Christ our King - and God's ruling presence with his people

Text 1 Chronicles 14 Time 25 11 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

We come this week to 1 Chronicles 15 where we learn how King David, having completed his palace, provides a place for the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem and this time, having learned his lesson, transports the ark in the right manner. Our writer takes opportunity to mention many of the Levites involved and explains how various ones provided musical accompaniment and how others were deputed to be gatekeepers and doorkeepers. He talks of the joy and the sacrifices that marked the occasion and ends by saying how the King himself celebrated, though he was despised for it by his wife Michal, daughter of Saul, for it.

The chapter is of interest as we piece things together a little step further in the history of the kingship of David and the history of the ark. More than that, if we read this chapter with care noting what is said about David and the ark and about the Levites and their activities too, for that matter, there is a lot for us to learn about the Kingship of Messiah and the ruling presence of God, which is chiefly what the ark speaks to. I want to say three things then.

1. Consider the King, his completed project and God's ruling presence with his people

Here in verses 1-3 we read that After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever." David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

As we have said in the past, the building of a palace is the sort of thing eastern kings would do. We associate Buckingham Palace with the Queen or the Palace at Versailles with Louis XIV and so on. We also said that Messiah talks to his disciples about having prepared a place for them (and he clearly means a mansion, a palace, in heaven).

In David's story, having constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. This parallels the way, having provided redemption for his people through the cross and having risen again and spent time instructing his disciples, Messiah then ascended into heaven and from there sent the Holy Spirit.

Now just as in the Old Testament, God visibly dwelt where the ark of the covenant was, so now he makes his presence known through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God and so he is in every place but he makes the presence of God known especially where he draws near. Just as David prepared a place for the ark so the Messiah has poured out the Spirit on all flesh so that we can know and enjoy the nearness of Christ, of God, wherever we may be.

We no longer need to travel to Jerusalem or even to look towards Jerusalem when we pray. No, God's throne is established in our hearts and so at the end of Hebrews 4 the writer is able to say

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Just as David set up a place to where his people could go, so our King has set it up so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need, whenever it may come.

Let's not take this tremendous privilege for granted but let's be very thankful and let's take full advantage of our privileges.

2. Understand God's ruling presence with his people, the priesthood and the place of joy and sacrifice

1. The importance of the priests

Previously David had made the mistake of simply trying to carry the ark on an ox cart. It had ended in disaster. Why David had not done things in the correct way from the first, we do not know but it was a mistake, only rectified with this second attempt. By this time he has recalled that it was required in the Law that the ark be carried only by Levites. And so we read in verses 4-10 how

He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

From the descendants of Kohath, Uriel the leader and 120 relatives;

from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;

from the descendants of Gershon, Joel the leader and 130 relatives;

from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives

from the descendants of Hebron, Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;

from the descendants of Uzziel, Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.

So some 862 Priests and Levites were involved plus those mentioned in verse 11

Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites.

David spoke to these last eight personally and said to them, "You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way."

So David now sees that he needs to use the right servants, as Scripture dictated, and that it was important that they were consecrated before beginning their task.

So (14) the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

Now again we know that the Levitical priesthood is gone. Yes, today you still meet people called Levi or Cohen or some variation on those names, presumably descended from the original Levites and priests in most cases and they usually find a special role for them if they belong to a synagogue. The old covenant is at end, however, and has been replaced by the new covenant.

Now, as you know, under the new covenant, a new priesthood has been introduced - the priesthood of all believers. Every Christian, man or woman of any age, is a priest. The picture here is of a large throng of priests and Levites carrying the ark to the place set aside for it. The New Testament equivalent is when God's people gather and he draws near as he has promised. It is not that God does not or cannot manifest himself to individuals but that he delights to do so especially when Gods people are gathered together in one place.

This is something that one fears some have lost sight of during this period when it's been difficult to meet together in the usual way. It is important that we see that meeting together like this, although it has some advantages, is less than ideal and is not what the New Testament envisages for God's people. Rather we should be aware that it is when God's people come together that we can expect him to come and meet with us. Puritan David Clarkson once preached a sermon with an interesting title “Public worship to be preferred before private”. A typical Puritan, he gives 12 arguments for his contention. Perhaps the best is this - “Public worship is the nearest resemblance of heaven, therefore to be preferred”. When we are in heaven we will have not quiet times on our own. We will all be together worshipping God. Church is a little taste of that. This is also a little taste but less of one.

