II Samuel Chapter
6
Memory verses for this
week:
Psa
67:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear
him.
II
Samuel 6:.
After defeating the Philistines, David determined to bring the ark
of the covenant to Jerusalem. This chapter records the account of
trying to do a right thing the wrong way and the consequences
thereof. The account then details David’s proper transportation of
the Ark and the events associated thereafter. Too often Gods
children lean toward the ways of the world rather than the Word of
God. Good intent doesn’t justify the means.
I. David
Seeks to Bring Ark to Jerusalem
2 Sam 6:1
Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty
thousand.
2 Sam 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.
2 Sam 6:3
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.
2 Sam 6:4
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah,
accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
2 Sam 6:5
And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all
manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on
psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
In verse 1,
the word
again
likely referred to the gathering of the overall leadership of the
nation for convocation as they had done when David was anointed
king. This evidently amounted to 30,000 men. The place, “Baale of
Judah,” was also known as Kirjathjearim. (See Joshua 15:9,60.) It
was there that the ark of the covenant had been kept in recent
years. Of interest is the name “LORD of hosts” (Jehovah-tsaba).
David here refers to God by this name, speaking of Him still
dwelling between the cherubims.
Implied is
that there was hope of the Shekinah glory of God still being present
in Israel. The ark of the covenant had been kept in the house of one
Abinadab of Gibeah which was a subdivision of Kirjathjearim (1
Samuel 7:1). This is where the ark has been since its return by the
Philistines after taking it along with Gods curse upon them.
Of what
tribe Abinadab and his sons are is not clear. Because Gibeah was in
Benjamin, some have thought they were of that tribe. However, the
name Uzza is related to the tribe of Levi and the family of Merari
in
I Chronicles
6:29. It may be therefore that they were of the tribe of Levi and
the family of Merari. If so, they may have been Levites. They were
not the family assigned to transport the sacred furniture of the
sanctuary. Scripture dictates that was reserved for the Kohathites.
Moreover, the Kohathites were to carry the ark of the covenant upon
their shoulders and not on a cart. They may have thought they were
proper in their actions because the cart had never before been used.
However, they acted in violation of God’s clearly revealed will.
David should have known better being a man well versed in God’s
Word. It had been many years since the Ark had been moved and in the
festivity of the hour, doing it God’s way did not seem important. It
seems that they were more concerned with what they were doing than
how they were doing it. They ignored doing God’s work God’s way. It
was a time of great festivity and celebration. The procession
quickly became a parade.
2 Sam 6:6
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.
2 Sam 6:7
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote
him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
2 Sam 6:8
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon
Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
2 Sam 6:9
And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the
ark of the LORD come to me?
In I
Chronicles 13:9, the threshing floor of Nachon is called that of
Chidon. This man or place evidently had more than one name. There,
the oxen balked, shaking the cart. Uzzah therefore reached out to
steady the ark lest it fall. “And
the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him
there for
his
error;
and there he died by the ark of God.”
The lesson is not that Uzzah had broken a rule regarding the
transportation of the ark and therefore God killed him. Many rules
had already been broken.
The ark of
the covenant was a tangible symbol of the holiness of the God who
resided above the Tabernacle. Uzzah as a sinful man had violated the
holiness of God by touching the ark. Even the Levites were not
allowed to do so. They carried it with staves upon their shoulders.
Uzzah, a sinful man, came into direct contact with the infinite
holiness of God, which no man can so endure outside of Christ.
In verse 8,
we see David was upset. The word translated
displeased
(hrx
charah)
actually has more of the sense of being ‘angry.’ He had set out to
honor the Lord and now look what had happened. The word translated
as
breach
(Urp
perets,
or
perez)
in this context has the sense of an ‘outburst.’ The wrath of a holy
God had burst out upon Uzzah for his carelessness.
David was
afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD
come to me?
The word
translated
afraid
(ary
yare)
can also be translated as ‘feared.’ That likely is the sense at
hand. He was puzzled at how the ark should be transported to
Jerusalem. Clearly, David was rusty in his memory of the details of
moving the ark as described in the Law.
2 Sam
6:10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the
city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom
the Gittite.
2 Sam
6:11 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.
The ark was
apparently properly moved into the house of one Obededom which
evidently was near at hand. Though not noted here, Obededom was a
Levite for he was later appointed to be doorkeeper of the Temple at
Jerusalem. See I Chronicles 15:18,21,24 and 16:5,6.
He is called
a Gittite either because he had lived in Gath for some time or
rather because he was of Gathrimmon, a city of the Levites. See
Joshua 21:24. The Ark remained in his house for three months. As
long as the ark was in the home of Obededom, God visibly blessed
this man and his family. Apparently, the blessing of God brought
affluence because it quickly became known to others.
