Establishing the Kingdom

• 1^st – The Ark of God… vs. 1-6 Read: I Chronicles 13:1-6
  • 1^st – David was firmly established as the King of all Israel… vs. 1-4
    • He had the full support of the army – all 12 tribes had sworn allegiance to him…
    • He conquered Jerusalem – and established it as a new capitol for Israel…
    • But he understood that ultimately the nation needed to be led by the Lord…
    • So he consulted with all the leaders – and gathered all of Israel together…
    • And they decided to bring the Ark of God into the city of David!
  • 2^nd – In I Samuel 5 – Israel was at war with the Philistines… vs. 5-6
    • They had been defeated in battle so chose 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…
      • If a thief entered our house – and saw a picture of policeman – no reason to fear…
      • But if a thief entered the house – and came face-to-face with a policeman – terrified!
      • People put faith in pictures of Jesus on the wall / crucifixes / Bibles on the shelf…
      • These things do not intimidate satan – it is Jesus in us that makes him run scared!
      • Our faith is only as effective – as the strength of the one we put our faith in!
      • When we put our faith in God and His Word – our faith is powerful!
      • I John 4:4 – “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
    • 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…
      • Isaiah 44:19-20 – “The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, ‘Why, it’s just a block of wood! Should I bow down to worship a chunk of wood?’”
      • How foolish to trust in idols to answer prayers / help in hard times!
      • We might argue that we are far beyond that – we are far more educated today…
      • But we forget what our money is made of – paper is a wood product…
      • Many still trust in George – $1 / Abe – $5 / and our favorite – Ben – $100 to save them!
  • 3^rd – 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)…
      • But some of the men of Beth-Shemesh looked inside the Ark – so God killed them!
    • The people of Kiriath Jearim (Forest) came and took the Ark…
      • It would remain there at the ‘house of Abinadab’ for nearly 50 years…
      • Kiriath Jearim was the closest city to Beth-Shemesh – up on a forested hillside…
      • The Ark (and Tabernacle) had been in Shiloh since the days of Joshua – Joshua 18:1
      • But it was not returned to Shiloh – because Israel was not right with God…
      • The name Shiloh means peace – and without God there was no peace in Israel…
      • As long as our relationship with the Lord is not right – we will have no peace…
      • If we are experiencing turmoil in our lives – it means we are far from God!
    • 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. 7-14 Read: I Chronicles 13:7-14
  • 1^st – David set the Ark of God on a new cart… vs. 7-10
    • 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…
      • Over 30,000 men attended – 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!
      • 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 – Galatians 2:21 
  • 2^nd – David was angry – he did not understand what went wrong… vs. 11-12
    • 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…
      • Therefore 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…
      • In Acts 6 – God told Philip to leave the multitudes – to go and reach just one man!
      • 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…
      • 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 afterglows 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!
  • 3^rd – The Ark was left at the house of Obed-Edom… vs. 13-14
    • 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!
    • 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!

• 3^rd – Securing the borders… vs. 7-14 Read: I Chronicles 14:1-17
  • 1^st – David became powerful – because the Lord was with him… vs. 1-2
    • King Hiram of Tyre sent him cedar trees so that David could build his house…
    • The blessings of God were rolling in – even foreign kings were helping David…
    • I am sure there was a real temptation to enjoy newfound riches and power…
    • But David realized God made him King over Israel – so he could bless the people…
    • I have seen ‘pastors’ who own jets they use to fly all over the world…
    • They own expensive suites – wear gold watches – and drive around in luxury cars!
    • A great danger for men who serve God – is to start to look for the blessings…
    • And forget the calling of a pastor is to BE a blessing to the people of God…
    • When being a ‘pastor’ becomes just a job – a way to make money…
    • When a ‘pastor’ is no longer there to love and provide from the people…
    • They fall under the judgment of God – because they abuse HIS sheep!
    • Ezekiel 34:2 – “Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?”
  • 2^nd – David took more wives and concubines in Jerusalem… vs. 3-7
    • In all David had eight wives / and 10 concubines – who gave him 13 sons…
    • But the Law clearly stated the King was not to add wives – Deuteronomy 17:17…
    • David was doing so many things right – it was easy to miss the one wrong…
    • But the problem was growing – from 2 wives / to 6 wives / to 18 wives!
    • A problem that would in a short time almost completely destroyed the King!
    • Satan is smart – he does not attack us where we are strong – he looks for our weakness
    • He knows it only takes one area of sin – to compromise our walk with the Lord…
    • Satan will try to get us bogged down in that sin – so we are ineffective for Jesus!
  • 3^rd – The Philistines heard David was the new King of Israel… vs. 8-17
    • Upset with their former ‘partner’ – they came with an army to Rephaim (giants)…
      • David asked the Lord if he should attack them – would God give him victory…
      • God told him to go – and David defeated the Philistines in the valley …
      • The Philistines abandoned their idols there – and David had them all burned!
    • The next year the Philistines returned with a larger force ready for war again…
      • So David again asked the Lord if he should attack them – God told him no…
      • Instead David was to go behind them and attack from cover of the trees…
      • When David heard the sounds of marching from the trees – he was to attack…
      • Likely the sound of the wind blowing through the tops of the trees…
      • And God gave David the victory again – and he drove the Philistines out of Israel!
    • Why did God have David fight in two different ways…
      • Because when God does something one way – it does not make it the only way…
        • The problem with religion – it tries to put God into a box…
        • It is easy to get caught up in methods – and forget it is all about knowing Jesus…
        • If I go to church on Sunday God will bless me – rather than going to learn about God
        • If I give to those in need God will give to me – rather than giving out of love…
        • But God does not want us following a formula – He wants us to follow Him!
      • Because it is ok to be different…
        • In Mark 8:22-26 – Jesus spit on a man’s eyes…
        • It was the 2^nd time in the Eastern Galilee – Jesus healed by spitting…
        • But Jesus never healed by spitting on the Western side of the Galilee…
        • Jesus often healed there by touching – the mother in law of Peter / the Leper…
          
        • The point of course in not how Jesus healed – but that He does heal – and saves!
        • Yet often people tend to ‘latch’ onto little things – and miss what is important…
        • One might imagine a church starting on the Eastern side – ‘Church of Jesus who spits’…
        • On the Western side of the Galilee – ‘Church of Jesus who touches’…
        • Both churches would believe they were the ‘right’ church while the other was wrong…
        • So often in the church we get so caught up in our little differences / denominations…
        • We forget that we are all part of the same church – the Body of Christ!
        • It is far more important what we have in common – Jesus – than our differences!

I Corinthians 12:12 – “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.”