Sometimes the devil doesn't tempt us with evil; sometimes he allures us with good, distracts us with obligations, confuses us with compromise, or hinders us with business to keep us from that which is best- service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Remember, the devil always offers his best, before Christ will offer His will for your life.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Beginning Of The Kings- King David (Part 5)

Now that David had been established as the king of all Israel, he wanted to make sure that the ark of God was close so he could worship God and seek His counsel.
II Samuel 6:1-2- Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 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.
David gathered 30,000 men together to go get the ark and bring it to Jerusalem.
II Samuel 6:3-11- 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 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. 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.
David was so excited to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem that he went about it the wrong way.
While the ark was on a cart being carried by oxen the ark shifted in the cart. One of the men who was accompanying it put his hand out to keep the ark from falling. No one was allowed to touch the ark except the priests, so God killed him.
Uzza's death was pretty frightening. David wasn't sure how to react, so he told the people to leave the ark where it was. The took the ark into the house of the man who owned the land and left it there.
While it was there, God blessed them man. For three months this man lived with the representation of God and His blessing.
Meanwhile, David has been thinking the whole scenario over. He came to realize that he had made a mistake. God wanted the priests to carry the ark, not a cart pulled by animals.
I Chronicles 15:11-14- And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. 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. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.
You see, God wants to have a relationship with you, but it has to be done His way. We can't keep having our way and thinking that everything between us and God is okay. It's not, and it never will be until we are ready to be obedient to His ways.
II Samuel 6:12-15- 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. And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
David was so happy he was dancing around and praising the Lord. People all throughout Jerusalem were praising the Lord. But, it seems that whenever you start to serve God someone is always there to criticize you.
II Samuel 6:16- And 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 dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
Michal saw David leaping around and she got mad. Perhaps it was because David didn't act this way when she came back. Or maybe, she thought a king shouldn't act that way. The Bible doesn't tell us why she was upset.
II Samuel 6:17-19- And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
David was just so happy that he had a feast! He gave all the people some bread and meat and drink and everyone went home happy.
Then David went to bless his own home.
II Samuel 6:20-22- 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 to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
Michal thought that she could rebuke David for his attitude. But, David knew that God used foolish things.
I Corinthians 1:27- But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
David didn't worry about what Michal was saying because he knew that God was pleased with his actions.
But, God doesn't take it lightly when someone goes after his chosen. And, because of this rebuke Michal gave David, God was going to punish Michal.
II Samuel 6:23- Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. children with Phaltiel, her second husband. But, God cursed her so that she never had any more.
If God tells you to do something, don't worry about what other people think. It's His will that we must obey and He is the one whom we should please. Do right, and let God deal with the other people.