2 Samuel 6 – 7; 1 Chronicles 9:35-15:29; Psalm 8; Psalm 19; Psalm 29

Before he became king, David showed respect for the office, the person and the family of King Saul. As the king, will David show the self-respect needed to succeed in his reign and in his life? We see David and Yahweh interact in the process of setting things right in Israel. The ark is to be returned to the Tabernacle, David sets his heart on building a Temple to replace the Tabernacle, and Yahweh reveals His divine plans and the true nature of David’s dynasty.

Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

2 Samuel 7:8-12

A gentle reminder that God is accomplishing all of these things is certainly necessary for the shepherd boy who became king. Reminders of Elohim Shaddai – Almighty God – will abound in the life of David, but the personal power of David’s selfish will keep getting in the way. In all of these we see parallels between ourselves and David, Israel and the church, and Judah’s kings and Jesus, the King of kings. Let us never forget the value of these events divinely recorded in scripture for us today:

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:4-6

The Old Testament is filled with real life examples and divine interventions that are preserved to instruct us. The purpose of the instruction is to encourage us to endure and to generate true hope. Notice these things that God expects from us (endurance and encouragement) are the very things He desires to grant to us – Yahweh give us what we need. As He provides this instruction, encouragement, endurance and hope, He unifies us as one in Christ Jesus. United in Christ, our harmonious lives bring glory to God. As we continue, keep these things in mind and look to the Old Testament scriptures for instruction, encouragement, endurance, hope and unity.

What could be better than bringing the Ark back home? Yet, in the process a well-meaning and sincere servant died for merely trying to keep the Ark from falling of an oxcart. David is angry at God. What happened? Where is the teaching, encouragement, hope and unity in this? Several things emerge for us as we take a second look.

God expects obedience in knowledge, not good intentions. That the Ark should never have removed from the Tabernacle was a ship that long since had sailed, and it had resided in Kirjath Jearim for 70 years (think 70 years in Babylonian exile). Bringing it back was not only obedience to the longstanding command to place it in the Holy of Holies, but also a moral boost as all of the people wanted it done (1 Chronicles 13:4). Here is where we get into trouble. People have a great idea to do something that God desires, but choose to do it in a way that God has not commanded. Does it matter? Ask Uzzah. Yahweh specifically commanded that the Ark be carried on poles by the Levites (Numbers 4:15, 7:9 and 18:3 – take a moment to read these). By specifying what He desired, God excluded everything else. The Philistines placed the Ark on a cart. The Israelites were now following the example of pagans in attempting to glorify Yahweh Elohim Sabaoth – the LORD God of Hosts. Had the Ark been carried on poles, God would be pleased and the Ark would never need “steadying” by Uzzah.

Unity in the LORD can only come in unity in His revealed truth. All who wish to serve or worship God with the best of intentions, but choose to innovate are in effect demanding unity in an oxcart and are discouragingly critical of the old ways of using poles. We cannot endure together and glorify God by ignoring His wishes.

As a result of our disobedience it is easy to get mad at God. David lost a good man who was simply trying to help accomplish a great task. In his mind, he saw it like a Youth Group going to help flood victims and one of the Christians drowning. By focusing on the outcome he took his eyes off of the holiness of God. This was not about Uzzah or the Ark, it was about Yahweh. We cannot endure in hope and glorify God together when we act in a manner contrary to God’s will and then get angry when things don’t work out.

When they finally got their act together (1 Chronicles 15:2, 14-15) and sanctified and utilized the Levites to move the Ark great things happened. With success came sacrifices to the LORD. Celebration, singing and dancing. Even King David did not wear royal robes, but wore the simple linen ephod of a simple servant. The people of God rightly rejoice and glorify God in the faithful, humble, unified obedience to the commands of God.

And then David goes home. He’s met by his wife Michal and she’s upset. She saw the “display” David put on and thought it shameful. I don’t know why, but the children of God are often the source of the greatest discouragement to those who serve God. Constant picking and critiques of inconsequential things tears unity apart from the inside. When we see brothers and sisters united in service to God and glorifying Him, let’s rejoice with them – maybe even JOIN with them.

With the intentions of his heart David wants to build a Temple for God to live in. Even the prophet Nathan (without asking God or being instructed by Him) tells David to follow his heart. Bad advice. Yahweh interjected a great truth by asking when He had asked for a new house or complained about the old one. The expressed will of God contained in the word of God must regulate the desires of our heart. God had a larger plan and David was getting out in front of God. Unless my heart is focused on doing God’s will, I am going my own way. United with the brethren and acting with a whole heart, God’s intentions are carried out to His glory.

From the beginning, the Bible points to Jesus. From this point through the remainder of the Bible, we will see God’s plan pointing to the cross, the empty tomb and the ascension of Jesus to the throne in heaven. No scheme of man could stop Yahweh Elohim, El Shaddai, Elohim Sabaoth from accomplishing the redemption of mankind and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The only faltering along the way was by the people, including David.

Therein lies instruction for what to do and not to do, encouragement to endure, and hope in the God who gives unifies us in these things and shines His glory on earth through us.

Consider His nature. Consider His ways. Strive to love Him more!