SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON Kings and Prophets DAVID BRINGS THE ARK TO JERUSALEM Elementary Lesson Year One, Quarter Four, Lesson Five AIM: to use the story of David bringing the ark to Jerusalem to teach my students that we must do things the way God told us to do it. OBJECTS TO HAVE: A sticker that says, boss Some fake money A blank pad A picture of the Ark of the Covenant A picture of a cart and a cow Your Bible POINT OF CONTACT: This morning we re going to pretend that we are all working for the same boss. That boss is going to be Billy [pick someone from the class for the lesson, we ll call him Billy ]. Billy is going to wear this label that says boss. Billy owns a painting business. He needs to hire some people to paint for him. We are going to go to work for Billy. A man says to Billy, I will pay you $100 to paint my house. Billy is going to pay each of us $5 to work for him painting that man s house. So here we are: Billy is the boss. We work for him. If we do the job, Billy will pay us the money. Here is the question that I want to ask you: Since we are working for Billy, does Billy have the right to tell us how to paint? Yes, he does. Why? Because Billy is paying us the money. We are working for him. Suppose I like yellow paint. I want to paint all of the houses yellow. But Billy says, We are going to paint this one white, and this one red, and this one blue, and this one yellow. Can Billy tell me what color to paint these houses? Yes, he can. Why? Because Billy is paying us the money. We are working for him. Suppose somebody else likes to paint up and down with their brush, but Billy has instructed us to paint side-to-side. Should I paint up and down, or side-to-side? I should paint side-to-side like Billy tells me to paint. Why? Because Billy is the boss. He is paying us the money. We are working for him. But somebody says, This is a free country. I m free to paint any way I want to paint. Yes, and Billy is free to fire you, and pay somebody else the money instead. If you don t like the way Billy does things, you are free to get a different job, or to start your own painting company. But as long as you are working for Billy, and as long as Billy is paying you, you are supposed to follow his directions. Today I am going to tell you about someone who forgot to follow the directions, and because of it, someone else died. STORY: David was the King of Israel. He was a good king, and he did many great things. He always sought to please God. The reason that David sought to please God is that He was working for God. You see, the nation of Israel was God s people. Since David was the King of Israel, he was the king of God s people. In order for David to do his job right, he would have to do things God s way. David decided that the capitol city for the nation of Israel would be the city of Jerusalem. But there was one thing missing from the city of Jerusalem. The thing that was missing was the most important piece of furniture in the nation of Israel. It was called the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was the holiest object in the world. It was the one place where God would come down and communicate with man. Wherever the Ark of the Covenant was, God s blessing was. Since David wanted God s blessing in his palace, and since his palace was in Jerusalem, David knew that he needed to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. So David got a group of men together and went to Gibeah, where the Ark of the Covenant was. Now, how was David supposed to carry the Ark? The answer is clear. God had given specific instructions to Moses many years before. Moses had written down these instructions exactly as God wanted them written. Here s what God had said: #1. No man is allowed to touch the Ark. #2. Any man who touches the Ark will die immediately.
