2 Samuel 6: The Ark of the Covenant is once again a problem.

Synopsis:

David and 30,000 of the chosen men of Israel go to Abinadab’s house in Gibeah in Judah to get the Ark, which is put upon a new cart.  A guy named Uzzah makes the mistake of putting out his hand on the Ark as they crossed Nachon’s threshing floor – and Uzzah died right there and then. David decided that perhaps moving the Ark was not such a great idea. So they housed it in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, during which time Obed-edom and his family thrived. So David decided it was once again safe to move the Ark and brought it into the city of David, where he and others basically danced in nothing but a linen ephod. Michal (David’s first wife and daughter of Saul) was disgusted by David’s gallivanting before the Ark and the fact by doing so he was showing his privates off to all the maids. She despised him and accused him of uncovering himself in front of maids. David corrected her and said – he did it for the Lord and that he was not vile, she was. Michal had no more children until the day of her death.

In other words:

David moves the Ark to Zion.

Favorite bit:

2 Samuel 6:14-16 – 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. 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.  (This sounds like quite the party –the king dancing and leaping while not wearing any pants!)

2nd favorite bit:

2 Samuel 6:5 – 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.  (again – this sounds like a fun celebration – 30,000 people having a good time in procession with the Ark).

Oddest bit:

2 Samuel 6:6 – And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. (why the heck was this procession with the holiest of holy objects – the seat of God – proceeding through someone’s threshing floor?)

Least favorite bit:

2 Samuel 6:7 – 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. (Seriously?  He was steading the thing so it wouldn’t fall as the cart was unsteady and he is killed? Really? That seems pretty harsh.)

Moral Lesson Learned:

Don’t let spoil sports ruin your good time (2 Samuel 6)

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