2 Samuel 6 part 4
Now as we begin in Chapter 6 we need understand that all of
1 Chronicles 13:1 Then
David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with
every leader. 2 And David
said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and
if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who
are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and
Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they
may gather together to us; 3
"and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired
at it since the days of Saul." 4
Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in
the eyes of all the people. 5
So David gathered all
Here we learn that David has meeting with his people and
they decided that it would be a great ideal to gather the people together and
bring the ark to
2 Samuel 6:3 So they
set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab,
which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove
the new cart. 4 And they
brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill,
accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of
Here we learn that the
ark had been in the house of Abinadab and in 1Sam. 7:2 we learn that the ark
had been there prior to Saul being made king and was under the care of
Abinadab’s son Eleazar. A few more details I want to point out is that Abinadab
was from the tribe of
In the passages he talks about how poles are to be inserted into the rings of the ark and it is to be carried on their shoulders. We learn so more details on the procedure from,
Numbers 4:1 Then the
LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2
"Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi, by
their families, by their fathers' house,
3 "from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years
old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of
meeting. 4 " This is the
service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, relating to the
most holy things: 5
"When the camp prepares to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come, and
they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the Testimony with
it. 6 "Then they shall
put on it a covering of badger skins, and spread over that a cloth
entirely of blue; and they shall insert its poles.
Not only is the ark to be carried on the shoulders only the tribe of Levi are the ones that are suppose to carry the holy items such as the ark an it was to be covered by the veil, badger skin and then a blue cloth. Then on top of this notice these finally instructions in verse,
Numbers 4:15 "And
when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the
furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of
Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy
thing, lest they die. These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting
which the sons of Kohath are to carry.
Notice not even the
Levites were to touch the holy things, not just the ark but any of those items
found within the Holy place. This is important for us to understand Gods law on
this as we look at what happens next. Now David and his men were really getting
after it playing musical instruments and celebrating because they thought the
ark of the Lord was on its way. But watch what happens next.
2 Samuel 6:6 And
when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to
the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was
aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he
died there by the ark of God. 8
And David became angry because of the LORD's outbreak against Uzzah; and he
called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid
of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to
me?" 10 So David would
not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of
The great lesson we learn
from these verses in the severity o f God and how he expects his commands to be
followed. We just learned what God law said on transporting the ark and these 2
boys violating that law and then when Uzzah touched the ark even done out of
good intentions was an act forbidden by the Levites. I believe that God used
Uzzah as a example to his people especially during this critical time where the
people were starting to get back in unity to worship God. It wouldn’t serve
much of purpose if the people got together and started worshiping God their own
way instead of God’s way. So Uzzah would become a great example of God justice
and demand for unity based upon his will. It also serves as a example to us
today that good intentions doesn’t mean that God will pleased with especially
when good intention violate God’s law. It also teaches us to have great respect
to what God says in his word and he wants things done and we should be very
careful of trying to do things our way because God’s is the only way.
Now we see that David
gets angry at the Lord for this and then becomes afraid of God and so he
decides to leave the ark at the house of Obed-Edom. This more common than you
think. People have tendency to get angry at God for various reason because at
first they can’t understand why their child had died or why they are going
through such a difficult time in their life. Now after some time goes by most
of these people will find peace with God and learn to accept what has happened
and they allow God to comfort them.
However in David’s case
he know that Uzzah was killed by God and at first he was angry at him but I
believe after he had time to think about what happened he probable became angry
at himself because he should have know that he was violating God’s law in the
way he was having it transported and even admits to that fact in 1 Chron 15. Now
before we read in 1 Chron 15 I want to keep things in order so let read the few
verses in 2 Sam 6 which occur before 1 Chorn 15
2 Samuel 6:11 The ark
of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And
the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. 12 Now it was told King David,
saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs
to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the
ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of
So we see that while the
ark remained at the house of Obed-Edom which most scholars believe was a Levite
his household was blessed for 3 months. This was encouraging to David and so he
prepares once again to bring the ark to
1 Chronicles 15:1 David
built houses for himself in the City of
Did you see what David
just said? Here recognizes the fact that only Levites could carry the ark. Now
as the verses continue out it simply names the various names of the Levites
groups that David summons and then he says this.
1 Chronicles 15:12 He said
to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the
Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the
ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 "For because you did not
do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us,
because we did not consult Him about the proper order." 14 So the priests and the Levites
sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of
Here David admits to him
mistake earlier and no doubt understand why God stuck Uzzah dead for touching
the ark. The biggest mistake David made was doing things his own way instead of
getting directions from God. Just as David said God broke out against us because we did not consult him about the
proper order.
This is something
that I wish that every person who call
themselves a follower of God would come to realize. God has a specific pattern
for us to follow after so that things are done in proper order. That why Paul
Timothy
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold
fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love
which are in Christ Jesus.