2. The importance of joyful singing in worship

Then with all that, notice what you get in verses 16-26.

First, in verse 16 we read that David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.

So some were to carry the ark but others were to provide joyful music.

So (17, 18) the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. So another 16.

We are told (19) The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; and (20) eight of the gatekeepers Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth, (a musical term that we are not sure of the meaning of) while the other five (21) Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and a man called Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith. (another musical term we do not know the meaning of. It comes up in the psalms). Then in verse 22 it says Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skilful at it.

We are also told (23) that Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. It was going to be kept in a tent that needed to be guarded. They decided who could come in.

And then back to music (24) and another seven priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. This is mentioned separately and so it is likely that this is not music for singing psalms but trumpet blasts to herald the ark.

It then adds that Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark. These are probably different people to those mentioned before. This Obed-Edom though perhaps not a Levite is appointed to this sacred work in view of the fact the ark once rested in his house.

Now all that is very different to New Testament worship. Indeed we are specifically told not to blow trumpets when we give to the Lord under this new covenant! The emphasis is now on simplicity and ideally there will be no musical instruments at all and the singing will no longer be from skilful people like Kenaniah but by all sorts of others, skilful and less skilful.

3 The importance of rejoicing and of sacrifice in worship

Finally, in verses 25 and 26, we are told So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed.

So once again the note of rejoicing is sounded. Our worship should be marked by joy. At the same time, however, sacrifice is also important. I would suggest to you that one reason why it would be better to be in the chapel tonight is because it would involve more of a sacrifice on our part - to go out into the cold weather in order to gather. In Malachi 1:8 we read When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty. At the present time, football fans are not saying "This is okay this watching everything on TV. We don't want to go back to all that hassle of going to games - especially away games. What an effort it involves and it is so time consuming and expensive." No, despite the difficulty the real fans, I would guess, want live football back. If they are keen, we Christians should be even more so.

Are we like the people in Malachi 1:13, 14?

And you say, 'What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously," says the LORD Almighty. "When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD. "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.

By the way, I am not suggesting there is merit in making things difficult for ourselves. We don't say "Oh good, the roof's leaking". However, the command not to give up meeting together stands and it will involve some sort of sacrifice to achieve.

The same applies to seeking the Lord in private too. I was reading John Owen this week. He says on finding time to meditate

"Choose and separate a fit time or season, a time of freedom from other occasions and diversions. And because it is our duty to redeem time with respect unto holy duties, such a season may be the more useful the more the purchase of it stands us in. We are not at any time to serve God with what costs us nought, nor with any time that comes within the same rule. If we will allow only the refuse of our time unto this duty, when we have nothing else to do, and, it may be, through weariness of occasions are fit for nothing else, we are not to expect any great success in it. ... Both the law of nature and all the laws of holy institutions do require that we should serve God with the best that we have, as all the fat of the inwards was to be offered in sacrifice; and shall we think to offer that time unto God wherein we are unmeet to appear before an earthly ruler? .... trust not to times that will offer themselves. Take them not up at hazard. Let the time itself be a free-will offering to God, taken from the top of the heap, or the choicest part of your useful time."

4. Note how the King himself celebrates God's ruling presence with his people

Then the final, perhaps surprising thing, is in the closing verses of the chapter, verses 27-29. There we read Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams' horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps. As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.

We get a fuller account in 2 Samuel 6 where it says (16-23)

As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. and then we read how he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty and gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person and then all the people went to their homes. When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel - I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honour." And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

For our purposes, briefly we simply want to make two points.

1. This is the sort of king we have - one who, as it were joins in with us. Yes, he is worthy of our worship in a way that was never true of David but he also comes alongside us as we worship the Father. He served him while on earth and even now our worship is to be in his name. It is in him that we come to God. What enables us to come to the Lord is being in the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. We should not be surprised that just as Michal despised David. So there are those who, though they appear to be part of the Bride of Christ, despise the Lord Jesus because of his condescension, his willingness to abase himself so that we may come to Christ.

So here are some important things to remember - God's presence with his people, worship - joy, sacrifice, Christ's condescension. Remember these things.

