2 Samuel 6:1-13 Revival & the Fear of God

2 Samuel 6:1-13

1 Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. 2 He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. 3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart as it left the house, 4 carrying the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark. 5 David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.

6 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. 7 Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God. 8 David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.

9 David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?” 10 So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. 11 The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.

12 Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed- edom to the City of David with a great celebration. 13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

Background

David, having secured Jerusalem as his capital seeks the return of the Ark of God to a place of prominence. This is fitting as Israel is now united and a new era of the centrality of God must be restored through which an enduring era of revival may ensue. However, the move of the Ark into the capital is not without incident. It took the life of Uzzah to awaken in them the necessity of godly fear associated with the handling of the Ark and the worship of God. The return of the Ark and the fear of God to centrality subsequently ushered in decades of revival and blessings for Israel.

Observation

He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God – For 100 years, since the Ark’s return from Philistia, it rested at Abinadab’s house being tended by his two sons Uzzah and Ahio. Now that the kingdom is united under David, it is time for the Ark of God to be given a more worthy and prominent resting place at the capital city of David. As fitting for the Ark, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim, no less than a large military escort ushers its return to prominence. The vehicle of transport that carried the Ark is a new cart accompanied by the sons of Abinadab.

Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this – It is unfortunate that the oxen that carried the Ark stumbles and Uzzah acts on reflex, reaching out to stabilize it with no sacrilegious intention. God strikes Uzzah for his inappropriate handling of the Ark, and Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God. Uzzah’s death is attributed to the irreverent way that the Ark is handled, and this remind Israel that the Ark is not a common object to be handled familiarly. Bearing the political benefits of relocating the Ark to the capital city, David must not try to make it serve his ambitions as king. The Ark is not to be manipulated familiarly and must always be feared and respected.

How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care? – David is upset that a tragedy has befallen a joyous and grand occasion. Frustrated in his failed attempt to install the Ark in the capital city, and uncertain of its potency for greater destruction, he diverted it to the house of Obededom. The Ark stayed at Obededom’s house for three months during which his entire household is greatly blessed. The news of Obededom’s “windfall” reaches David and ignites new hopes of its return to Jerusalem. This time the Ark is carried by men on foot as prescribed with David playing the leading role as a priest-king in the joyous celebration.

Truth

1. When the people restore God as the centrality of their lives, He brings a revival into their midst in full glory. Even though the Ark was displaced from being the centrality of Israel, when the people choose to restore God as the centrality of their lives, God’s presence returns with full glory. The return of the Ark to prominence signals the return of God’s glory and an era of revival for Israel; a revival of peace, wealth and dignity. Many believers have in time past displaced God from their centrality by focusing on the cares of life and being distracted by worldly pleasures. They try to return to God but His glory and presence was never quite the same as before. But the moment they restore God as the centrality through repentance and obedience, His glory returns and usher in a time of unprecedented revival.
2. Without fear and reverence, God will always seem distant. But when people fear God and obey His laws, God suddenly becomes accessible and intimate. God will not draw near to those who does not fear Him and obey His instructions. God strikes Uzzah because he did not accord to God reverence by his inappropriate handling of the Ark for it must not be touched at any time and in any way. When we discipline ourselves to seek His face and obey His voice every morning, we express true reverence and He becomes ever so intimate where our prayers are heard. Even as God is proven to be approachable and gracious, we must always remember that God is Creator and we are mere creatures and subjects of His Majesty.
3. When we approach God’s presence with reverence and obedience, there is no fear of carnage but a certain expectation of blessings in a myriad of ways. Despite the sudden death of Uzzah that ignites fears and possibilities of further carnage, Obededom willingly hosted the Ark of God in his house. His faith in the righteous judgment of God is pleasantly rewarded and confidence in the Ark returns to the courts of David. Hence, when we place God as the centrality of our home, we can no less expect divine blessings to come upon us.

Applications

Are you looking for God’s revival without dealing with your attitude of reverence and fear of God? Do you suppose that by continual prayer and fasting, you may hasten the day of revival? True and enduring revival involves repentence, seeking His voice and daily putting to death our fleshly ambitions making room for His.

Dear Lord, I make a decision today to revere you and to obey your voice. Use me to usher into my family, church and community an enduring revival of godliness and love. As I endeavor to host your presence in my life and family, bring unprecedented blessings of trust, joy and prosperity into our midst. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.