Being in the presence of God… (3 things)

• 1^st – The Ark of God… vs. 1-5 Read: II Samuel 6:1-5
  • 1^st – In I Samuel 5 – Israel was at war with the Philistines…
    • They had been defeated in battle so choose to bring the Ark of God into the war…
      • But the Philistines captured the Ark – killed the two priests Hophi and Phineas…
      • Because Israel was trusting in the Ark – not the God the Ark represented…
      • Our faith is only as effective – as the strength of the one we put our faith in!
      • People put pictures / crosses on their walls – thinking they have power…
      • Or dried leaves over their doorway – to keep out the evil spirits…
      • The problem is these things have NO POWER – they can do nothing to keep us safe!
      • Only God has all the power – never fails – only the Word of God is absolutely true…
      • When we put our faith in God and His Word – our faith is powerful!
    • The Philistines put the Ark in the temple of Dagon – ‘Our god beat your God’…
      • Dagon had the head and torso of a woman – but the body of a fish (mermaid)…
      • The next morning – Dagon was on its face in front of the Ark…
      • The Philistines set the statue back up (must have been an earthquake)…
      • The next morning – Dagon was again on the ground in front of the Ark…
      • But this time the heads and hands had been cut off the statue…
      • Jeremiah 5:10 – “Do not be afraid of [idols], they cannot do evil of good…”
      • Idols have no power – they are neither harmful nor helpful…
      • It is foolish to trust in them to help – just as foolish to be afraid of them…
      • They are just a block of wood or cement – no more powerful than a stick or rock!
  • 2^nd The Lord sent a plague on the people the Philistines – hemorrhoids and rats!
    • The Philistines sent the ark from city to city – death followed everywhere it went!
      • So the people begged the leaders to send the Ark back to Israel…
      • The Ark arrived at the city of Beth Shemesh (house of the sun)…
      • It would remain there at the ‘house of Abinadab’ for nearly 50 years…
      • Because God had been forgotten – He was neglected by Israel for a generation!
    • Until King David decided to bring the Ark to his new capitol city of Jerusalem…
      • The Ark was a wooden box 4’ x 2’ x 2’ – covered in pure gold – Exodus 25…
      • Inside the Ark were the 10 commandments of God / Aaron’s rod / pot of manna…
      • The cover for the Ark – was called the ‘Mercy Seat’ – the foot stool of God…
      • It was also to be made out of pure gold – with two ‘cherubim’ on top of the cover…
      • The two angels faced each other – with wing spread out over the ‘Mercy seat’…
      • It was there – from on top of the Ark – God would speak to the people of Israel…
    • David wanted to bring the presence of God back into the center of Israel…
      • He wanted to bring a national revival – to lead Israel back to the Lord!
      • When we look around us – we see a world that has forgotten about God…
      • People may know the name of Jesus – but they do not KNOW Jesus!
      • We see the problem – but we do not know how to make things better…
      • But all it takes is one man being willing to stand up for God – to revive a nation!
        
• 2^nd – The wrong way… vs. 6-9 Read: II Samuel 6:6-9
  • 1^st – David set the Ark of God on a new cart…
    • The two sons of Abinadab – Uzzah (strength) and Ahio (brother) – drove the cart…
      • They played loud music before the Lord – on harps / tambourines / and cymbals…
      • With 30,000 men attending – it was a MAJOR event – a concert to celebrate God!
    • But when the Ark was just outside of Jerusalem – the ox stumbled…
      • Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark – to keep it from falling off the cart…
      • The moment he touched it – God struck him dead!
      • It was forbidden for anyone but the priests to touch the Ark – Numbers 4:20 – 
      • God is unapproachable by sinful men – we cannot touch a Holy God…
      • If we try to come to God on our own merit – our own good deeds – death…
      • We only have two options when we stand before a Holy God…
      • We can stand in our own righteousness – our own good deed…
      • And we will be judged according to our works – condemned to death…
      • Or stand in Jesus’ righteousness given freely to those who believe in Him!
  • 2^nd – David was angry – he did not understand what went wrong… vs. 8-9
    • David was afraid of the Lord – and asked ‘How can I bring the Ark to be with me’…
      • David wanted to do the right thing – bring a revival to his people…
      • But David failed because he went about doing it the wrong way – 4 reasons…
    • 1^st – David tried to serve the Lord – because he thought the world got it right…
      • When the Philistines sent the Ark back to Israel – they used a cart – I Samuel 6…
      • David was following the example of unbelievers / pagans – to try and serve God…
        
