12 The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

After having become the king of a unified Israel, David had the capital moved to Jerusalem.

 

Subsequently, it was his desire to then have the ark of the covenant brought to the new capital, as it was the greatest symbol of God’s presence with His people.

 

The ark was to reside in the Tabernacle.  However, many years previously, The Israelites brought the ark into battle against the Philistines, who then captured it.  However, God rendered several judgments against the captors, who decided to return it to the Israelites.  Although rather than being returned to the Tabernacle at Shiloh, it ended up at the house of an Israelite named Abinadab who lived in Kirath-Jearim, which is where it remained.  The account may be found in 1 Samuel chapters five through seven.

 

1   Fleshly Attempt to Relocate the Ark

 

2 Samuel 6:1-5

 

The attempt to relocate the ark to Jerusalem was filled with great ceremony, as David led a huge gathering on what they hoped would be a festive occasion.

Abinadab’s home from which the ark was to be relocated, was on a hill, which would shortly prove to be an issue.

 

But the hill itself wasn’t the main problem.  The largest issue, was that everything that David and the Israelites were doing, was completely wrong before the Lord.

 

As commanded in Exodus 24:12-15, the design of the ark was that it was to be carried upon the shoulders of the Levites from the Kohathite family.

 

However, at this time, neither the process nor procedures were followed, as the ark was placed upon a new cart to be transported, first down the hill from the home of Abinadab, and then up to the even higher elevation of Jerusalem.

 

God’s Word is abundantly clear, that He is a God of order:

1 Corinthians 14:40

 

David and the people had assumed, that because they had sincere hearts, and proper intentions, that the Lord would readily accept their service.  Sadly, many in the church today follow that practice and belief.

Anytime we do something which doesn’t align with Scripture, it is then something of the flesh, which He will never accept.

 

2 God’s Judgment

 

Anytime a work is begun in the flesh, the flesh will be required to maintain that work:

 

2 Samuel 6:6-7

 

As the ark had been placed on an ox-driven cart for transport, having to first navigate downhill, and then eventually up the mountainous inclines near Jerusalem, it wouldn’t be surprising that the ox would stumble.  After all, they don’t have hoofs equipped to navigate such areas.

 

Indeed, the ox pulling the cart, lost its footing, and when it appeared that the ark might topple, and individual named Uzzah reached his hand to steady it.

 

Once again, it was a sincere, and well-intentioned action, but it was completely wrong.

 

The ark represented the holiness and presence of God — and therefore was not to be touched by man.  That is way the ark had been constructed with several rings on either side, through which poles would be inserted, which the Levites would then use to carry the ark from one location to another, without ever touching the ark itself.

 

In the same way, that God had determined the only method by which the ark was to be transported, He has determined the only means of salvation, being through the redemptive work of Christ at Calvary.

 

To that end, Jesus was clear that He is the only way to the Father:

John 14:6

 

 

3 David’s Immediate Reaction

 

David’s immediate reaction to God’s judgment upon Uzzah, was somewhat surprising:

2 Samuel 6:8-11

 

David was angry that the Lord hadn’t accepted his plan, and that He had immediately and definitively judged Uzzah.  Sadly, David was acting as many do, who believe their sincerity would be enough to appease the Lord.

 

In verse 9, David then moved from anger to a reverential or “holy fear”.

 

While he still desired to relocate the ark to Jerusalem, at this point he was questioning if it was even possible. And therefore, for the next three months it remained at the home of a man named Obed-Edom.

 

However, we’re shown that the Lord wasn’t angry at His people in general, as He blessed everyone within Obed-Edom’s home.

 

4 The Ark is brought to Jerusalem

 

Once David was informed of how Obed-Edom’s household was being blessed because of the ark, David was once again motivated to have it relocated to Jerusalem:

2 Samuel 6:12-23

 

From the account found in First Chronicles, David had come to understand why his first attempt to relocate the ark had failed, and he then gave instructions to the Levites and priests:

1 Chronicles 15:12-13

 

Back to the text, we’re shown the great reverence that was shown the Lord throughout the journey, as every six paces a sacrifice was made to Him.

 

Once more, David is shown as leading the procession, as well as the dancing in celebration.

 

However, not everyone shared the joy, as seen by the reaction of David’s first wife Michal (Saul’s daughter).

 

Michal exhibited great bitterness as she watched the proceedings from her window, and when David returned, she confronted him, claiming he was acting shamefully in the sight of the people, especially the young maidens with whom she claimed he danced.

 

Much like her father Saul, Michal didn’t share David’s relationship with the Lord, and therefore was unable to share in the joy he had.

 

David was obviously upset with his wife’s confrontation, as he responded that he was worshipping the God who had chosen him over her father to lead the nation.  David also stated, that if she believed he had acted in an undignified manner, that he do so to even a greater degree, showing that he would be a king who would outwardly worship the Lord.

 

The chapter ends by showing that Michal would bear life-long judgment for her bitterness, as she would remain childless.  That would be an especially difficult situation, since in that culture it was considered as a curse, but it would be magnified since David had many other wives and concubines, all of whom bore him children.