The Kingdom is established - Pray for it to be advanced

Text 1 Chronicles 14 Time 25 11 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

We are taught by the Lord Jesus Christ to pray Father in heaven hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. God's kingdom is his invisible and spiritual rule under his Son the Lord Jesus Christ. For the kingdom to come is for it to advance and grow. Some would argue that we no longer need to pray this prayer as the kingdom has come with the coming of Jesus Christ. But Christ is going to come for a second time and it is only then that his kingdom will be fully established. Meanwhile, we ought to be praying that the kingdom will advance every day in our own lives and in the lives of others.

What we are taught about David and his kingdom has a lot to teach us about the kingdom and its coming. David's kingdom is the subject of the chapter we want to look at tonight - 1 Chronicles 14. In the chapter we read of how (2) David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel. We then read of two attacks on the kingdom by the dreaded Philistines. On both occasions they are repulsed as David seeks and receives the Lord's guidance and help. The chapter closes with this verse (17) So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.

Now what we read of David here - all in very earthly terms - will teach us something about the kingdom of God today and how it is established and how its fame is spread throughout every land, and how we might see all the nations fearing the Lord.

Four things then

1. See that the kingdom is established with the King as Lord over his people

In verses 1-7 the writer shows us how David was fully established in Jerusalem as king. He gives three evidences. Now these are quite physical and earthly things but they translate, if we can see it, into corresponding spiritual marks. So

1. A palace has been begun

In verse 1 we read Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him. All David's internal enemies had been overcome and at last there was peace. It was now time to build a palace for himself. Kings inhabit palaces.

Part of the majesty of our own Royal family is that they live in a palace. Yes, they have other houses - Balmoral, Sandringham and Windsor, etc, but their official residence is Buckingham Palace in London. It is typical of kings to have a palace and that is what David begins to organise here.

In the New Testament, talking about heaven, Jesus says at the beginning of John 14, Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? This does no doubt refer to the work on the cross that he is about to accomplish but beyond that there is preparation being undertaken in heaven to prepare a place that has many rooms - a palace.

Part of the glory of the kingdom is the work that Jesus is now doing in heaven to prepare a place for us.

2. Knowledge of establishment and high exaltation

Then in verse 2 we read And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

Now such a reference again throws us forward to the Lord Jesus Christ and his kingdom today. When the Lord Jesus rose from the dead he knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel. He then spent six weeks teaching his disciples before he ascended into heaven, highly exalted on behalf of his people. It is for our sakes that he has now gone into heaven to appear before the Father on our behalf.

Also part of the glory of the kingdom then is Christ's resurrection and exaltation to the right hand of the Majesty on High. How we should rejoice that God has so established his kingdom.

3. A growing family

Then thirdly in verses 3-7 it says that In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters. These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet. That's 13 altogether.

Now, of course, on the one hand, for a man to take more than one wife is not God's desire. David is acting like a typical eastern potentate and God was willing to wink at such behaviour prior to the coming of Messiah. Today although a man can become a Christian even if he has more than one wife, he cannot be a leader of God's people as David was. That is not allowed.

The thing that we ought to see here, however, in the flourishing of David's family is the way that today Messiah's family is growing - many wives and even more children, if we can put it in those terms. After his exaltation to heaven you know that the Lord Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on all flesh and since that time the Spirit has been at work converting more and more people.

They say that there are 619 million evangelicals in the world today (as of 2016). That is only about 8% so there is plenty of work to do but there is reason to be encouraged. We are part of a growing family just as David was.

Give thanks for every true believer. Pray that the kingdom will come and that more and more people would come to faith. If we all saw one more person converted in the next five years that would double the numbers. Pray for the kingdom to grow. The gates of hades cannot prevail against the advance of God's church.

2. Understand how the enemies of God's people respond and how the King deals with it

1. Understand how the enemies of God's people respond - they seek out God's people eager to destroy them

What we read in verse 8 shouldn't surprise us When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him ... They were searching for him not because they wanted him to be their king but because they they wanted to destroy him and bring his kingdom to an end. The Philistines have long disappeared but there are still plenty of people who want that for Christ and his kingdom. This is the desire of the Devil and all who follow him and we must expect God's kingdom to often be under attack. If it is not direct persecution then there will be opposition of a more subtle sort. We must expect it. This means, as we have often said, that our lives will be a battlefield. We should expect opposition.

