681. 2SA 6:12-14. DAVID’S RESTORING, AND DANCING BEFORE THE ARK

2Sa_6:12-14. David’s Restoring, and Dancing Before the Ark

"And it was told to 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," &c.’972Sa_6:12-14.

The ark of the Lord had been in Kirjath-jearim, in almost unknown privacy, for seventy years. David resolved to remove it to the tabernacle in Jerusalem, and therefore made arrangements to effect it. God had prescribed a definite way for bearing it, which was by the staves of the priests; but David had sent a new cart, on which it was placed.

On its way, Uzzah touched it, and died for the irreverent act, by the ark of God; 2Sa_6:6, 2Sa_6:7. David was terror-struck and feared to proceed further; so the ark remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months. This house was honored and blessed of God, during the stay of the ark; and on David being informed of this, he went and brought up the ark to the city, with great gladness and exultation. Observe,

I. The course David adopted.

II. The persecution he met with. And,

III. The resolution he averred. I. The course David adopted.

It was the removal of the ark, which constituted the great subject of the whole scene. The ark was the appointed symbol of the divine presence and glory. The most hallowed of the furniture of the tabernacle. A reference to it is given’97Exo_37:1, &c. See Heb_9:3, &c.

Now, in the removing of the ark, he had reference to the glory of the tabernacle’97which was vain, without the symbol of the divine presence. Here, then, zeal for the divine honor was conspicuous in the conduct of David.

But observe, in removing the ark,

1. He offered sacrifice to the Lord.

2Sa_6:13.

He might do so, that God’s grace might be obtained on this eventful occasion; or to acknowledge their error and sin, in their former mode of removing it; or as a general act of worship, and agreeable with the Levitical dispensation. The guilt and unworthiness of man’97the honor and justice of God’97and a hope in the predicted Messiah, seemed to be connected with all sacrifices.

Then observe,

2. He exhibited the most lively emotions of joy.

He danced before the Lord, &c.; 2Sa_6:14.

Here the joy of his heart broke forth in the actions of the body; and he leaped, and danced, and praised God. The whole of this scene was connected with sacred music; 2Sa_6:15. Observe, it was a religious act. Nothing in it carnal or worldly, the result of overflowing gratitude to God, and joy in his service. Nothing but a high and fervid state of devout feeling, would have warranted it. See Psa_150:14.

Notice in reference to David,

II. The persecution he met with.

2Sa_6:16.

Here we observe a cold spectator, who felt no interest in the event, gazing on the excited conduct of the king. And soon we witness its manifestation. David had feasted the people; again sacrificed to the Lord; and then he goes down to bless his household. He wished to impart the blessedness of his own soul, to his own family circle. He approaches his dwelling, and the proud and irreligious Michal, the daughter of Saul, meets him, and says, "How glorious was the king of Israel," &c.; 2Sa_6:20. How astonished must have been the king, by the biting and wicked irony of his ungodly wife.

In this persecution of David, observe,

1. It was persecution for his religious zeal.

Zeal in religion, has always been persecuted. It was so in the case of the disciples, on the day of Pentecost. "These men are drunk," &c. It was so with Paul, when delivering his earnest address before Festus: "Thou art beside thyself," &c. It was so with Whitefield, Wesley, &c. It it so with all very intent and earnest hearts now. Men cannot bear to see fervor in piety. They do not object to it in pleasure taking. In business, &c. They admire it in the warrior. &c.’97in the politician’97in science. In one word; in any thing, but not in religion. Then they call it wildness, fanaticism, &c.

2. It was a persecution from a near relative.

His own wife. Often a man’s foes are those of his own household. In the first family, there was Cain hating Abel. In Noah’s family, the profame Ham. In Abraham’s, the mocking Ishmael. In Isaac’s, the reckless Esau. And now in David’s, the bitter Michal. Christ said this should be so in the Christian Church. See Mar_13:12.

Notice,

III. The resolution David averred.

Observe, he does not make any apology for his conduct. He had been doing it to God. His heart was upright before him. But he vindicates it as a religious act, by saying, "It was before the Lord," &c.; Mar_13:21. And he reminds her, it was before that Lord who had rejected her father, and who had chosen him to be ruler over the people. A reply, which doubtless, satisfied to the full, the haughty daughter of the rejected monarch. Then he avers,

1. His resolution still to honor God, in the way she had scorned.

He was not to be bantered out of an earnest service of the Lord. He would still persevere, notwithstanding all her taunts. He averred his steadfastness in the course he had adopted.

2. He determined to excel in the ardent service of the Lord.

Mar_13:22.

What she deemed vile, he considered dignifying; therefore he would still not only proceed, but go further. And as to his servants despising him, he considered, in religious worship, all distinctions ceased; and he would not shrink from the liveliest exhibitions of piety, in their presence;’97and he further states, that so far from the maid servant’s sympathizing with her, in her bitter revilings, that of them even, he would be had in honor.

How correct David was in his views, and how God approved of his spirit, we learn from the visitation of Michal, by which she was deprived of the greatest honor a Jewish woman could desire. God has said, "Him that honoreth me, will I honor," &c.

Learn,

1. That ardent zeal is most desirable in the service of God.

2. That in matters of religion we must only look for the Divine approbation.

3. That we must expect persecution from those who are strangers to divine things.

4. That these will often be found among our friends and kindred.

5. That God will reward both now and hereafter, his devoted people.

6. That revilers and persecutors are justly abhorred by the Lord.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS