SERMON NOTES By Pastor John Paul Miller David A Man After God s Own Heart Character Studies on the Life of David 2 Samuel 5-6 - "Bringing Back The Ark" In following the life of David, we have seen him as the Shepherd Boy, the Giant Killer, the Servant to Saul, the Beloved Friend of Jonathan, and for ten years he was David the Hunted, the Exile in the Wilderness. Now, it s David the King of Israel! Background: Saul is dead, David has lamented and now is crowned King over Judah (2 Samuel 2:4, 8-11, 3:1) In chapter 4, Ishbosheth, Saul s son, was assassinated, opening the way for David to become King over of all Israel Chapters 5 and 6 describe the steps David took to unite and strengthen the divided nation. I. David accepted the crown (2 Samuel 5:1-5) 2 Samuel 5:1-5, Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. It was clearly God s will for David to become the King of Israel. But God isn t in a hurry it takes time for God to prepare His leaders. It s sad when a person succeeds before they are ready for it. The trials David went through were difficult but he could now look back and see God s hand. God protected and promoted David at His own time, and He will do the same for us if we will trust Him. 1
II. David established a new Capitol (2 Samuel 5:6-13) 2 Samuel 5:6-13, And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. Jerusalem had yet been captured previously under Joshua but now, when David is made King over all the nation, the stronghold is taken. In our lives, when Jesus reigns over all of us as King, He routes every enemy. No part of our lives should be left outside of His control. Does Jesus reign over every part of you? It s the only way to complete peace and victory. III. David relocated the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6) Note: This story can be told in five movements. 1. David s desire to bring back the Ark (2 Samuel 6:1-2) 2 Samuel 6:1-2, Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 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. a. What is the Ark of God that David wants to bring up to Jerusalem? (God s presence) b. The ark had passed through a difficult period during the time of the Judges. * it had been used as a lucky charm 2
* it fell into the hands of the Philistines placed in the Temple of Dagon (In Ashdod); put on an ox cart and sent back to Israel and ended up in Kirjathjearim (1 Samuel 7) c. During the time of Saul s reign the Ark had been forgotten. d. Now that David is King his heart s desire is to bring back the Ark; so God would once again be at the center of the nation. e. David s desire was good but he had zeal without knowledge. Why? 1. He didn t pray and consult the Lord. Instead he consulted with his political leaders. 1 Chronicles 13:4, And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. We must do God s work God s way! How we do Church, Worship and Service. 2. Some believe that David s main motive was to unify the nation under his rule rather than to glorify the Lord. 3. David also made the mistake of ignoring God s word. 2. David s disaster in bringing back the Ark (2 Samuel 6:3) 2 Samuel 6:3, And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and rought it out f the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and zzah and Ahio, the sons of binadab, drave the new cart. A. There were two clear violations of God s word. 1. The Ark was not to be transported on an ox-cart; it was to be carried upon the shoulders of the Levites. (Exodus 25) Where did they get the idea of the ox-cart? The Philistines. The danger of the church using worldly methods. 3
It was popular. All the people were enthusiastic and joyful, but that didn t make it right in the eyes of God worldly methods to build the church will eventually fail they won t bring glory to God. 3. David s displeasure in bringing back the Ark (2 Samuel 6:8-11) 2 Samuel 6:8-11, And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 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 Obededom the Gittite. And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household. Was David s displeasure with God or himself? I don t know; it seems to be with God it seems to reveal a problem with his heart. It s the same today, many people set out to serve God and things don t go the way they planned so they get angry at God or others and give up serving God. It happens in the church all the time. We become the losers and lose the blessings (2 Samuel 6:10-11). 4. David s delight in bringing back the Ark (2 Samuel 6:12-19) 2 Samuel 6:12-19, And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, 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 Obededom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 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.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. 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.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. 4
a. During the three months David no doubt began to search his heart and confess his sins. b. He also must have searched the scriptures to discover God s plan for the carrying of the Ark. c. Notice David s joyful worship (2 Samuel 6:14-16) 5. David s disappointment after bringing back the Ark (2 Samuel 6:20-23) 2 Samuel 6:20-23, 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! 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. 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. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. a. Michal, Saul s daughter, was never a suitable wife for David. b. She never exhibited any faith in God. c. They were only married because David won her for killing Goliath. d. 2 Corinthians 6:14, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? e. She resented David and had bitterness and anger in her heart. f. Wives support your husbands in serving the Lord. g. Her critical spirit leads to fruitlessness. Ending lessons: 1. The preeminence of Jesus Christ illustrated in the Ark. 2. The performance of our service God s work God s way! 3. The passion in worship Copyright Calvary Chapel San Bernardino 5