The Ark is Brought to Jerusalem
May 5, 2022
Commentary
Some days, no matter how carefully events are planned, things still go wrong. This was true for David when he decided to bring the ark of the covenant from the house of Abinadab at Kiriath-jearim, where it had remained for about 20 years (6:1–3). His desire was good, but his method was careless. Earlier, Israel had treated the ark like a good-luck charm and carried it into battle, only to lose both the battle and the ark to the Philistines (1SA 4). God struck the Philistines with plagues, forcing them to return it. Because they did not know God’s law, they placed the ark on a new cart. God had given clear instructions about how it was to be carried (NUM 4), but their ignorance spared them judgment at that time.
The tragedy came when Israel later copied the Philistines instead of obeying God. The ark was to be carried only by Levites using poles, and no one was to touch it (NUM 4:5–15). David placed the ark on a cart and led it toward Jerusalem with great celebration. David and all Israel rejoiced with music, singing, and instruments (6:4–5; 1CH 13:8). When the oxen stum-bled, Uzzah reached out to steady the ark. God struck him dead for touching what was holy (6:6–7).
David realized he had ignored God’s instructions. He paused and placed the ark in the house of Obed-Edom, whom God clearly blessed (6:8–11). Seeing this blessing helped David understand that obedience mattered more than excitement. David later moved the ark correctly, with sacrifice, care, and joyful worship (6:12–19). Michal despised David’s passion for God, becoming distant from him (6:20–23). This chapter teaches that sincere worship must always be guided by God’s word and carried out with humility and obedience.
Application
When I want to worship God, do I follow His word or do things my own way? Are my good intentions matched by obedience? When something goes wrong, do I stop and listen to God or just push ahead? Today I ask God to help me worship with joy and humility, and to obey Him carefully, even when my plans feel right.
2 Samuel 6:1–23 (NET)
1 David again assembled all the best men in Israel, 30,000 in number. 2 David and all the men who were with him traveled to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who sits enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. 3 They loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart. 4 They brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the ark, 5 while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before the Lord, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.
6 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and grabbed hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him on the spot for his negligence. He died right there beside the ark of God.
8 David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day. 9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How will the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 10 So David was no longer willing to bring the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. David left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his family. 12 King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the family of Obed-Edom and everything he owns because of the ark of God.” So David went and joyfully brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David. 13 Those who carried the ark of the Lord took six steps and then David sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf. 14 Now David, wearing a linen ephod, was dancing with all his strength before the Lord. 15 David and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord, shouting and blowing trumpets.
16 As the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him. 17 They brought the ark of the Lord and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. 20 When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saul’s daughter, came out to meet him. She said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servants’ slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!”
21 David replied to Michal, “It was before the Lord! I was celebrating before the Lord, who chose me over your father and his entire family and appointed me as leader over the Lord’s people Israel. 22 I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this. But with the slave girls whom you mentioned, let me be distinguished.” 23 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, had no children to the day of her death.
Billy Sunday – Sin is Treated Like a Cream Puff
One reason sin flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake. (Billy Sunday in Who said that? by Billy Sunday p. 401).