Day 105 – 2 Samuel 6:5-15

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 6:5-15

"And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals."

(2 Samuel 6:5)

What Joyful scene! David and all the house of Israel are playing "before the LORD." The music, Harps, psalteries, timbrels, cornets, and cymbals fill the road with sound. The king is leading the nation in praise.

"And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it."

(2 Samuel 6:6)

The oxen shake the cart, and Uzzah reaches out. On the surface, it looks like he is helping. The Ark seems ready to fall, and Uzzah puts forth his hand to steady it. Human instinct says, "He meant well." But God had already commanded that the holy things were not to be touched.

"And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God."

(2 Samuel 6:7)

"The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah." God smote him "for his error." The word "error" does not mean common in the way we think. His error was touching what God had made holy and forbidden to be touched. Uzzah had likely been around the Ark for a long time in Abinadab's house.

"And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day."

(2 Samuel 6:8)

The joyful procession stops in shock. David is now troubled by God's judgment. He names the place Perezuzzah, "the breach upon Uzzah."

"And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?"

(2 Samuel 6:9)

Now David is afraid. Earlier, he was excited. Now he is shaken. "How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?" That is the right question if it leads him back to God's Word. David wanted the Ark near, but now he understands that the LORD's presence cannot be handled lightly.

"So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite."

(2 Samuel 6:10)

David stops the procession. He will not bring the Ark into the city of David that day. Instead, the Ark is carried aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. David does not keep pushing forward after judgment has fallen. He does not say, "We have come too far to stop now." He stops. Sometimes the most spiritual thing a man can do is halt the plan until he knows how to proceed rightly.

"And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household."

(2 Samuel 6:11)

The Ark remains in Obededom's house for three months, and the LORD blesses him and all his household. The Ark was not a curse. The presence of God is not dangerous to those who receive Him with reverence and according to His order. The same Ark beside which Uzzah died becomes the occasion of blessing in Obededom's house. That tells us the problem was not the Ark.

"And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness."

(2 Samuel 6:12)

David hears the report, "The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom." That news gives David courage again. The Ark can come to Jerusalem, but now David must bring it rightly. This time, the gladness returns. The joy has passed through holy fear. David's first attempt had the right desire but wrong method, and now David brought the Ark according to God's instruction.

"And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings."

(2 Samuel 6:13)

The wording in scripture changes to, "they that bare the ark." The Ark is no longer riding on the new cart. Men are bearing it. The due order is restored. After only six paces, David stops and sacrifices. Six steps, then worship. Every step says, "We are only here by mercy."

My Bible has a parallel account given by David,

"For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order." (1 Chronicles 15:13)

"And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod."

(2 Samuel 6:14)

David dances "before the LORD with all his might." Some people would not like this portion of scripture. This is a dance of worship after correction, worship after fear, worship after sacrifice. The king is rejoicing before the LORD. David is "girded with a linen ephod." This is a reminder that God's holiness did not kill David's joy. It purified it.

"So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet."

(2 Samuel 6:15)

The Ark is coming to Jerusalem. The presence of the LORD is being brought to the center of the kingdom.