David brought the Ark of God with rejoicing

David brought the Ark of God with rejoicing

2 Sam 6:1-23
Key Verse 12b.
1. After defeating Philistines, David decided to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. Where was the ark? How long was it there? In your view, how might David feel about his kingship and his kingdom at this time [review ch. 5]? What did he understand about the ark of God [2]? Why at this juncture do you think that he wanted to bring the ark of God to his city [9,16]?
2. How did David arrange to carry out this task? Find out who and what was involved and how. When they reached to the threshing floor of Nacon, what happened? Why did God’s anger come upon Uzzah? How did David understand God’s anger against Uzzah [8] and how did he resolve this matter [10]? What happened to the house of Obed-Edom? How did David interpret this finding [13b]?
3. At this time, how did he carry out brining the Ark of God? Compare it to the previous attempt and find at least three distinctively different things from the previous attempt. Why [Num 4:1-16;cf. Exo 25:15; Num 7:9]? Describe the role of David in bringing the ark of God at this time and compare it with David’s role in the first attempt. How do you characterize David’s emotions and feeling [21b-22a] at this time? To the eyes of ordinary, whom was David like as he danced around [16]?
4. After the ark of God was placed in the tent, what did David do for the Lord and for people [17-19]? How did Michal see the actions of David [20]? What was her point of discontent or in her view what was the value of a king? Who is the God of David [v21]? What are two things that he was willing to do even more [21b, 22a]? How did David deal with her [23]? Why?
5. Discuss about what might be the warning and lesson of the first attempt to move the Ark of God. What might be the compelling desire of the first attempt [9]? What was the compelling motif or feelings of the second attempt? Discern what might be the changes in the mind of David toward God, in respect to the law, His covenant, sacrifice, faith, and thankfulness.

In the previous chapter, all things that were necessary for kingdom were established. He felt a great blessing from God and that blessing was not for him but for God’s people Israel[5:12]. In David’s mind God did everything that he would ask for. But one thing is left unresolved. It was the Ark of God. It had been at the house of Abinadab at Kiriath Jearim after it was returned to Israel by Philistines. During whole period of Saul’s rule, it remained there. The ark of God was the emblem of God’s covenant and His law.
If David were simply concerned about his kingship, his kingdom and his people, then, at the hike of his success, the Ark might be just an article of cultic rituals to God to whom he would express his thankfulness.
But for him, the ark of God was not something to add on in order to make his kingship complete. For him the ark of God was the thing for his kingship. So he decided to bring it to the city of David to be with him, not with anyone else. In this effort, he arranged everything to bring the ark. Two sons of Abinadab, a Levite were leading the way. This was followed by oxen pulling a new cart on which the ark was. Though it is not clear where David and the whole hose of Israel were, it seems that they were following this cart, celebrating with all their might.
Here it is noted that a cart pulled by oxen was used to carry the ark. David was along with the whole house of Israel celebrating this occasion.
But suddenly the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of the ark. He was struck down by God and died on the spot. It was Lord’s anger on irreverent act.
We can take this just a problem of Uzzah. But David read that it was God’s disapproval of David as well as his intention to move the Ark to his city. So he stopped this undertaking and placed the Ark at the house of Obed-Edom.
Clearly it was God’s punishment on ‘irreverent act’ How can one express his reverence to the Lord? If anything that deviate from the law is irreverent to the Lord. In the ark of God is the ten commandment, Aaron’s staff, and manna. On the top of it is mercy seat and above which in between the two cherubim is where God said that He would meet.
The law must be observed, Aaron’s staff that did God’s miracles to rescue from the hands of enemies must be taken into consideration with reverent awe and that and the manna that God rained down to sustain their lives in the desert must be born in mind. Many can be said of each of these. But one thing is clear. When one violates the law of Covenant, he has no chance.
The death of Uzzah was a clear warning that God and His law cannot be taken irreverently. The celebration mood changed into fear. Violation of the law of God invariably generates fear, fear of judgment, and fear of God who holds life.
Seeing God’s blessings to the house of Obed-Edom, to David it was clear that God was to bless Israel!. David’s understanding on Uzzah’s death changed. It was God’s judgment on irreverent act and it was not God’s unhappiness to David and His will to move the ark to the city of David.
By blessing richly the house of Obed-Edom, God revealed His will. His will was to bless David as well as the nation. But how could that will be perceived? It is trust in God of the Covenant in and through the law, and it is trust in God’s grace and mercy. This is expressed in David’s second attempt to move the ark.
What was the overwhelming feeling and mood of David was described in v 8. ‘with rejoicing’ There was no fear, no uncertainty. It was ‘rejoicing’ in faith that God is blessing me and the nation Israel! “rejoicing” was overwhelming feeling from the beginning to the end of this event.
How was ‘rejoicing' expressed? First David ‘sacrificed’ of a bull and a fattened calf. It was for the full honor for God’s worthiness and his ownership of lives. He was forefront of this action. He overcame God’s judgment in the law and he was not fearful. He was fully convinced of God’s grace and mercy and His blessing. Second he danced like little baby before the Lord with all his might. This is an exact reflection of what welled up in his heart—thankfulness and reverent joy and honor to the Lord.
Though it is subtle but there was a clear distinction between the first and the second. The first was celebration with many instruments without trumpet but the second was typified shout and trumpet sound, heralding of the coming of the Mighty God. This means that God is becoming the center of Israel again! David danced in undignified manner before the Lord. David was the king. But before God, he was a mean and humble man. Through and by King David, God took the center stage among all Israel. Through such honor and joy given to the Lord, David redefined kingship. King is not the ultimate authority but God is. King is just a mediator between God and His people or administrator of God’s people according to His will.

Michal who grew up with her father could not understand and could not reason why David danced such an undignified manner. In view of her, King is and should be a figure of the authority over his people. This is the understanding of ordinary men and men of the kingdom of this world. But David rejected to be such king because of his fear of the Lord and because he knew that it was God who established his kingship and the kingdom for His people.

Through David, God took the center stage of the kingdom Israel. God was honored as God, God of judgment, God of blessing and God of supreme authority over all human being. In and through the ark of covenant, God blesses his people richly and makes his kingdom a blessing.