Day 104 – 2 Samuel 6:1-4

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 6:1-4

"Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand."

(2 Samuel 6:1)

David gathers "all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand." This is a national gathering.

"And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims."

(2 Samuel 6:2)

"David arose." He rises with energy to bring up the Ark. The ark is described with great weight: "the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims." This was the place connected with the manifested presence of the LORD among His people. The ark pointed to God's covenant, God's holiness, God's mercy seat, and God's rule. The ark typified Christ and His mediation, where God manifests favour and accepts prayer and praise.

God told Moses:

"And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee." (Exodus 25:21)

"And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." (Exodus 25:22)

So when David wants the Ark brought to Jerusalem, he is bringing the visible reminder of the LORD's covenant presence to the center of the kingdom.

The Holy Spirit brings the title "LORD of hosts" to our attention. David had just seen the LORD of hosts give him victory over the Philistines. Now he wants the ark of the LORD of hosts brought into Jerusalem.

"And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart."

(2 Samuel 6:3)

"they set the ark of God upon a new cart." Holy things are not handled rightly just because we use something new. God had already given order for the ark. It was to be carried by the appointed Levites, not hauled on a cart. Excitement does not replace obedience. A new cart may look clean, costly, and careful, but it is still wrong if God commanded shoulders.

"And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark."

(2 Samuel 6:4)

They bring the ark out of Abinadab's house. Ahio goes before it. The people accompany it. Everything is moving now, and from the outside it looks like a beautiful moment.

David's next major act after establishing Jerusalem was to bring the ark there. Real worship must not imitate the world's method while claiming to honor the LORD. The desire to bring the ark up was beautiful. The decision to move it on a cart is dangerous.