The
main reason we have so much religious division today is because so many are not
willing to follow after God’s pattern instead they want to follow after their
way of doing things and we must be very careful that we don’t allow society or
new movements to change Gods perfect pattern. David couldn’t get away with it
and neither can we. This one thing I am truly concerned about in the church
today. I keep reading about how different congregations that call themselves
They
are doing their best to change God says on marriage, divorce and remarriage by
trying add additional ways that God’s word does not. I just read where one
church has determined that the roles women are to have in the church were just
customary back then and so now they are allowing their women to be elders,
deacons and preachers. In other words everything the man the women can do also.
And of course there is the big unity movement that many are pushing saying its
ok tolerate those who choose to use musical instruments as a part of their
worship and we should be in full fellowship with them. Just as we say with
David if the unity is based upon God pattern then the unity will not be
pleasing to God. So we must be careful that don’t get sucked into what looks
good or has good intentions if goes against the perfect will of God.
You
see whenever we compromise the truth it does nothing but cause confusion and as
Paul said,
1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of
the saints.
1 Chronicles 15:25 So
David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up
the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. 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.
David
and his people were excited about the ark coming into
2 Samuel 6:14 And
David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen
ephod. 15 So David and all
the house of
Here
we see that David was really showing his enthusiasm as he was dancing or
literally whirling around with all his might. Now it tells us here that he was
wearing a linen ephod. Now this was apron and would not have covered very much
and if you remember from our Wednesday night study this was probably made out
of flax which would have made it pretty revealing even if it covered his
private areas. However notice what,
1 Chronicles 15:27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen,
as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and
Chenaniah (kin-uh-nye-uh) the leader of the music of the singers.
And David wore a linen ephod.
Now
in context this was the same time that ark was being brought into the city. Now
it possible that not only was David wearing the linen ephod that he was wearing
the robe as well. I cant say for sure either way but one thing I do know is
that his wife Michal despised his behavior in her heart. Some commentators have
said that David was not only carrying out the duties of a king but that he was
also carrying out the duties of a priest because you see him wearing an ephod,
blessing the people and on occasion the text will say the he made a sacrifice
or offered a sacrifice. While this may possible of what happening it also
possible that he wasn’t doing priestly duties at all. For instance just because
he was wearing linen Ephod doesn’t necessarily mean that it was a priestly one.
When the text says he made a sacrifice or offered up a sacrifice it could
simply mean that he ordered and provided the animal for the sacrifice. It kind
of like when the Bible says the David killed the group of people but he himself
didn’t kill them all he had his men killing as well and as far as him casting a
blessing upon the people this could simply him offering encouraging words to
them.
Now
one thing I do know is that David was not qualified to be priest and it would
not be acceptable for him to be one and the Bible as far as I know never
corrects him on this. As far as I know that Bible never refers to David as a
priest. So, I personally conclude that David was not doing priestly duties but
whatever he was doing was done in acceptable manner to God since he never faces
any consequences because of it.
2 Samuel 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
Now
I wish I could tell for sure what Michal motivation was behind her bitterness
but we can give some possibilities. First all it possible that Michal thought
that David was going overboard on celebrating his kingdom and the return to the
ark and Michal thought this was rubbing it in her nose that her farther was no
longer king. This is certainly indicated by David response that God had made
him ruler instead of Saul. Another possibility that could have motivated her is
the fact that she had husband that obviously loved her and she was probably
very happy but then she stripped away from him to be joined with David and
growing Harem. Of course one last reason could be that she felt ashamed to have
her husband who in her mind was suppose to act a certain way and if he was just
wearing a linen ephod by itself this went against her way of thinking of what a
king should wear in front of his people and she didn’t like the whirling about
in front of the either.While I cant pin point for sure why she was bitter these
are certainly possible reasons.
Now
David wanted Michal to know that he wasn’t dancing to try and dishonor himself
or to show off in front of his maidservants he was simply humbling himself and
praising God and he felt if his maidservant saw him they be honored to see
their king doing such a thing for God. Now when he tells her that he will be
even more undignified than he right now I believe he is simply saying he is not
concerned about the way he looks and he would subdue himself to greater
humiliation to show his thankfulness to God.
Then
we end this chapter with it saying that
she had no children to the day of her death. Now there are two things I need
point out about this last verse. First of all we don’t know why she had no more
children after this point. It could had been God made it that way or because of
her bitterness her and David never even tried. The second I must point out that
this phrase she had no children must have meant she would have no more children
from that point forward because 2 Sam. 21:8 tells us that she had 6
sons. However, some scholars believe that Saul’s other daughter Merab is the one being referred to in that verse.
The point is this in either case there isn’t a discrepancy because the Hebrew
language will allow either interpretation.