PM April 17th 2 Samuel 6

April 17^th 2 Samuel 6

David brings the Ark back

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. 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. 4: And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 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. 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. 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. 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. 14: And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 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. 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. 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 to day, 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.

2 Samuel 7 The Promise of God to David

1: And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 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? 6: Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7: In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? 8: Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 9: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 10: Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, 11: And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 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. 14: I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16: And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 17: According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

David’s Prayer

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? 19: And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? 20: And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. 21: For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. 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. 23: And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24: For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. 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. 27: For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. 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.

2 Samuel 8 David’s Military success

1: And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2: And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. 3: David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4: And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. 5: And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6: Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 7: And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8: And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. 9: When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10: Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 11: Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 12: Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13: And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. 14: And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

David’s Officials

15: And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. 16: And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17: And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; 18: And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

In today’s Bible reading we see that David is finally able to do things which previously he was unable to do. David had lived on the road going from cave to cave but now having defeated the Philistines and with Saul dead he was free the settle down and to bring about the changes that previously he was unable to do. The first thing was that he could bring back the Ark of the Covenant. Then we find that the LORD makes very great promises of blessing to David and he responds in worship. This lead to David’s military successes and then David lists his trusted officials. This is the sort of passage that lifts the heart of every Jew and every man and woman of God. So the first thing was that David brought back the ark. David gathered the chosen men – 30,000 of them. They brought back the ark on a wagon. This was a time of celebration and joy unspeakable. They sang and worshipped as perhaps only Jews can do. But when they came near the threshing floor the ark shook and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark and the LORD killed him for touched the holy thing. David was upset and the fear of the Lord came on David and the people. From that time onward they carried the Ark. (Wheels were an innovation that God had not sanctioned. The Ark was to be carried by four priests.)

The ark was brought into the house of Obed-edom. And his wife must have feared for the little children yet after three months they found that God blessed the house. David was glad when he heard of Gods blessing so he went and took the Ark and brought it out and sacrificed to the Lord. David danced with joy with all his might. Michal saw David and despised him for what she thought was just foolishness. When the Ark arrived at its place David offered sacrifices and made a feast for the people and they all returned home satisfied. When he returned home Michal said to him why did you uncover your feet in front of the maids and servants? But David said it was before the LORD that l danced and he has blessed me and l will humble myself even more before the Lord. The Lord shut up the womb of Michal from that day because she criticised David’s worship. When David had come to complete peace because of the wars of the Lord he asked Nathan why it was that he lived in a house of cedar when the Lord was in a tent. Nathan said do whatever is in your heart. So David prepared all the materials to build a temple to the Lord. Then Nathan heard the Lord in the night saying tell David who is he to build my a house and then he recounted all that he had done for him and he told him you will die an old man and your son will build a temple to me. And your son – if he is faithful to me will have a kingdom that will last for ever but if he forsakes me then he will be chastised by the rods of men. However my mercy will not completely leave him, like l did with Saul. Your house and your kingdom will be established forever. Nathan told all this to David. Then David came and sat before the Lord and poured out his heart. This is just a little glimpse of the inner life of David. He says to the Lord l am nothing, you do what you have said. What a great prayer! He said, may your name be magnified in all the earth. You have promised good to me your servant, so please bless me your servant so that l may continue to be able to come before you forever. His prayer is humble and full of resignation to Gods will and faith in the promises of God. After this God blessed David and he had great susses against the enemies, Philistines and Moab. And he conquered the Babylonians taking 1,000 chariots and 700 horsemen and 20,000 infantry. He destroyed all their chariots but kept a hundred. David also conquered the Syrians killing 22,000 men. David stationed garrisons of men in Syria and made them his servants. God preserved David in every place he went. David took their shields of gold and put then in the tabernacle. David conquered in the east and in the south and God blessed him. David reigned over all Israel.

Joab General.

Jehoshaphat Recorder.

Zadok and Ahimelech Priests.

Seraiah Scribe.

Benaiah Ruled over the Cherethites and Pelethites

David’s sons Chief rulers.

• What was wrong with the bringing back of the ark?
• Why did David get criticism for dancing before the Lord?
• Who was Benaiah?