Restoring the Glory in the House
Theme:
Text: 2 Samuel 6:1-8
2Sa 6:1-8 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. (2) And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. (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 Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. (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.
Introduction
The ark was a piece of the worship system in Israel. God gave Moses instructions in Exodus 25 on how to build the ark. This ark was designed to be a place where God would meet with the priest. They would offer up the sacrifice of atonement and the Lord would speak to the priests.
Obliviously this came to represent the presence of the Lord. As the Israelites would go through the wilderness they would carry the tabernacle and the ark. This was God would meet the people. When they settled in the land of Canaan Jerusalem became the center for worship.
Purpose of the Ark
Exo 25:22 "And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
The Diming of a Vision
By the time we get to 1 Samuel we have been throughout the judges. Here we see about seven cycles of events. First the people would draw away from the Lord, then there would be judgement, finally the people would cry out for deliverance and then God would send a judge to deliver them.
Each time they would pull away father and father. Just a side note: if you are going through this cycle in your life a warning is that each time you try to get back it is harder. Don’t think it is going to get any easier. The enemy will attack you more especially with your mistakes of the past and each time you have more baggage to get rid of.
By the time we get to 1 Samuel we read a sad commentary of the conditions of the time.
1Sa 3:1 Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, (3) and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down,
There was no vision or revelation in the land. People were not hearing from the Lord. As almost a play on words we read that Eli’s (the high priest) eyes were dim (seems not only physically but also spiritually as we see from his son’s Hophni and Phinehas who were taking advantage of the people and Eli turned a “blind eye” to them.)
But also the light was about to go out around the ark. The light should never go out around the ark. Yet the Lord will only tolerate sin for so long.
Thank the Lord that He raises up a Samuel who will begin to bring restoration to the Lord.
Capturing of the Ark
Yet it has to get worse before it gets better
1Sa 4:1-22 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. (2) Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. (3) And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies." (4) So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. (5) And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. (6) Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. (7) So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp!" And they said, "Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before. (8) "Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. (9) "Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!" (10) So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. (11) Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. (12) Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. (13) Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. (14) When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, "What does the sound of this tumult mean?" And the man came quickly and told Eli. (15) Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see. (16) Then the man said to Eli, "I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line." And he said, "What happened, my son?" (17) So the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured." (18) Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. (19) Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. (20) And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. (21) Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. (22) And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."
Believing that the Ark was like a “good luck” charm they take it into battle loses the ark.
This lasted from a short time in the possession of the Philistines. They learned that it was more that just possessing the ark this was the presence of the Lord.
Saul
Strangely Saul had not interest in getting the ark. He let it remain out of the city even though the Lord had brought many victories. Maybe he didn’t know how to bring back the ark, maybe he was not worthy, maybe he had no interest. Needless to say it was the next king David who felt the need to bring back the ark.
Now we are where we began.
2Sa 6:1-8 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. (1Ch 13:1 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.)
(2) And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. (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 Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. (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.
This is the first time that David tried to bring back the ark. This first time ended in disaster.
Why?
1) David consulted the people instead of consulting the Lord, the Word and the priest 1 Chronicles 13:1
2) Davd took counsel from the way that the Philistines had sent back the ark. 1 Samuel 6:7
3) Uzzah was struck because of his error, or irreverence for he had “profaned” the ark.
This had been an issue of debate. The whole reason was because there was an irreverence for the ark. This was God’s presence not some ceremony that was going on. Sometimes we have to take a step back and realize what we are doing.
1Co 11:26-32 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. (27) Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (29) For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (30) For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
This made David angry. But not as angry with God as shaking his fist in the face of God but as angry in fear and frustration.
David hears of Obed-Edom
This did not last long for David desired to bring back the ark. This was the central of Israel’s worship.
2Sa 6:11-23 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 David with gladness.
Here in this verse in the first mention of Obed-Edom. After this we see him mentioned 20 more times, all around the ark. 2 Samuel 6
2 Samuel 15 – Gatekeeper 1 Chronicles 15 – Doorkeepers 1 Chronicles 16 – Musician
1 Chronicles 26 – his sons 1 Chronicles 26 – storehouse
(13) And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.
True worship begins with a sacrifice.
(14) Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.
True worship is letting God express Hisself through you.
(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.
True worship
(16) Now 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 whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. (17) So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. (18) And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. (19) Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.
Michal – Saul’s Daughter – Why embarrass yourself?
(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 today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" (21) So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. (22) "And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor." (23) Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
I think that it is interesting that she was trying to shame David. Many people try to shame true worshipers. They say, “I wouldn’t embarrass myself like that. Sometimes we worry what others think. Buy why they don’t know where we have been.
Also notice the result. Michal was barren. She had no offspring. When we are ashamed of the Lord it affects the next generation.
Deeper Worship
Eze 47:1-12 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.
It is important to note where the waters came from. From out of the temple. We get a description of a river that is flowing from the temple.
(2) He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.
Stepping into the Water
(3) And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. (4) Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. (5) Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. (6) He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. (7) When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. (8) Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. (9) "And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. (10) "It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. (11) "But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. (12) "Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart (belly) will flow rivers of living water."
