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2 Samuel 6:17

[17] And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

2 Samuel 6:12-13

[12] And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.

[13] And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

2 Samuel 6:15-16

[15] So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

[16] 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.

Acts 13:36

[36] For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

HANDLING THIS HOLY THING !

INTRO —The ark of the covenant was Israel’s most sacred treasure. It was a symbol of God’s presence and power.

The ark was a golden rectangular box with two cherubim (angels) facing each other on the lid.

Inside the ark were the tablets of the Ten Commandments Moses received from God, a jar of manna (the bread God miraculously sent from heaven during the desert wanderings), and Aaron’s staff (the symbol of the high priest’s authority).

According to God’s law, only the Levites could carry the ark.

Leviticus 16:2

[2] And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL KNEW VERY WELL ABOUT THIS ARK :

1 Samuel 4:4-6

[4] So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

[5] And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

[6] And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.

SATAN TRIED TO STEAL THIS AWAY !

1 Samuel 4:11

[11] And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

1 Samuel 4:19-22

[19] And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

[20] And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

[21] And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

[22] And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

NOTE: NOT EVERYONE WANTED THIS POWER AND

PRESENCE -- THERE WAS NEVER A RECORD OF SAUL WANTING IT AT ALL !

WE MUST BE AWARE NOT EVERYONE IN OUR CHURCHES WILL EMBRACE WHAT GOD IS DOING AROUND HERE !

DAVID WANTED IT :

2 Samuel 6:1-2

[1] Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

[2] And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

STEWARDSHIP -- MAY WE HANDLE IT RIGHT

DAVID DESIRED

DAVID WAS DETERMINED

DAVID MADE A DECISION

WHAT SATAN COULDN’T STEAL HE SABATOGED !

SATAN DECIDED HE COULDN’T CHANGE DAVID’S HEART SO HE DETERMINED TO MESS WITH HOW DAVID HANDLED THIS HOLY THING!

MAY WE HANDLE THIS HOLY THING RIGHT !

1 - NEW CART

1 Samuel 6:7-8

[7] Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

[8] And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

1 Samuel 6:14

[14] And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the Lord.

2 Samuel 6:3

[3] And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

THE HOLY THINGS OF GOD WILL NOT RIDE ON THE NEW CARTS OF THIS WORLD !

2 Samuel 6:6-10

[6] And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

[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.

[8] And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.

[9] And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?

[10] So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

1 Chron. 13:9

[9] And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.

1 Chron. 13:1

[1] And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

Romans 12:2

[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 9:32

[32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

1 - NEW CART

2 - NEW CHALLENGE

2 Samuel 6:11-12

[11] And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.

MAY WE HAVE A PREPARED PLACE

2 Samuel 6:17

A - PLACE IN OUR HEART

During the three months’ interim, David undoubtedly searched his heart and confessed his sins. He certainly turned to the Law to discover God’s instructions for carrying the ark (1 Chron. 15:1-2, 12-13). God was blessing the household of Obed-edom, and David wanted that blessing for the whole nation. This time he prepared the tent and also saw to it that the Levites were properly prepared for their task.

2 Samuel 6:14

And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

B - A PLACE IN OUR HOMES

2 Samuel 6:18-23

[18] And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

[19] And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

[20] Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

[21] And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.

[22] And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

[23] Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

3 - A PLACE AT THE HOUSE OF GOD

2 Samuel 7:2-29

[2] That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

[3] And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.

[4] And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying,

[5] Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

[12] And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

[18] Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

[22] Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

MAY WE EVER PRAISE HIS NAME FOR THE HOLY THINGS !

2 Samuel 7:25-26

[25] And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

[26] And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

2 Samuel 7:28-29

[28] And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

[29] Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.