When God
brings blessings to a man, no one can deny the hand of God in that
man's life.
Psa 3:8
Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.
Selah.
Psa 24:3
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in
his holy place?
Psa 24:4
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up
his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Psa 24:5
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from
the God of his salvation.
Psa 24:6
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O
Jacob. Selah.
II. David
Brings Up the Ark
2 Sam
6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the
house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth 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.
2 Sam
6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had
gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
2 Sam
6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David
was girded with a linen ephod.
2 Sam
6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the
LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
2 Sam
6:16 And 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 dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
Upon hearing
of God’s blessing upon Obededom, David determined to do what was
necessary to transport the ark to Jerusalem. David by now well
understood the proper method of its moving. He may have refreshed
his memory of the Law or it may have been told him by others. It may
even be that Obededom, as a Levite, knew the right way and
demonstrated it before David when the Ark was moved into his house.
In any event, David properly brought the ark to Jerusalem without
further incident. He likely was thrilled not only because there was
no further outburst of God’s anger, but more so because of the
prospect of having God’s presence near at hand.
It is clear
that David now had the appropriate Levites, sons of Kohath, who
carried the Ark upon their shoulders. See I Chronicles 15:2, 12- 15.
After they
had taken only six steps with the Ark upon their shoulders, David
stopped the procession and there offered a sacrifice to God on the
spot. He rejoiced that God was pleased with their proper method. As
the procession once again moved out toward Jerusalem,”
David danced before the LORD with all
his
might;
and David
was
girded
with a linen ephod.”
The idea is that he skipped and leaped for joy as the Ark made its
way. Evident is the great joy of David in being pleasing to God. The
reference to him wearing a linen ephod speaks of him being attired
in unusual garb. He was not in royal robes or girded for war.
Rather, he wore humble vestment for worship. A triumphant procession
with David at its head therefore entered the city with great joy and
fanfare. He was thrilled beyond words at God’s acceptance of his
endeavor.
However, 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
dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. In the
meantime, as the procession made its way into the city, Michal,
David’s wife, looked out the window at the proceedings. She saw her
husband, the king, carrying on like a joyful child as he leaped and
jumped for joy. She evidently thought this beneath the dignity of a
king and despised him thereafter.
2 Sam
6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his
place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it:
and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the
LORD.
2 Sam
6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt
offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of
the LORD of hosts.
2 Sam
6:19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole
multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a
cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So
all the people departed every one to his house.
2 Sam
6:20 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 to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes
of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows
shamelessly uncovereth himself!
2 Sam
6:21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose
me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler
over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play
before the LORD.
2 Sam
6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine
own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of
them shall I be had in honour.
2 Sam
6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day
of her death.
The record
returns to the narrative of the arrival of the ark. David had
prepared the tabernacle in Jerusalem for the ark and there it was
placed. He then offered more sweet savor sacrifices for praise and
thanksgiving. Finally, he blessed his people in God’s name. Truly,
it was a time of great rejoicing and blessing.
Moreover,
he dealt
among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel,
as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a
good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people
departed every one to his house. David thus presented his people
with a feast before they returned to their homes. After such a
glorious day, David returned home only to find his wife in a
nasty mood.
Sarcasm
was prevalent as she tore into her husband. Michal’s reference
to David uncovering himself cannot be construed to mean that he
improperly exposed himself. Rather, she was infuriated that her
husband as king would so demean himself to something so common
and humble as wearing an ephod in public. Her upbringing as a
king’s daughter had given her a haughty and elitist outlook. She
was bitter that her husband the king would so humble himself by
leaping for joy as a common child wearing a common linen ephod.
David protested in verse 21.
“It
was
before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before
all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD,
over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.”
His
public rejoicing was before the Lord and His people. As far as
David was concerned, he would continue to celebrate before the
Lord as the occasion presented itself. However, it was clear
that David did not take kindly to such disrespect and attack
from Michal. He thus retorted in verse 22
“And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine
own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of
them shall I be had in honour.”
David in
effect said, “If you think I have acted as a commoner, I will be
even more humble. All those maidens you despised will hold me in
honor.” Implied is that even if Michal despised him, the women
of the land did not and would not.
Michal
the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
II
Samuel 21:8 indicates that Michal did have children. However,
what is apparent here is that from here on, she had no more.
Implicit is that David no longer would be intimate with her. He
had had it with her. She had vented her bitterness against him
in utter disrespect.
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Prov 4:18
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Practice
Random Acts of Kindness. Each act spreads, and many will be blessed.