Tag Archives: Bringing The Ark

Bringing The Ark: Consuming Focus

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There’s one more section I want to bring out in this story. After Michal’s criticism of David, David made a very profound response: “David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’S people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”” (2 Samuel 6:21-22)

David knew who his worship was directed to. He was celebrating before the Lord. He wasn’t trying to impress Michal nor anyone else. He wasn’t seeking their applause nor their approval. What he did, he did before the Lord.

Does that mean we shouldn’t be concerned about those around us when we worship? No, I don’t think we can make that argument. The discussion about the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11 is all about being aware of those around us and including them in our worship. Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 is based on thinking about those who might observe our worship. And the passages on “the weaker brother” could even come into play.

However, I know that I’ve spent way too much time listening to the Michals of this world, trying to keep them happy. It can’t be done. As the moral of Aesop’s fable of the man, the boy and the donkey says, please all and you will please none. You can’t please everyone.

In the end, I need to focus on the God I’m worshiping and doing what pleases Him. Sometimes that will mean doing certain things for the good of those around me. But other times, it will mean worshiping Him with reckless abandon, unconcerned about the praise of men.

For some time, I subscribed to a discussion list with a number of preachers who would probably consider themselves to be more conservative than I. I felt that hearing their voices and their concerns would help me to keep a bit of balance. (I also subscribed to some lists with some I thought more liberal than I) A few weeks ago, however, I realized that the negativity I was subjecting myself to was doing me more harm than good. It was pulling me away from my focus.

I don’t want to go back. Not just to that group, but to the whole game of trying to dance to the tune others would play. I will seek to edify. I will seek to evangelize. I will not seek to offend, trying to be all things to all men.

But above all, I will serve my God.

Bringing The Ark: Consuming Criticism

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We’ve been looking at 2 Samuel 6, when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. We saw the tragedy of Uzzah’s touching the Ark, then looked at David’s acts of praise.

David then acted to bless those around them. He offered sacrifices so that everyone could feast before the Lord. He also provided cakes for everyone that was there. After ministering to the people, he went home to take a blessing to his family.

But not all of his family was ready to be blessed. The text says, “As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.” (2 Samuel 6:16) Ouch. The whole country is celebrating the bringing of the Ark, but Michal can’t join in. She can’t rejoice with them. She can’t worship with them. She looks at her husband as he praises God, and she despises him.

Further down, we read: “When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”” (2 Samuel 6:20) The moment of blessing is wasted. Michal can’t receive the blessing for she is too busy criticizing.

“And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.” (2 Samuel 6:23) I find it so very sad. David came to bring her a blessing, but Michal came away with a curse.

Yet even though she was childless, Michal seems to have many descendants. They go to moments of worship and come away talking about what this person did and what that person didn’t do. Michal’s voice echoes even today: “He clapped!” “She raised her hands!” “They didn’t wear the right clothes!”

What’s sad is that a blessing is missed. While some are consumed with praise, others are consumed by criticism. And their faith becomes a sterile faith.

Be quiet Michal! You’ve said more than enough. It’s time to worship God and let others worship.

Bringing The Ark: Consuming Praise

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Yesterday, we looked at the first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. In that effort, no attention was paid to God’s instructions about how to move the Ark. Because of this, Uzzah died when he touched the Ark during the move.

David was angry with God and fearful at the same time. He left the Ark at the home of Obed-Edom. Months later, seeing that God had blessed Obed-Edom during this time, David decided to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.

I love the description of David’s actions as the Ark was being brought: “David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Samuel 6:14-15)

David laid aside his royal robes and put on common clothes, the clothes of a servant, somewhat similar to what the High Priest would wear when he entered the Holy of Holies. Chronicles tells us that the Levites and musicians wore the same clothes that David wore. They weren’t royal clothes, but they weren’t immodest, either.

I love the description of David’s worship. He worshiped with all his might. When was the last time I could say that? How often do I come away from a time of worship feeling tired?

This wasn’t prescribed worship. God didn’t tell David to dance, nor to surround the Ark with musicians and their instruments. The Israelites weren’t told to shout for joy. All of this was natural, spontaneous worship of God.

Last week, in the comments section, Jay talked about how the church has forgotten how to celebrate, how to truly rejoice. The Old Testament is full of calls to worship God through feasting and rejoicing. None of that changed in the New Testament.

David, the great king, humbled himself and joined in the celebrations with all the people. He worshiped God with all his might. It’s a beautiful image. It’s a beautiful example for us.

Bringing the Ark: Consuming Fire

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The story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem is an interesting one. It’s interesting to see how God works in the life of this man described as being “after God’s own heart.”

The Israelites had lost the Ark to the Philistines. Someone thought it would be a good idea to take the ark into battle, which God hadn’t instructed them to do (despite what you may have seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark). There’s not a lot of detail about how they did that; I’m curious as to whether or not they followed the instructions from the Law about how to carry the Ark.

The Israelites lost the battle and the Ark was captured. However, the Philistines soon discovered that it was a bad idea for them to keep God’s Ark, and they sent it back in a cart pulled by two milch kine (gotta love the KJV), that is, two milk cows. The Ark ended up in Kiritah Jearim, where it stayed until David decided to take it to Jerusalem.

David didn’t return the Ark to the Tabernacle; he set up a tent in Jerusalem for the Ark. He also failed to transport it as the Law said. The Ark was to be carried by the Levites, covered by a curtain. Instead the Israelites placed it on a cart, and nothing is said about it being covered.

This lack of attention to God’s instructions led to disaster, but only when Uzzah went to touch the Ark. God is slow to anger and overlooks a certain degree of ignorance. However, the actual touching of the Ark was too much. Uzzah was struck dead when he touched the Ark.

This first part of the story reminds us that God’s holiness is a serious matter. It’s not merely a question of obedience and disobedience, else many more people would have died on that day. In some ways, David was the guiltiest of all, yet he is not reprimanded; he even becomes angry with God over what happened.

What happened to Uzzah should remind us why we worship God with reverence and holy fear; our God is a consuming fire.

We’ll look some more at this story over the next few days.