2. Understand how the King deals with it

1 They are repulsed with the Lord's help

But we read at the end of verse 8 David heard about it and went out to meet them. Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of God: He probably spoke to God by means of Urim and Thummim, held by the High Priest. It was a means of gaining yes or no answers to questions, probably using two dark stones and two light ones. Otherwise, God may have spoken through an unnamed prophet. "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?" David asks. The LORD answered him, "Go, I will deliver them into your hands." What a wonderful promise. At the first sign of trouble we should turn to the Lord and pray. That is always the right thing to do. His promise is that the gates of hades will not prevail against the advance of the church. His kingdom will go on, even though it may know a setback here or there. Take courage. The Lord himself will lead us into battle.

2 There is victory

And then in verse 11 we read So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand." So that place was called Baal Perazim. It's like turning on a tap we may say in modern terms. You simply look to the Lord and all will be well. Now I know that the trouble is that sometimes we are filled with doubts and fears and we fail to do that but it is still true, nevertheless, and it is right that I should remind you.

3 They are left in disarray

Finally, verse 12 The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire. The Philistines were so roundly defeated that they abandoned their idols Dagon and Ashteroth or Astarte and Beelzebub. If anything proves the uselessness of idols the thought of a battlefield full of abandoned gods should drive it home and yet idolatry is alive and well today in a hundred different subtle and not so subtle forms.

It should encourage us to know that again and again God has roundly defeated the foes of the kingdom. Here is an example. If you want one from the New Testament, picture the believers in Ephesus burning their evil scrolls. Acts 19:18-20 says that in response to Paul's preaching Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Or to take an example from church history, and sticking with the bonfire theme, do you know the story of the Dominican monk Girolamo Savonorola in Florence at the end of the fifteenth century?

The bonfire of the vanities of 1497 has become famous. In response to the fiery preaching of Savonorola people collected and burned thousands of objects such as cosmetics, art and books at a Shrove Tuesday festival. Francesco Guicciardini's The History of Florence gives a first-hand account of the bonfire of the vanities that took place. The focus of this destruction was on objects that might tempt one to sin, including vanity items such as mirrors, cosmetics, fine dresses, playing cards and even musical instruments. Other targets included books that were deemed to be immoral, manuscripts of secular songs and artworks, including paintings and sculpture.

3. Note how the enemies of God's people counter attack and how again the King deals with it

How encouraging. Christ's kingdom is established and although it is opposed Christ is strong enough to counter attack and his enemies are often left humiliated. But that is not the end. Next we say

1. Note how the enemies of God's people respond - they counter attack

Verse 13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley. Roundly defeated the Philistines do not give up, nevertheless. They come back and fight again. Their persistence always reminds me of those horror films where you think "ah, now the monster or the zombie or whatever is defeated. That's the end." And then you see it stir again and come out in attack afresh. Or sometimes it is just a teaser that the enemy will be back for a sequel. So it often is with those who oppose God. This is true in at least two senses - they keep coming back for more and the way ancient heresies are resurrected again and again and just when you think they are dead and gone, back they come with a new lease of apparent life.

2. Note how the King deals with it

1 They are again repulsed with the Lord's help

How are they repulsed this time? There is nothing strikingly new here, although there is a variation. 14 so David inquired of God again, that is always the way. But there is something different - the principles stay the same but strategy is important. And God answered him, "Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. Verse 15 is very interesting then As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.

This point is made in very many ways throughout the Old Testament and the New. The battle is not ours but it is the Lord's. Here God promises to allow David to hear his own army on the march going ahead of David's army.

Now we need to employ a strategy something like that when we are in a spiritual battle. Yes we must fight but we are not the ones who are going to win the battle; know it is the Lord's battle and he will bring the victory about. We must look to him and to his power.

2 There is a further victory

And so verse 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. They gained a famous victory and by the simple stratagem of waiting on the Lord and relying on him. That is the way to victory. Just wait.

