David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

1. Read: 2 Samuel 6:1-3

2. About the Text:

1) In 1 Samuel 4, the Ark of the Covenant is lost to the Philistines in battle (1 Samuel 4).

2) God afflicted the Philistines for keeping the ark (1 Samuel 5).

3) So, they sent it back to Israel (1 Samuel 6).

4) It first arrived in Beth Shemesh (1 Samuel 6:13), but was moved to Kirjath Jearim (1 Samuel 7:1).

5) This place is also named Baale Judah (Joshua 15:9).

6) It remained there for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:2).

7) This is where it was when David desired to move it to Jerusalem.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. David desired the ark to come to Jerusalem (city of David) 1 Chronicles 13:13, 15:1.

1) He gathered the choice men of Israel (v.1).

2) They went to the place where the ark was located (v.2).

3) It was in the house of Abinadab (1 Samuel 7:1).

4) They put it on a new cart (v.3).

5) Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drove the cart (v.3), and Ahio was in front (v.4).

6) David and all the house of Israel played music before the ark (v.5).

2. Do we desire God’s holy things?

1) David’s desires were good; his attitude was right; he desired to worship God with the ark (1 Chronicles 13:3).

2) God desires us to be holy. “For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45).

3. Do we desire the things that God desires?

1. God’s holiness is discovered.

1) The ark came to Nashon’s threshing floor and the oxen stumbled (v.6).

2) Uzzah put his hand out to prevent it from falling (v.6).

3) God’s anger was aroused against Uzzah (v.7).

4) God struck Uzzah dead for his error (v.7).

5) David became angry because of this (v.8).

6) David was afraid of the Lord because of this (v.9).

7) He asked, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”

8) David did not bring it to the city of David but left it in Obed-Edom (v.10).

9) It stayed there for three months and blessed them (v.11).

2. Do we properly respect God’s holy things?

1) God had said, “they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die” (Numbers 4:15).

2) God killed 50,070 men for looking at the ark (1 Samuel 6:19).

3) Why? God is a holy God and must be approached with holiness.

4) “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. Also let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them’” (Exodus 19:21-22).

3. What happens when we don’t approach God in holiness?

1. God’s holy will was consulted.

1) Remember David’s question, “How shall the ark of God come to me?”

2) We find the answer in 1 Chronicles 15:13: “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.”

3) David learned that the ark had to be carried by the Levites to be transported correctly (Numbers 4:15).

4) “You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it” (Exodus 25:14-15).

5) David didn’t say, “But Lord, you didn’t say NOT to carry it on a cart!”

6) When David did things the Lord’s way, the ark was brought to the city of David.

7) David brought the ark from the house of Obed-Edom (v.12).

8) He had the Levites carry the ark (v.13).

9) He offered sacrifices before it (v.13).

10) He danced before the ark (v.14).

11) They shouted before the ark and blew the trumpet (v.15).

12) The ark came into the city of David (v.16).

2. Do we defer to God’s holy things?

1) Like David, we must consult God’s word to see how things should be done today.

2) “But He said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” (Luke 11:28).

3) When we don’t follow God’s will and do things our own way, we err.

3. What happens when we don’t consult God about the proper way to do things?

1. God’s worship is delightful when done according to God’s wor.

1) David danced before the Lord (v.16).

2) David offered burnt offerings (v.17).

3) David blessed the people in the name of the Lord (v.18).

4) David gave food to everyone (v.19).

5) David refused to apologize for humbling himself before the Lord (v.20-23).

2. Do we delight in the worship of God?

1) When we pray (Phil.1:4)?

2) When we sing (James 5:13)?

3) When we partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor.11:27)?

4) When we study God’s word (Romans 7:22)?

5) When we give (2 Corinthians 9:7)?

3. What happens when we don’t take joy in the worship of God?

1. We must properly regard God’s holy things.

1) David desired God’s holy things.

2) David discovered that God’s things are holy.

3) David deferred to God’s holy things.

4) David delighted in God’s holy things.

2. Invitation