#3. In order to move the Ark, slide long poles through the holes in the Ark, and then lift the poles. These were God s instructions for how to carry the Ark of the Covenant. They were very clear, and they were written down for all to read. But David made a big mistake when he went to carry the Ark: he forgot to read the instructions. So instead of doing it God s way, he did it the way that he thought would be a good idea. David had heard that a few years before, God s enemies, the Philistines, had sent the Ark back to Israel on a cart. That cart was pulled by two cows. Was that the right way or the wrong way to carry the Ark? The wrong way. God had said that the Ark was to be carried using long what? That s right, poles. Then why did the Philistines do it wrong? Because they didn t have God s instructions. The instructions belonged to Israel. God was merciful to the Philistines, because He knew that they did not have His instructions. David did have God s instructions. But instead of reading God s instructions for himself, David said, How did the Philistines move the Ark? Someone said, The Philistines used a cart, pulled by two cows. David said, Then we ll use a cart pulled by cows, too. Only, we ll build a new cart. So David and his men built a new cart. Then they had some cows pull the cart, and two men were put in charge of guiding the cart. Those men were named Ahio and Uzzah. What were God instructions for how to move the Ark? #1. No man is allowed to touch the Ark. #2. Any man who touches the Ark will die immediately. #3. In order to move the Ark, slide long poles through the holes in the Ark, and then lift the poles Was David following God s instructions? No, he wasn t. Let me tell you what happened. The men used the poles to lift the Ark onto the cart. Then, the cart was hooked up to the cows. The cows pulled the cart down the road to Jerusalem, with Ahio and Uzzah walking beside the cart. When they came to a certain place, one of the cows tripped. When he tripped, it jerked the cart. When the cart jerked, the Ark began to wobble. And when the Ark wobbled, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. God had said not to touch the Ark. God had said that any many who touched the Ark would die. God kept His Word. When Uzzah touched the Ark, he died immediately. Of course, David and all of the people were very upset when their friend Uzzah died. They lifted the Ark by the poles, and put it into the nearest house. Then they all went home. Why did this awful thing happen? Because David and his men tried to do God s work their own way. We are supposed to do God s work God s way. God commands all of us to obey Him. God doesn t tell us to do what makes sense to us. He does not tell us to do it any way we want to. God tells us to do His work His way. Someone says, But this is a free country! I don t have to go to church if I don t want to! I don t have to stay away from sin if I don t want to! I don t have to get saved if I don t want to! That person is right. You don t have to do what God says. God even says that you are free to do things any way you want to. BUT YOU WILL NOT HAVE GOD S BLESSING. AND WHEN YOU SIN, IT ALWAYS LEADS TO FAILURE AND DEATH. Some people think that as long as you re trying to do a good thing, it doesn t matter how you do it. That s what David thought, and Uzzah died because of it. Some people think that it s okay to do wrong if everybody else is doing wrong, too. David copied the Philistines, and Uzzah died because of it. Some people think that if you just do what seems to be the right thing, everything will work out alright. That s what David thought, and Uzzah died because of it. David had God s instructions, but he did not bother to check them. After that awful incident, the Ark stayed in the house of a man named Obed-edom. Word came to David that Obededom s house was blessed ever since the Ark arrived there. So David decided that God would be with them if they went back and did it right. You see, David checked the instructions, and realized that God had told His people how to obey. This time, they carried the Ark using the long poles. David and the people celebrated all the way home. When the Ark arrived in Jerusalem there was great rejoicing in all the land. But there was still pain in everyone s heart because of the death of their friend, Uzzah. When we do things our way instead of God s way, we risk losing God s blessing upon our lives. Make sure you always follow God s Instruction Book. Let s learn our memory verse: Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON Kings and Prophets DAVID BRINGS THE ARK TO JERUSALEM Teen and Adult Lesson Year One, Quarter Four, Lesson Five Teacher, choose one of the following truths to expand upon in teaching this portion of Scripture to your teen/adult class. Teach and apply the truth that you choose using statements and illustrations that are most helpful and applicable to your students. I. EVERY GOOD IDEA MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF GOD S WORD. The Ark of the Covenant was the place where God dwelt among His people. It represented the presence of God, even to God s enemies. But for decades, the Ark had not been in the capitol city, or in the tabernacle. Since becoming king, David had established Jerusalem as the capitol city. One day it dawned on David that the Ark of God should be in Jerusalem. What a great idea! But what David failed to do was to compare his great idea with the Law of Moses. It was the king s responsibility to KNOW the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 17:14-20), so David should have known that the Ark was only to be transported with staves, carried upon the shoulders of the Levites. Exodus 25:13-15, Exodus 37:3-5,Numbers 7:9. II. GOOD INTENTIONS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE TO OBEDIENCE. :6. Uzzah may have been a good man, and certainly his actions of reaching out to steady the Ark were with the best of intentions. But Uzzah s good intentions did not make void the instructions of God, that no man was to touch the Ark. Certainly our intentions ought to always be good in every effort we make, but we must also give due diligence to making sure we know the right and proper way to do things. Good intentions do not excuse disobedience III. WHEN WE TAKE SHORTCUTS AROUND GOD S WORD, THE POTHOLES OF LIFE WILL EVENTUALLY EXPOSE US. 6:6. Life has a way of exposing our weaknesses. If you cut corners now, you will pay for it later. IV. WE MUST NOT COPY THE METHODS OF THE WORLD IN SERVING GOD. 6:3. It says they made a NEW cart. Who had made the OLD cart? The Philistines had. God had mercy on the Philistines and their methods, because they did not have the Law of Moses. But David and his men made the mistake of copying the Philistines methods from the previous generation, instead of consulting God s Word. They made an assumption that cost Uzzah his life, and caused great sorrow in Israel. Don t be content to do it the way it s always been done; the way it s always been done may not be the way that God said to do it. V. EVEN WHEN GOD MUST JUDGE, HIS MERCY IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO REPENT AND OBEY. 6:12-19. Uzzah s death brought great sorrow to a joyous occasion. But God blessed the house of Obed-edom, where the Ark rested for three months after that. David decided to try again, this time following the Law of Moses, and God blessed their efforts. Though God must chasten our disobedience, He is merciful, He lets us try again, and He will bless our obedience.