4. How this all increases the fear and fame of the King

The final verse to consider is verse 17 So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him. The victory over the Philistines was noted everywhere. Everyone knew about it. That is how it is when God gives his people a famous victory. It was like that when the Thessalonians were converted through Paul. At the end of 1 Thessalonians 1 it says that the Thessalonians became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you Paul says not only in Macedonia and Achaia - your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Or to take a striking example from church history of an individual. In the 19th century there was a very godly minister called Robert Murray M'Cheyne, a Scotsman, who travelled to Egypt for his health. We are told how one day in the hotel in which he was staying in Alexandria a woman was holding forth to her companion against the hypocrisy of Christians. She then asked her companion if she had ever met a Christian whom she could regard as a genuine 'man of God'. She replied: 'Yes, I saw one, a man, a minister in this hotel, a tall spare man from Scotland. He was a man of God. I watched him, and felt that he was a genuine Christian. His very look did me good'. "His very look did me good" she said. He had said nothing but his very look showed her his godliness. Christianity really is contagious. It can be, at least, if we will simply live it out, regardless of the opposition.

Keeping God at the Centre

Text 1 Chronicles 13 Time 18 11 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

I want us to look tonight at 1 Chronicles 13. We are again talking about David the King who we have said points to Messiah and also of the ark of the covenant, about which we want to say something. This chapter is parallel to 2 Samuel 6:1-11. The transition here from the previous chapter which talks about the men who rallied to David early in his reign is in verse 1 - David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

We read then what he wanted to do, what he did about it and how that ended in apparent failure but not complete failure.

I think we can get at the passage best by asking a number of questions.

1. What is the ark, where was it, where did David want it? Keeping God at the centre

1. What is the ark of the covenant?

Throughout the chapter the focus is on what is called just the ark or the ark of our God (3) or the ark of God (12, 14) or the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim - the ark that is called by the Name. (6). An ark is a box. It is used in the Bible for the ark in which Noah was saved from the flood and for a wooden box known as the ark of the covenant. It is called the ark of the covenant because it contained the law of the covenant, the ten commandments.

This wooden box was covered all over with gold. It also had a very special solid gold cover or seat called the mercy seat or the atonement cover. The cover was in the shape of two huge cherubim, heavenly creatures with wings.

In verse 3 it refers to God being enthroned between the cherubim. This ark with its special cover was God's throne in the Temple, the place where he visibly dwelt. God is in every place, of course, and the Hebrews knew that but this ark, which was usually kept behind a great thick curtain was the place on earth where God especially manifested himself to his people.

The ark then stands for God's presence, his reigning power, his glory.

2. Where was it at this time?

It becomes clear here that the ark was in a place called Baalah or Kireath Jearim. At the end of verse 5 and in verse 6 we read how everyone came together to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim - the ark that is called by the Name. Verse 7 reminds us that it was in Abinadab's house.

It was where it was because Israel had tried to use the ark as a talisman in war with the Philistines and the Philistines had captured it. The Philistines ran into trouble and so returned it, letting it be carried over the border where it came first to Bethe Shemesh, where disaster again struck as they were no wiser than the Philistines handling it and so it came to Kireath Jearim. It was put in the house of a man named Abinadab. His son Eleazar looked after it and it remained there for about 20 years.

3. Where did David want it?

Once David was established as king and settled in Jerusalem one of the first things he wanted to do was to take the ark to Jerusalem, his capital. 2-6

David then said to the whole assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul." The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people. So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God ....

The plan was a good one. It was God's intention to have the ark and the Temple in Jerusalem at the heart of the kingdom.

The lesson for us is a simple one - that right at the heart of our lives as individuals, as a church, as a nation if we hope to be blessed by God, we need to know the presence of god, God enthroned, God glorified. Anything we can do to that end is good and right.

2. How did David move it, what happened and how did he react? God's wrath and judgement

So David has a wonderful idea, a good idea. And everyone agrees with him and together they get on with the task.

1. How did David move the ark?

In verse 7 we read that They moved the ark of God from Abinadab's house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. From 2 Samuel we learn that these also were sons of Abinadab. Whether Eleazar had died or was indisposed or whatever, we do not know. Carts had been used to carry the ark before this but it does seem strange that even though David spoke about having priests and Levites involved instead of having the ark carried in the prescribed manner he allows it to be put on a cart.

Numbers 4:4-20 is clear

When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place. … After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting. See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not cut off from the Levites. So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.

David somehow seems oblivious to all this. Yes, it is good that (8) David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets worship is to be characterised by joy. But ...

It gets worse.

