the Christian life, emotions must not be manipulated, and they must not be repressed.

ii. We don’t think that dancing is strange when the baseball player rounds the bases after the game-winning home run or the winning goal is scored. We don’t think it is strange when our own child scores a goal. We think nothing at hands raised at a concert or a touchdown. We should not think them strange in worship to God.

d. David was wearing a linen ephod: It is a mistake to think that David was immodest. 1 Chronicles 15:27 indicates that David was dressed just like all the priests and Levites in this procession.

i. From our knowledge of ancient and modern culture, we can surmise that David’s dance wasn’t a solo performance. He probably danced with simple rhythmic steps together with other men in the way one might see Orthodox Jewish men today dance. In this context, David’s linen ephod means he set aside his royal robes and dressed just like everyone else in the procession.

ii. We might also point out that David’s dancing was appropriate in the context. This was a parade with a marching band, a grand procession. David’s dancing fitted in. If David did this as the nation gathered on the Day of Atonement, it would be out of context and wrong. (Guzik)

Party, Dancing and More Rejoicing!

There is more joy in heaven when one sinner repents!

”In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”“

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬ ‭BSB‬‬

”“Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”“ ‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭MSG‬‬

I look forward to going home to heaven after my time is up on this earth!

Do you?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:10-12a Man’s Disobedience

 ”So David would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 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. Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭12‬a NKJV‬‬

a. David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom: David did this in fulfillment of God’s word. Obed-Edom was a Levite of the family of Korah and Kohath 

(1 Chronicles 26:4). This was the family within the tribe of Levi that God commanded to carry and take care of the ark (Numbers 4:15).

b. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household: When God’s word was obeyed, and His holiness was respected, blessing followed. God wanted the ark to be a blessing for Israel, not a curse. We might say that the curse didn’t come from God’s heart but from man’s disobedience. (Guzik)

Man’s Disobedience 

The curse of sin in the world comes from man’s disobedience. Look around you and you will see it. Lawlessness and disobedience to the word of God is on the rise and as the Bible says;

”Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!“

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬K

The only thing we can do is to stay on the straight and narrow path and pray for a revival.

Will you join me in prayer?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:8-9 Became Angry

 ”And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak: David’s anger was based upon confusion. He couldn’t understand why his good intentions weren’t enough. God cares about both our intentions and actions.

b. How can the ark of the LORD come to me? David knew it was important to bring the ark of the LORD into the center of Israel’s life. He wanted all Israel to be excited about the presence and glory of God. Because of what happened to Uzzah, David felt he couldn’t do what God wanted him to do.

i. David’s response in the rest of the chapter shows that he found the answer to his question. He answered the question with the thought later expressed in Isaiah 8:20: To the law and to the testimony! David found the answer in God’s word. (Guzik)

Became Angry

We are no different than David! Something happens in life and we get angry but do we blame God for allowing it to happen?

Look what Job’s wife said to him when God allowed Satan to test him!

”Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”“ ‭‭Job‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Anger is a natural human emotion!

”“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,“

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It’s what we do with the emotion of anger that matters.

“God cares about both our intentions and actions.” (Guzik)

How do you handle the emotion of anger?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:6-7 Erred!

 ”And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.“ II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. When they came to Nachon’s threshing floor: At a threshing floor the whole stalks of wheat were gathered, and the chaff was separated from the wheat. There was a lot of chaff in this production, and God blew away the chaff at Nachon’s threshing floor.

b. Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it: This was strictly forbidden. Regarding the transporting of the ark Numbers 4:15 says, they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.

i. Uzzah made a decision in a moment to disregard God’s command and to do what seemed right to him. Even decisions made in a moment matter before God.

c. God struck him there for his error: God fulfilled the ominous promise of Numbers 4:15 and struck Uzzah. David wanted Israel to know the presence of the LORD and God showed up at Nachon’s threshing floor– but not in the way anyone wanted.

i. Uzzah’s error was more than just a reflex action or instinct. God struck Uzzah because his action was based upon a critical error in thinking.

· Uzzah erred in thinking it didn’t matter who carried the ark.

· Uzzah erred in thinking it didn’t matter how the ark was carried.

· Uzzah erred in thinking he knew all about the ark because it was in his father’s house for so long.

· Uzzah erred in thinking that God couldn’t take care of the ark Himself.

· Uzzah erred in thinking that the ground of Nachon’s threshing floor was less holy than his own hand. (Guzik)

ii. “He saw no difference between the ark and any other valuable article. His intention to help was right enough; but there was a profound insensibility to the awful sacredness of the ark, on which even its Levitical bearers were forbidden to lay hands.” (Maclaren)

Erred!

When we read these verses at face value we think how awful that God struck him dead for trying to prevent the ark from falling! But Uzzah lived in the house that the ark was stored and he should have known better just as the others for transporting the ark by cart instead of the poles as commanded by the Lord.

As Christian’s we are no different at times when we’ve erred towards someone instead of acting out of love or asking ourselves WWJD? What would Jesus do?

'To err is human; to forgive, divine', coined by the poet Alexander Pope in 1711.

Is there someone you need to forgive?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:3-5 NEW CART!

 ”So they set 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, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. Then David and  “ II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. So they set the ark of God on a new cart: Transporting the ark on a cart was against God’s specific command. The ark was designed to be carried (Exodus 25:12-15) and was only to be carried by Levites of the family of Kohath (Numbers 4:15).

i. God wanted the ark to be carried because He wanted nothing mechanical about the ark representing His presence. “The ark was nothing less than the burden of the Lord, and the burden of the Lord was to be carried on the hearts of the Levites.” (Redpath)

ii. We can imagine what these men thought. “Look – we have a new cart for the ark of God. God will be very pleased by our fancy new cart.” They thought that new technology or luxury could cover over their ignorant disobedience.

iii. “We want God’s presence very much, don’t we? But we like to hitch His presence to some of our new carts. We like to add Him to our list of organizations, to load Him on top of the mechanics of a busy life, and then drive. How much of our service is really in the energy of the flesh, I wonder! So often we put forth our hands, but not our hearts.” (Redpath)

iv. “It is not new things we need, but new fire.” (John Wesley)

v. The Philistines transported the ark on a cart in 1 Samuel 6:10-11. They got away with it because they were Philistines, but God expected more from His people. The Israelites were to take their example from God’s word, not from the innovations of the Philistines.

b. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart: The meaning of the names of these sons of Abinadab paints a meaningful picture. Uzzah means “strength” and Ahio means “friendly.”

i. Much service for the LORD is like this – a new cart, a big production, with strength leading and a friendly image presented out front – yet all done without inquiring of God or looking to His will. Surely David prayed for God’s blessing on this big production, but he didn’t inquire of God regarding the production itself. This was a good thing done the wrong way.

c. Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD: Judging from the importance of the occasion and all the instruments mentioned, this was quite a production. The atmosphere was joyful, exciting, and engaging. The problem was that none of it pleased God because it was all in disobedience to His word.

i. We are often tempted to judge a worship experience by how it makes us feel. But when we realize that worship is about pleasing God, we are driven to His word, so we can know how He wants to be worshipped.

ii. It is hard to receive it in our consumer-oriented culture, but worship isn’t all about what pleases us. It’s all about what pleases God. (Guzik)

New Cart!

Our human nature draws us to the new cart when the only thing the Lord wants is our repentant heart!

“worship isn’t all about what pleases us. It’s all about what pleases God.” (Guzik)

Is our worship at church pleasing to God?

Blessings