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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (7-11-1976 Standtown Baptist Church)
There follows three stories involving David and the Ark
of the Covenant. The Ark was the wooden chest in which was placed the tables of
the Law given to Moses by God. The Ark was placed in a significant place in the
tabernacle, and was a symbol of God’s presence with His people. The Ark
preceded the people during their wanderings in the wilderness. It was carried
around the walls of Jericho before they fell. In Eli’s time it stood in the
sanctuary at Shiloh. It was captured by the Philistines, but they returned it
because of the misfortunes that befell them while it was in their possession.
Later David brought the Ark to Mount Zion, Jerusalem, where he put it in a tent. During his reign it was often taken into battle. When Solomon built the Temple, the Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies. It was presumably lost during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 587BC.
David now had a capital city, and he wanted to make it a
religious as well as a political centre of national life. Therefore he resolved
to place the almost forgotten Ark in a temporary structure near his palace.
Since its return from the Philistines, the Ark had been in the care of Abinadab
in a house 11 miles southwest of Jerusalem. A great procession was organised to
bring the Ark from Abinadab’s house to Jerusalem, protected by no less than
30,000 chosen soldiers.
But one fatal mistake marred the
events of the day, and postponed the fulfilment of the nation’s high hopes. It
was strictly ordained that Levites alone were specially consecrated to the task
of bearing the Ark on their shoulders by means of two poles, not actually
touching it with their hands lest they should die. This command had fallen into
disuse, and it was arranged that the Ark should be carried on a new cart, driven
by the two sons of Abinadab. Worse was to follow. After a couple of miles, the
oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and Uzzah put his hand on the ark to steady it.
He instantly fell down dead. Horror silenced the singing and trumpeting, and
panic spread through the crowd.
David was terrified and ordered
that the Ark should be deposited in the house of Obed-edom, a Levite, where it
remained for three months. It led to great blessing on Obed’s house.
David’s desire to bring the
Ark into the city was a perfectly good one, but the mistake was in not doing it
in the way pleasing to God. We can have the good of God’s work at heart, and
long for the highest good, but the way we serve it can be disastrous. God is
interested not only in motives but also in methods. The test of Christian work
is the test of honesty and truthfulness. If our task involves “pulling a fast
one”, withholding some of the truth, not meeting the searching gaze of the
all-seeing God, not being frank and open, then it is not being done in the right
way. The Christian is called upon to be scrupulous, honest and fair at all
times. We may not win many medals by being open, but we are answerable to God,
and not to men.
David’s mistake in turn lead
to Uzzah’s mistake of not treating the Ark with the reverence it deserved. He
was insensible to the awful sacredness of the Ark on which even the rightful
Levitical bearers were forbidden to lay hands.
There is indeed a need for a sense of awe in the presence of holy things. How lightly we treat worship, the Word, the house of God, the Table, and our service of God. We rarely prepare our hearts before we enter, our obedience to the Word is careless, we are casual in our service, and there can be empty formalism at the Table.
After three months David
arranged to bring the Ark on the final lap of the journey to Jerusalem. He
insisted that the Levites carry the Ark (1 Chronicles 15:2), and confessed that
earlier we sought him not after the due order (1 Chronicles 15:12). A
vast concourse was assembled, and amid songs, music and sacrifice the Ark was
borne to Jerusalem. There was great shouting and acclamation among the crowds of
all Israel. It was an occasion of great rejoicing and gladness for David. He
danced before the Lord with all his might, girded with a linen ephod. He turned
to bless the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts, and distributed to them
bread, wine and raisins.
There was one cloud which marred
his happiness on that day. Everyone shared David’s enthusiasm except Michal,
one of his wives, the daughter of Saul. She had earlier saved him from death at
the hands of her father, but she was evidently unspiritual and given to idolatry
(1 Samuel 19:13). She now sneered at David for laying aside his royal garments
and dancing in the streets of Jerusalem like any other man. She hated this, for
she was proud and arrogant, and would not humble herself before the Lord.
In the streets David had been
surrounded by grateful citizens, but in his own home he was greeted with sarcasm
and bitterness. It was a cruel blow to David. The home is a vital place for any
man. Mighty achievements of men of God in public have been made because of the
encouragement of the home. Lord Shaftsbury’s achievements were because of the
aid of his wife. Men who have suffered all kinds of knocks and opposition, have
still risen to the surface and carried on because their home life was happy and
secure.
The conduct of Michal prompts us to ask about our own spiritual state when we are inclined to be contemptuous of others. If we find we have no sympathy with some forms of worship, even embarrassment, and we turn up our nose, we need to ask: Is it the form of worship that is a problem, or is it our enthusiasm for God which is an embarrassment to us? If we prefer a less excitable and demonstrative form of worship or speaking, have we nevertheless the same enthusiasm for God and consecration to Him, though expressed in quieter ways?
With the aid of King Hiram of Tyre, a palace of cedar was
erected on Mount Zion, for David to live in. David felt his palace was such a
contrast to the special tent in which the Ark was kept. It did not seem right
that he should live in a great palace while the Ark, the symbol of God’s
presence, should be in a temporary dwelling place. It seemed he was offering God
far less than he had himself, and David wanted to give God the best. He had a
right sense of spiritual priorities. How tragic it is that God often has far
less than our best.
Therefore David determined to
make a permanent home for the Ark. He talked it over with a faithful prophet of
the court, Nathan. Nathan was delighted to think of plans for a proper building
for spiritual worship. But that night God told Nathan that the work of building
a Temple was to be executed by Solomon, David’s son.
Nathan broke the news to David
with delicacy and care. While the offer was refused, refusal was accompanied
with many assurances of blessing, and therefore David was hardly aware of any
disappointment. God did not want David to build Him a house, but he was going to
build David a great house, i.e. a noble family (2 Samuel 7:11).
It was, nevertheless, a great
thought which had come to David, his desire to express his devotion and
gratitude and reverence in the great Temple. Good to see high ideals and lofty
aims in the minds of young people. Not always wise and practical, but good to
see 0 the desire to be a preacher, missionary or philanthropist. Be careful lest
cynical words trample on that tender plant and cause it to wither.
Sometimes there does come a
definite “No” from God’s gentle lips. Later God often gives an answer –
e.g. God reveals that David had shed so much blood, and it was therefore
inappropriate for him to build the Temple (1 Chronicles 22:8). Some day we shall
understand God has a reason in every “No”, which becomes apparent as life
proceeds.
Even though it was rejected,
David was commended for his plan. Thou didst well that it was in thine heart (1
Kings 8:18). David was a better man because he had given expression to noble
purpose. Its gleam had left a permanent glow on his life. The rejected candidate
to a missionary society, or one who was not able to go or continue on the
mission field, is on a higher moral platform than one never touched by the glow
of missionary enthusiasm. Longing to serve and work for God, even if not
fulfilled as we hoped, leaves a richer and deeper life that if we were
completely indifferent. God will credit us with what we would have been and done
of we could.
But if we cannot do what we
would like, let us see what we can do. Just as David gathered the materials for
the construction of the Temple, when it was Solomon’s job to build it (1
Chronicles 19:2), we can help others to do what we are not meant to do.
Somehow when God blocks our way and gives others to do what we wanted, God makes it up to us, just as He promised blessing on David’s house. David’s house would reign forever, and his kingdom would be sure, and Solomon his son would build the Temple. In fact, the way was being prepared for the coming of Christ. If we feel frustrated in some way, dare to trust Him, sit before Him, and let His assurances comfort us. Rarely do we perform completed tasks. One sows and another reaps. Be content to do partial work, and leave the rest to successors.
