2 Samuel 6:14-16 Wearing a linen ephod, David danced in the Lord’s presence with all his might. He and the entire nation of Israel brought the ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns. When the ark of the Lord came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David leaping and dancing in the Lord’s presence, so she despised him.
I remember when I was a little girl my parents loved to listen and dance to country music. One of my favorite memories was when my dad would gently lift me by my arms and place my feet on top of his then we would dance together. It was so much fun and something I always looked forward to. No matter where I was in the house when I heard the record player, most of you will not know what this is, and the music playing, I would run into the room hoping to dance with my dad. Dancing was joy to my tiny heart.
I think the fact that David expressed his joy by dancing is why I love this section of the Bible so much. In this story, David is transporting the ark to Jerusalem. As the ark was being transported, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and a Levite named Uzzah took hold of the ark. God’s anger burned against Uzzah and He struck him down and he died. Uzzah’s punishment does appear to be extreme for what we might consider to be a good deed.
God had given Moses and Aaron specific instructions about the Tent of Meeting and the movement of the Ark of the Covenant. “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” (Numbers 4:15). No matter how innocently it was done, touching the ark was in direct violation of God’s law and was to result in death. This was a means of preserving the sense of God’s holiness and the fear of drawing near to Him without appropriate preparation. David was not following all the guidelines that God had given for the transportation of the ark. If he had, this incident may never have happened. ( A story for another day)
Once Uzzah dies, David becomes angry with God and then the anger turned to fear. He stops the transportation of the ark. Instead of continuing on to the city, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. David goes back home and leaves the ark at Obed-Edoms home for 3 months. Now isn’t that like us as Christians. Things are going good and we are worshipping God then something happens to us or someone we love and we get mad and maybe even afraid.
Well the scripture continues to say that the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and his entire household. David decided that the Lord wasn’t mad at him and he wasn’t mad at the Lord. He decided to go to Obed-Edom with some men to bring the ark back to the city of David. Scripture says he went there to get the ark rejoicing along the way. David rejoiced there and back and as the ark entered the city he was rejoicing so much he broke out in dance.
Some of us need to stop being angry and stop being afraid of God and start doing some praising and dancing. God is blessing other people and their households and not yours. Why? Maybe because they rejoicing and praising Him in good times and in bad times.
As some of you may know I was diagnosed with skin cancer not too long ago. Some people thought I should be afraid while others were afraid for me. My husbands words rang in my ears through the period of time I heard the news until the time I got the all clear report…”Do you trust Him?” He often asks me this question about God when I am worried or anxious. So, I answered this question to myself…YES., YES I TRUST HIM.
The next part of the scripture says, After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. I believe he not only celebrated but he wanted everyone else to celebrate with him and he wanted them to go home talking about the GOOD NEWS of the ark.
God led me to this scripture to read today as I received the news that all my cancer was removed. I think I have been motivated, not to necessarily bake bread or make raisen cake but to do a little baking when I am better and to include a note about how God has performed a miracle in my life. I plan to ask those who receive my gift and card to not only enjoy the food I prepare but to encourage them that just maybe God can perform a miracle for them too.
I want to encourage you. No matter whether your life is going great or going bad, God is in control. We need to praise Him in the calm seas and in the storm. Do a little praising, a little dancing, a little baking, a little sharing and just maybe God will bless you and your household. DO YOU TRUST HIM?
Droplets To Ripples 