Today's Treasure:
"David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his
might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of
the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets"
2 Samuel 6:14
Hi, everyone:
It feels like an eternity since the last time I sent an e-mail. I
hope this e-mail finds everyone well. I have had a wonderful weekend.
I have been able to spend some fabulous time with my boys and my
family. I am feeling wonderful. The shots have not been as bad for
me this week as they were last week. God is just showering one
blessing after another!!!
Today's study takes David on an emotional roller coaster. He truly
finds himself in a place where he is very afraid of God and confused
by His ways. I think the thing that stands out the most to me is the
point that we are to worship God in reverence. God wants us to share
in a relationship with Him; however, we are to always respect His
sovereignty in that relationship.
Read 2 Samuel 6: 1 - 11
What did David and thirty thousand men set out to do?
Bring the ark to Jerusalem
According to verse 3, how did they transport the sacred vessel?
on a new cart
What were David and the "whole house of Israel" doing as the ark was
being transported?
Celebrating with all of their might
Scripture records two emotions that David felt toward God after Uzzah
was killed. What were they?
David was angry with God for his death. He was also afraid of God.
David did not understand why Uzzah had to die. In David's eyes, Uzzah
was completely innocent. When God struck him down, David became
angry. Yet, he also became very afraid of the ark and the presence of
God.
How could the ark have such devastating effects on Uzzah and such
blessing on the house of Obed-Edom?
Uzzah was struck down because the Lord demanded respect for His
presence. The ark was the actual presence of God for the people of
Israel. Uzzah did not respect that through his actions. God had to
make it clear that worship is to be respected and understood. When
the ark was taken to the house of Obed-Edom, it was respected;
therefore, blessings were bestowed upon the house.
David could not understand what was going on. He set out to bring
this amazing ark to the people of Israel. All of Israel was
celebrating, and the celebration was cut short by the death of Uzzah.
Have you ever experienced devastation when you thought you were going
to experience celebration. If so, when?
When Scott and Tina had their accident, we were all on our way to the
beach for a vacation we had been looking forward to for months. We
were so excited about the break that we were all going to enjoy
together!!! We never got that vacation together.
Take another look at the two emotions David felt toward God in 2 Samuel 6: 8 - 9
Did you feel either one or both of these emotions toward God?
I never felt angry with God. I would describe it more as confusion
that I felt. I could not understand how He could allow it to happen
to two of the most wonderful people that I have ever known. They were
trying so hard to do everything right, and I just couldn't understand.
In verse 2, what do we learn about the ark?
The ark is the ark of God - it is named for the Lord Almightly who is
enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. The ark was
created and designed so God could actually dwell with His people. He
met with them between the cherubim. It was the sacred center for
God's glory and presence until Christ was born.
We must take time to understand the majesty of the ark. It is the
actual dwelling place for God among his people. Take that in for a
moment!!! He wasn't being a tyrant when he struck Uzzah down. Beth
points out four things that took place that day.
1. God was setting ground rules for a new regime
God was demanding a new reverence with the new kingdom/king
2. God wanted His children to be different from the world
God had given very specific instructions on how the ark was to be
transported. This was not the technique David and his men used. God
was trying to point out that He would not accept disrespect from his
children.
Read 1 Samuel 6: 7 - 8. How did the Philistines transport the ark?
on a new cart with cows
The godless should not have been the standard to go by. God should
have been the standard
3. God wanted His kingdom to be established on His word
As mentioned above, scripture gives specific instructions on how the
ark was to be transported. David should have consulted the "book of
Moses" for these instructions. Instead, they followed the technique
of the godless.
Read the instructions in Exodus 25: 10-16 and Numbers 4:5, 15. How
was the ark to be transported?
It was to be covered completely so it could not be touched. It was to
be carried on poles by men...not by beast
4. God was teaching the relationship between blessing and reverence
God blessed the house of Obed-Edom because they respected the ark and
the presence of God. His presence and His glory are to be a blessing.
The death of Uzzah was a hard lesson, but it ushered in a new respect
for God.
Read 2 Samuel 6: 12 - 23
Why do you think David's attitude changed once he discovered that God
had blessed the house of Obed-Edom?
David realized that the purpose of God's covenant was for blessings,
but it required respect
What two things did they do differently as they transported the ark
according to verse 13?
men carried the ark and animals were sacrificed before they began the
journey. This was a way for the men to ask for forgiveness of their
sins. They did not want to journey with the ark while sin was present
in their lives.
Michal insulted David for dancing before the Lord. Has anyone ever
made fun of you for your outward expression of love for God?
I have never experienced this
Please type Psalm 30: 11 - 12
"You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and
clothed me in joy that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O,
Lord my God I will give you thanks forever"
Can you imagine watching David that day? Oh, how amazing it must have
been to watch this man worship the Lord without restraint. Don't you
have days when you want to run around praising Him? I love picturing
this in my mind?
Have a wonderful day
I love you all
Tiffany
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