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2 Samuel 6:1-13 (NIV) 1 David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. 2 He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it.
5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. 6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.
9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?" 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to 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, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. 12 Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God."
So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
God’s Presence Requires Obedience • “They set the ark of God on a new cart” • Exodus 25:12-15 (NKJV) 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. 13 And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them.
Numbers 4:15 (NIV) 15 "After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting.
Numbers 7:9 (NCV) 9 Moses did not give any oxen or cartsto the Kohathites, because their job was to carry the holy things on their shoulders. • Ignorance of the Word of God is disobedience and disrespect towards God • Ecclesiastes 8:11 (NIV) 11 When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.
2nd act of disobedience: “Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled” • Who is Uzzah? (Uzzah = strength) • “Son of Abinadab” – the Levite priest that has been guarding the ark in his home for 20 years • A priest should have known how to treat the presence of God. • Contrast: 20 years at Abinadab’s house vs. 3 months at Obed Edom’s house
1 Samuel 7:1 Then the men of KirjathJearim came and took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. 2 So it was that the ark remained in KirjathJearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. • 2 Samuel 6:11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittitethree months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
3rd act of disobedience: “Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah”. • David was angry against the Lord. • Why? Maybe because he thought that he was sincere in his excitement, praise and celebration. • 2 Sam 6:5 “David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.”
Sincere ignorance can never replace righteousness and truth. We were commanded to worship God in “spirit and truth” (Jn 4:24). David had “spirit” but no “truth” • The very next verse, his anger turned to fear. • 2 Sam 6:9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?“ • Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginningof knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
2. God’s Presence Requires Sacrifice • 2 Sam 6:13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. • Distance of KirjathJearim – Jerusalem = 12 miles • 12 miles = 63,360 feet. If a step = 2 feet, 6 steps = 12 feet. They would have stopped 5,280 times and sacrificed between10,560 -73,920 animals • (1 Chronicles 15:26 And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams.)
It was a bloody procession! • Many people felt that they didn’t sign up for this bloody stuff when they joined a church. • Many came to be served, seeking “practical benefits” and “relevant and helpful tips for life” • Many wants a “me” church and a cruise ship, not a battle ship • Not many declare like Paul: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:10 (NIV)
2 Sam 6:14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. • Sacrifice of praise and dignity! • 2 Samuel 6:16 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.
Many want to give “comfortably” • Many want to praise “casually” • Many want to pray “occasionally” • Many want to serve “voluntarily” • Many want to attend “conveniently” • Many want to work “easily” • But we will give our all for the Lord! • Amen!!!
