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Thursday, April 21, 2022

David: Impatience + ignorance vs obedience

April 21, 2022 (Thursday)

 

Last time, we looked at the story of David moving the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. I made the suggestion that he acted in ignorance. There is more to the story that suggests there may have been another motivation behind his error.

 

We open this part of the story with news, “Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” [2 Samuel 6:12a NLT] We left the story with David storing Israel’s most precious religious item with a Gentile (most likely a Philistine). It’s here that we see David taking corrective action.

 

We read, “After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.” [2 Samuel 6:13 NLT] Notice, David reverted back to the prescribed method of carrying the Ark. On his first attempt, David put the Ark on a cart. This suggests a second possibility for his error. It may have been ignorance, but maybe it was also impatience.

 

The Ark was heavy, very heavy. Carrying it across mountains would have been difficult. It makes sense, to expedite the journey, the best means would be to load it on a cart. What we see now is the Ark traveled six steps and was set down. This may have been the result of the sheer weight of the Ark or David may have been exercising patience. This may have been the intention of sacrificing after every six steps.

 

As David moved the Ark, he danced. “And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.” [2 Samuel 6:14 NLT] Priestly garments were reserved for Levites and worn during their service. It seems odd that David was wearing one for this journey. Later, we observe David fulfilling another priestly duty, “When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” [2 Samuel 6:18 NLT] Maybe we are witnessing a shadow of one who would serve as priest and king to bring God to the people (Jesus).

 

Differing from the first attempt to being the Ark to Jerusalem, “So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.” [2 Samuel 6:15 NLT] Rather than make this a military operation, David made it an occasion for all the people.

 

In this story, we see that good intentions do not cancel out ignorance and impatience. When God gives directions, obedience means we are not to take short cuts. A blessing is not something reserved for the few.

 

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” [Hebrews 4:16 NLT]

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