BIG IDEA:
THE PRESENCE OF GOD SHOULD EVOKE HOLY REVERENCE AND EXUBERANT CELEBRATION – 2 KEY EXPRESSIONS OF WORSHIP
INTRODUCTION:
The ark of the covenant represents the holy presence of God. While God desires our worship, that worship must be in spirit and in truth. Man must come to God on His terms. Sincerity is no excuse for failure to obey God’s directives. The presence of God is no trifling matter. He should command our holy reverence and inspire unrestrained joyful celebration. This passage provides tremendous insight into how we should approach a holy God in worship and praise.
Trace the phrase “and God was with him” throughout the Bible and see the blessing that accompanies the presence of God. No matter our circumstances or opposition, we are secure in God’s blessing when God is with us.
The journey of the ark of the covenant to its proper abode in the city of Jerusalem should have been one of unmitigated worship and celebration. Such was not the case.
This chapter highlights:
TWO HUMANISTIC REACTIONS THAT FAIL TO GRASP THE PRIORITY OF REVERENCE AND CELEBRATION SURROUNDING THE PRESENCE OF GOD
I. (:1-11) FIRST HUMANISTIC REACTION: KING DAVID RESPONDS IN ANGER WHEN GOD JUDGES UZZAH FOR SHOWING IRREVERENCE IN TOUCHING THE ARK
A. (:1-5) Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem – Right Idea . . . Wrong Execution
1. (:1-2) Setting the Stage – Top Priority, Sacred Mission
a. (:1) Impressive Organization
“Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.”
Important to get buy-in and participation on the part of the people for this significant national event.
b. (:2a) Worthy Mission
“And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baalejudah, to bring up from there the ark of God”
c. (:2b) Sacred Symbol
“the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim.”
Nothing to mess around with here; must be very careful; calls for obedience to all of the regulations God had called for regarding the handling and transportation of the ark.
2. (:3-4) Expedient Methodology vs. Obedience to Prescribed Regulations
a. (:3a) Wrong Method of Transportation – Easier not always Better
“And they placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill”
Seemed like a good idea from a natural perspective; but the Ark
was to be carried by the sons of Kohath (Exod. 25:14-15; Num.3:30-31; 4:15; 7:9)
The Philistines had employed this method – but the methods of the world are not to be adopted by God’s people.
b. (:3b-4) Wrong People in Charge
“and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.”
House of Abinadab had done well to house the ark during this time of upheaval and transition; but now they were overstepping their role. What had been a blessing to their household was about to become a curse.
3. (:5) Premature Response of Exuberant Celebration
“Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.”
Obedience and holy reverence must come first. Then there is appropriate opportunity for exuberant celebration. The Lord cannot accept our worship when it is not in the context of obedience.
B. (:6-11) The Righteous Anger of the Lord Evokes the Humanistic Anger of David
1. (:6-7) Uzzah’s Expedient Irreverence Evokes the Righteous Anger of the Lord
a. (:6) Knee Jerk Reaction of Expediency – Uzzah’s Fatal Mistake
“But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it.”
Now we see why God’s regulations were so crucial.
God never needs His creation’s help.
b. (:7) Immediate Execution — God’s Righteous Anger
“And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of the Lord.”
2. (:8-11) David’s Humanistic Anger Causes Him to Miss Out on the Blessing of God’s Presence
a. (:8) Response of Humanistic Anger instead of Submission
“And David became angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, and that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.”
David thought the Lord had acted too harshly and unfairly.
b. (:9) Fear of the Lord Should Lead to Repentance – Not Avoidance
“So David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, ‘How can the ark of the Lord come to me?’”
c. (:10-11) Sulking and Self Pity Rob Us of the Blessing of God’s Presence
“And David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obededom the Gittite. Thus the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obededom and all his household.”
David still had to move the ark – but chose not to bring it with him into Jerusalem.
II. (:12-23) SECOND HUMANISTIC REACTION: MICHAL RESPONDS IN CONTEMPT WHEN KING DAVID DANCES WITH JOY BEFORE THE LORD IN CONCERT WITH ALL OF ISRAEL
A. (:12-19) Michal Out of Step with Joyful Reception of the Ark to Jerusalem
1. (:12-15) David’s Attitude Adjustment – Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
a. (:12a) Positive Report of the Blessing Associated with the Presence of the Lord
“Now it was told King David, saying, ‘The Lord has blessed the house of Obededom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.’”
Blaikie: “The God of heaven,” says Bishop Hall, “pays liberally for His lodging.”
b. (:12b-15) Appropriate Attitudes for Attending to the Presence of the Lord
1) (:12b) Overall Attitude of Gladness
“And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.”
2) (:13) Holy Reverence Expressed Via Sacrifice —
“And so it was, that when the bearers of the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.”
This was the test distance to see whether God would strike them dead again. There must have been great relief and thanksgiving to see that all was well.
3) (:14-15) Exuberant Celebration Expressed Via Dancing and Shouting and Trumpeting
“And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouting and the sound of the trumpet.”
2. (:16) Michal’s Self-Centered, Egotistical, Prideful Contempt for Her Husband
“Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that 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.”
3. (:17-19) The Ark’s Rightful Home — Study Psalm 24
a. (:17a) Installing the Ark in Jerusalem
“So they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it”
b. (:17b-18) Demonstration of Holy Reverence –
Sacrifices to the Lord / Blessing Upon the People
“and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.”
c. (:19) Demonstration of Exuberant Celebration –
Feast of three cakes per person
“further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed each to his house.”
B. (:20-23) David Rebukes Michal for Her Egotistical Pride
1. (:20) Egocentric World of Michal
“But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, ‘How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!’”
She objected to this enthusiastic display of devotion to the presence of God as symbolized by the ark. David was aligning himself here more with the people than exalting himself as their monarch.
Redpath: Before long we will come to consider the great sin of David’s life. Could its root have been right here? Perhaps the thing that started him looking at another man’s wife was the bitterness of soul which began when he came back from a day of victory to find the woman of his own heart and house did not enter into the joy of it but despised him for his devotion.
2. (:21) Theocentric World of King David
“So David said to Michal, ‘It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the Lord.’”
3. (:22) Commitment to Humility for David
“And I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.”
4. (:23) Condemnation to Childlessness for Michal
“And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.”
Note the political significance of this childlessness:
Gordon: forecloses any possibility that David and Michal will produce an heir who will be able to unite Davidide and Saulide loyalties.