2. What happened next?

We read in verse 9 and 10 that When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

It comes as rather a shock and seems rather unfair as Uzzah is clearly acting from good motives. However, when you go back to the Numbers passage it is clear

But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting. See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not cut off from the Levites. So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.

Did Uzzah not know this? Or did he simply not believe it? At the very least he should have been aware of how others had died before because they were careless with the ark or with other holy things.

There have been people who have tried to argue that God is not a God of wrath. They would try and explain this away as some reflex matter so that abuse of the ark led to automatic death but there is no getting away from the truth. Think of the sons Korah and Dathan and Abiram in the wilderness and the ground swallowing them up, when fire broke out against Nadab and Abihu at the Temple, those groups of fifty soldiers on whom Elisha sent fire. No, God's wrath is a very real thing. The things of God are not to be trifled with.

It is hard to be sure how often God will simply strike a person down. People are struck down by lightning and often killed it is true and people do die in the must unexpected and extraordinary ways. You will hear of atheists who say they blasphemed and invited God to strike them down but he did not but that is forgetting his great mercy and who knows but some may have tried the experiment and been struck down. There is certainly evidence to suggest that.

To give an example from Spring of 1812. At a public house in Rochester, Kent two wicked sailors met at a tavern one day and began to curse and swear. The more violent of the two, in a temper, swore that he would kill the other. The awe-struck landlord, raising his voice, and said to the sailor who had made the threat, "What if God of a sudden should strike you dead, and sink you into hell with his curse upon you!" The sailor replied with a terrible oath, "The Almighty cannot do that - give me the tankard of beer - if God can do it, I'll go to hell before I drink it up." With an awful oath he seized the tankard, but instantly fell down and expired!

The passage here itself reminds us how easily unbelief and a lack of concern for holiness can creep in. It is all very well to be enthusiastic but if that is not matched by faith and by a concern for holiness, what good can that do?

3. How did David react?

Surely the right response from David at this point would be humility and repentance but no - not at first. Rather we read first (11) Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. And then (12) David was afraid of God that day and asked, "How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?"

So David has gone from enthusiasm and joy at the thought of bringing the ark to Jerusalem, from jubilantly moving the ark to where it should be to being first angry at God's judgement and then afraid of God and wondering if he would ever be able to bring this symbol of God's presence and rule to Jerusalem as he had intended.

This sort of thing can be common. Even though we are full of enthusiasm and wanting to draw near to God and even though full of joy we set out on what seems to be the right plan we can so easily see evidence of God's wrath and get angry about it and end up being afraid to seek the presence of God as we once did. We need to get back to the Bible. Mere enthusiasm is not enough.

3. Where did the ark end up and what happened to it there? God's eagerness to bless us

What a sobering story. There would be some merit, perhaps, in ending at that point. But that is not where this chapter ends. There are another two verses. Perhaps the way it ends is surprising. It certainly would have come as a surprise to David.

1. Where did the ark end up?

First we read in verse 13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The name Gittite means from Gath and so this is probably a Gentile, a Philistine but obviously someone who had come to be sympathetic to the truth. In later chapters he or someone with the same name is listed with Levites. We learn that the ark remained in his house for three months.

2. What happened there?

The final verse is perhaps the most interesting. Uzzah has been struck down, David is full of fear. There seems to be no way forward. But then we read in verse 14 that The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had. It is not clear when David realised what was happening but there was no doubt about it despite David's anger and fear it was clear that the ark was bringing blessing on Obed-Edom and on his household.

There are many lessons here no doubt - not to make hasty decisions when things seem to go against us for one. Perhaps the basic one is that it is God's fundamental purpose to bless us. He is for us. He is not against us. Yes, we must obey his Word and if we break it, we can expect there to be consequences but in a word he is predisposed towards us. God is love and he longs to bless us. Remember those words of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, (Luke 13:34). The only problem was you were not willing. The problem is on our side not on God's.

I suppose it's like someone who keeps avoiding a man in a suit who is trying to contact him all the time. Every time he sits down he sees the man in the suit and thinks "he's after me I need to get away". They think he wants them to pay a tax bill and yet all the while he wants to give him a tax rebate.

Or imagine the same thing with a policeman. You think you're in trouble but all the while he wants to give you something you have lost.

The Lord wants to bless us why do we think he wants to punish us all the time? God to him. Seek his face. His greatest desire is to bless you.