David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem The Danger of Presumptuous Service I. 2 SAMUEL 6:1-5 Sincere Effort: the people transport the Ark 6:1-2 They are UNITED in their effort. 6:3-4 They are ORGANIZED in their effort. 6:5 They are EXCITED in their effort. 6:3 But they are PRESUMPTOUS and DISOBEDIENT in their effort. II. 2 SAMUEL 6:6-10 Tragic Result: God is true to His Word 6:6 Uzzah has good intentions. 6:7 The LORD smites Uzzah for his disobedience. 6:8-9 David is displeased, afraid, and confused. 6:10 The LORD s presence is forfeited in the capitol city. III. 2 SAMUEL 6:11-19 Second Attempt: Israel proceeds obediently 6:11-12 David realizes his error. (I Chronicles 15:2). 6:13-19 David and the people bring the Ark to Jerusalem victoriously. IV. 2 SAMUEL 6:20-23 Angry Spectator: Michal destroyed by bitterness 6:16b Michal is disgusted by David s celebration. 6:20 Michal greets David with bitterness. 6:21-22 David rebukes Michal. 6:23 God judges Michal. Adult Bible Class
DAVID BRINGS THE ARK TO JERUSALEM When David carried the Ark of the Covenant the way God had instructed His people to carry it, God blessed him greatly, and they brought the Ark to Jerusalem. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12
David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem Circle the letter next to the correct answer to each question from the Scripture passage and from today s Bible story. 1. David was the king of what nation? a. Idaho b. Israel c. Iowa 2. What city did David make the capitol city of Israel? a. Jerusalem b. Jericho c. Jordan 3. What was the most important piece of furniture in Israel? a. the kitchen table b. the couch c. the Ark of the Covenant 4. What did David want to do with the Ark of the Covenant? a. move it to Jerusalem b. rebuild it c. paint it 5. Where should they have looked to find out the right way to carry the Ark? a. Google b. the library c. the Law of Moses 6. Who was allowed to touch the Ark? a. nobody b. only the king c. anybody who wanted to 7. What did they build to carry the Ark? a. a boat b. A new cart c. a train 8. Who reached out his hand to steady the Ark when the ox stumbled? a. Azar b. Uzzah c. Ozman 9. What happened to Uzzah as soon as he touched the Ark? a. he died b. King David yelled at him c. nothing happened 10. What had God instructed them to use to carry the Ark? a. a large net b. ropes c. poles, called staves There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12
David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem The answers to this week s puzzle 1. David was the king of what nation? a. Idaho b. Israel c. Iowa 2. What city did David make the capitol city of Israel? a. Jerusalem b. Jericho c. Jordan 3. What was the most important piece of furniture in Israel? a. the kitchen table b. the couch c. the Ark of the Covenant 4. What did David want to do with the Ark of the Covenant? a. move it to Jerusalem b. rebuild it c. paint it 5. Where should they have looked to find out the right way to carry the Ark? a. Google b. the library c. the Law of Moses 6. Who was allowed to touch the Ark? a. nobody b. only the king c. anybody who wanted to 7. What did they build to carry the Ark? a. a boat b. A new cart c. a train 8. Who reached out his hand to steady the Ark when the ox stumbled? a. Azar b. Uzzah c. Ozman 9. What happened to Uzzah as soon as he touched the Ark? a. he died b. King David yelled at him c. nothing happened 10. What had God instructed them to use to carry the Ark? a. a large net b. ropes c. poles, called staves