David brings the Ark home to Jerusalem

2 Samuel Chapter 6

After David struck down the Philistines, he mobilized thirty thousand special troops and led them to Baalah of Judah to bring home the Ark of God. They placed the Ark on a new cart and brought it from the hillside home of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio. Abinadab's sons were guiding the cart and Ahio walked before it. David and all the people of Israel were celebrating by singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments.

But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon,the ox stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark and the Lord's anger blazed out and struck Uzzah dead beside the Ark. David was angry and name the place Perez-uzzah which means "outbreak against Uzzah". Now David was afraid of the Lord and asked him how he could ever bring the Ark back into his care? So David decided not to move the Ark to the City of David. Instead he took it to the home of OBed-edom of Gath. The Ark remained there for three months and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.

Then King David was told about the Lord blessing Obed-edom's household and so David went there and brought the Ark to the City of David with great celebration. After the men who were carrying it had gone six steps, they stopped and waited for David to sacrifice an ox and fattened calf. Then David danced before the Lord wearing a priestly tunic and there was much shouting and blowing of trumpets.

But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul looked down from her window and saw David dancing and she was filled with contempt for him.

The Ark was placed inside the special tent that David had prepared and he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. When he finished, David blessed the people and gave each man and women in Israel a gift of food such as a loaf of bread or cake. When he returned home, Michal came out to meet him and told him how disgusting he looked, dancing and exposing himself to servant girls like an indecent person. But David told her he was dancing for the Lord who chose him above Saul and his family. He said he was willing to look like a fool to show his joy in the Lord. So for her bitterness Michal remained childless through her whole life.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Remember how in Number 4:5-15, the Lord warned against anyone touching the Ark. As David brought Israel back to a relationship with God, God had to remind the nation dramatically to obey his law by having Uzzah die for touching the Ark. After Uzzah's death, David was very careful to handle the Ark carefully. But David was angry that a good man was killed in the return of the Ark, so he put the Ark into a temporary storage while he waited to see if the Lord would let him return it to Jerusalem.This gave David time to find the right way to transport it. The Lord blessing Obed-edom's family was a sign to David that he could try once again to move it.

Michal was David's first wife, but she is called daughter of Saul, possibly to show she had the same attitude as her father. Whatever the reason she held David in contempt, it caused her to be childless.

Only a priest could place sacrifices on the altar, so David probably offered these sacrifices to God with the help of a priest.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We can choose the lesson of Michal, whose attitude may mirror our tendencies today. She was a woman like us, who became bitter with life's unexpected turns. But bitterness never helps, it can make a bad situation worse. Don't be like Michal. She did not have a deep relationship with God. You can. Be willing to respond to God with a willing heart and let him deal with our difficult situations. Pray and ask for his guidance.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Update on Lori: she sheds her back brace soon and can drive. She thanks God for healing her. Please continue to pray for her during recovery. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery. Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: A photo of her shows a chubby, alert baby who is breathing on her own. Her eyesight problems seem to be no longer a problem. But she must learn to eat and drink normally. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. Update on Mark: He has some paralysis on one side from the stroke, his eyesight has been impaired too. But he has gone home and his wife cares for him. Soon he will begin therapy. Continue to pray for his healing. Pray also for my aged friend Elaine who underwent surgery and is home healing slowly. Update on Craig: he ended up having a stent put in and is back to work. Keep him and his family on your list for prayers. Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.