      • Unfortunately today many people look to the World rather than the Word…
      • They think in order to be used by God you need a college degree…
      • In order for a church to grow in size you need to entertain the people…
      • To get money – hold fundraisers to raise money for the church…
      • All ideas that come from the world – nowhere to be found in God’s Word…
      • As a result many churches are not looking to the Lord/Bible…
      • As a result the church in not blessed – because they are following the world!
    • 2^nd – David failed cause he was trusting in the strength (Uzzah) of his brothers (Ahio)…
      • When we see the Lord doing a work – moving in someone else’s church… 
      • We may try to do our best to do the same thing – copy what they are doing…
      • If we see a church having an outreach – and lots of people attend…
      • If it worked for them then maybe it will work for us too…
      • But there is a very real danger in trying to copy the example of others…
      • We trust a system/program/method – rather than the God who makes them work…
      • If we try and copy other churches – we are not looking to God…
      • As a result the church struggles – because they are still not following God!
    • 3^rd – David thought huge numbers – 30,000 men – meant God approved…
      • But just because there are a lot of people – does not make it right…
      • Even today we have a tendency to look to and trust in ‘numbers’…
      • One of the 1^st questions someone will ask about a church – how many people come…
      • We see quantity as a sign of God’s blessings – but God does not look at numbers…
      • In Acts 6 – God told Philip to leave the multitudes – to go and reach just one man!
      • God is not impressed by the numbers – God looks at the heart!
    • 4^th – David failed because loud music – is a poor substitute for obedience to the Word…
      • We come to church full of all the business of the week – our mind racing…
      • Worship is important – it prepares our heart to listen to the Word of God…
      • BUT worship alone is not enough – worship does not replace the Word…
      • All the concerts and cantatas in the world mean nothing – if we miss the Word!
      • Worship can stir our hearts – but it is the meat of the Word that allows us to grow!

It sets us free – we do not dwell on the past – we get to move forward in Jesus!

3^rd  – Looking to the Word… vs. 10-23 Read: II Samuel 6:10-23

1^st – The Ark was left at the house of Obed-Edom… vs. 10-12

The Ark remained there for three months – and God blessed their house!

David thought the Ark was a curse – but that was only because of David’s mistakes…

When David found out about the blessing – he returned to bring the Ark to Jerusalem…

I know a lot of people who want to know why they are not blessed in life…

All you have to do is ask – how much time do you spend with the Lord – not much…

If you are far from God – hiding in sin – how can God bless you!

Having a blessed life is a direct result of staying in the presence of the Lord!

The closer we are to Jesus – the more we are going to see the goodness of God!

2^nd – Looking to the example of the Word… vs. 13-19

Rather than bring the Ark on a cart (following the world)…

Or trusting in the strength of brothers (following the church)…

David went to the Word – God had specific instructions on how to move the Ark…

Exodus 25:14 – “Fit the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.”

So the priests carried the Ark into Jerusalem – and all of Israel rejoiced!

David offered sacrifices every 6 steps – dancing before the Lord with all his might…

David set up a NEW Tabernacle – and set the Ark in the Holy of Holies…

He then gave a gift – meat / bread / cakes – to everyone before they went home!

If you want to have a great church / blessed life – follow the Word…

Happiness / our eternity depends on what we do with the life God has given us…

He has given us an instruction manual so we can be successful…

It is through hearing the Word we get to know and have a relationship with God…

It is in the Word we learn about God’s expectations / will for our lives…

It is through hearing God’s Word we learn how to enter eternal life!

John 5:24 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life…”

3^rd – The bitterness of Michal… vs. 20-23

When Michal – the daughter of Saul saw David dancing – she despised him…

She came out and mocked David for making a fool of himself with his dancing…

It is likely Michal was still upset about David taking her from Phaltiel – II Samuel 3

That bitterness and spite now erupted in open contempt for David…

When we are hurt by someone – and refuse to forgive – it plants a seed in our heart…

It grows into bitterness – we become consumed with what ‘they did to us’!

Its roots grow down deep – poisoning and hardening our hearts

David answered – ‘I danced before the Lord’…

By the way – the same Lord who chose me over Saul – your father…

And David was more than willing to be even more ‘foolish’ for the Lord…

We worry too much about what other people think about us…

If we stand out – what will the people think / what will they say…

WHO CARES – God was willing to become a man and die for us on the cross!

Dancing is a controversial topic in the church today…

There are certainly sensual dances that are inappropriate – do not honor God…

Yet David danced – and the ‘Lame man’ leapt in the Temple – Acts 3

So run through the streets shouting out praises for God…

Dance for Jesus in the plaza so the whole world knows – the goodness of God!

Do something crazy – because God did something crazy to save you!

Michal never had any children…

The suggestion is that David never again went to be with Michal…

In the end Michal’s bitterness did not hurt David – she only hurt herself!

Forgiveness is not for the one who did us wrong – it is for us…