Sunday
Evening Bible Study
October 6, 2002
Introduction
David has just been made king over the entire nation of Israel.
Now, his first move is not a political
one, but a spiritual one. He wants his
city not only to be the political capital of the nation, but the spiritual one
as well.
Now that I’m king …
Lessons about making decisions and
making mistakes
David has just been made king over the entire nation of Israel.
As king, he’s going to start making some decisions, guiding the nation.
I think that for all of us, we have times in our lives where we learn to
make decisions. There are things in our
lives that we have control over, choices that we make. I may be the head of a Fortune 500 company,
or I may be a young child living with my parents, but either way, I will make
decisions. Sometimes I make good
decisions, sometimes I make bad ones.
One of the first decisions that David makes concerns that Ark of the
Covenant.
This is that wooden box that is covered with gold that contains the stone
tablets with the Ten Commandments on them.
It had a solid gold lid on it that was called the “Mercy Seat”.
At one point, it had been the central focal point of Israelite worship. It
was supposed to be the place where God would meet with man.
But now, for almost a hundred years, the Ark
has sat in the city of Kirjath-jearim,
mostly forgotten.
The Israelites had taken the Ark
into battle and had lost it to the Philistines. When the Philistines took it
home with them, they developed a lot of strange problems and decided to send
the Ark back to Israel.
It was delivered by two cows pulling a cart. It first arrived at the city of Beth-shemesh, but the people of Beth-shemesh were a curious sort, and when some of them peeked
into the Ark, a plague broke out
and 50,000 people were killed. The Ark
was then taken to Kirjath-jearim, where it has
stayed, mostly forgotten.
David has a heart for God. He wants to be close to God. He wants the nation
to be close to God. And he comes up with this idea of bringing the Ark
home with him to his new capital in Jerusalem.
1Chronicles 13
:1 David consulted with the captains
Lesson
Now that I’m king … Stay Teachable
David took time to listen to counsel.
Just because you’re in charge doesn’t mean that you can’t listen to advice.
When you find yourself in a position where you are the one who is going to
make the decision (like being a king), you still need to listen to advice.
We would be foolish if we didn’t pay attention to good advice.
(Prov 12:15 KJV) The way of a fool
is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto
counsel is wise.
(Eccl 5:1 KJV) Keep thy foot when thou goest
to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of
fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
The fool doesn’t stop and think, “Hey, maybe I’ve done
something wrong”.
Note: David went to leaders to
ask advice. He went to other people who
were experienced in making decisions.
I think there are a lot of people in our lives that we can draw upon for
wisdom. Professional Christian
counselors are fine. Parents are good.
Look to people who display God’s wisdom.
It is good to get counsel from several viewpoints, from several counselors
(Prov 11:14 KJV) Where no counsel
is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors
there is safety.
(Prov 15:22 KJV) Without counsel
purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors
they are established.
(Prov 20:18 KJV) Every purpose is
established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Yet not everything that will come out of these counseling sessions that
David will have will be correct. Some of the decisions were good, some of them
were bad.
If David made a mistake here, it was in that he didn’t also ask advice from
the Lord. Later he will correct his
mistake by finding the answers in God’s Word.
(Prov 19:21 KJV) There are many devices in a man's heart;
nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Does God’s Word say something about your situation?
:3 let us bring again the ark …
Saul seemed to be resistant to the things that God wanted to do. David
wants to change all that. What David
wants is a good thing. What David wants
is the right thing.
:5 from Shihor of Egypt
even unto the entering of Hamath,
From the farthest south to the farthest in the north.
:7 they carried the ark of God in a new cart
It seems kind of harmless, putting the Ark
on a cart. Yet it will cause great trouble.
Where did they get the idea of putting the Ark
on a cart?
The last time someone moved the Ark,
about a 100 years ago, the Philistines had put it on an oxcart (1Sam. 6). The problem is, God
designed the Ark to be carried by
men, not pulled by oxen.
Lesson
Now that I’m king … Do the right
things the right way
It’s not just important to do the right thing, but sometimes it’s also
important how we do it.
For example – take the laundry – it’s important to do the laundry, but
sometimes it’s also important how you
do the laundry:
Illustration
LAUNDRY CRISIS
Copyright 2000 W. Bruce Cameron http://www.wbrucecameron.com
As usual, I’m the one who was blamed for the recent family crisis, even
though, as readers of this column well know, I am a sensitive and humble
husband who is right pretty much 100 percent of the time. I do admit that when
it comes to the system that runs the laundry at the Cameron house, I have been
a tad...oblivious. By “system” I mean, of course, my wife, who takes care of
washing clothes for the rest of us without complaint—until recently, as you
will soon see. My oldest daughter has never mastered the tricky mechanism
required to open and shut her dresser drawers, with the result that her clean
laundry winds up right where my wife has stacked it—on the bed, where it tips
onto the floor and mingles with the dirty clothes residing there. “I have
nothing to wear!” she’ll shriek every once in awhile, despite the fact that she
is standing ankle deep in her entire wardrobe. When I get tired of this
ransacked condition and advise her she can’t go to a friend’s party until her
room is cleaned up, ignoring her claim that “these are the most important
people in my life I PROMISED I’d be there,” she’ll take care of the problem by
gathering up everything and trucking it down to the laundry room, even if my
wife just washed it that very day. For my youngest daughter, the issue is the
competency of the laundress. “I told you that this blouse has to be washed
separately,” she’ll scold. “You’re supposed to soak it in rain water and then
dry it with cotton balls!” Apparently everything she owns was hand-sewn by
movie stars out of butterfly silk, and my wife is constantly “ruining” things
by not treating them with gentle cycles and soft murmurs. My son never gripes
about clothes—as far as he is concerned, the laundry area could be converted
into a video game room. He generally wears the same outfit until it becomes
toxic; the EPA has been to our house twice to see if his clothing should be
awarded Superfund status. Often, peering at the condition of his attire, I
realize he has more dirt on him than I have in my yard. Cleaning his apparel
causes the washing machine to make a grinding, gritty noise, as if sand has
gotten into the bearings. Against all this, my complaint seems a pretty mild
irritant: I’ve begun noticing that whatever wash cycle she is employing, my wife is causing my pants to shrink around the
waist. “You’re shrinking them so bad, I can barely button them,” I grumble.
“Look at this!” She regards me wearily. “Those are new pants. I haven’t even
washed them yet,” she advises. “What’s your point?” I demand. Sometimes she
can’t seem to stay focused. “Meaning, I couldn’t have done anything to shrink
them. They came like that.” “Defective trousers?” I
sputter. How much more am I supposed to endure? She pokes me lightly in the
stomach. “No, they’re the right size,” she claims. “So you did shrink them!” I
accuse. Now, even though all I am doing is serving in my prosecutorial capacity
as the man of the family, she completely over-reacts. “You know what? You’re
right. I must not know what I am doing. So from now on, everyone in the family
has to wash their own clothes. I am through doing laundry!” At first I believe
this is a bluff. Each of us have our family responsibilities, after all—for her
not to take care of the clothes would be like me no longer bothering to decide
what we will watch on television. But when, after a few days, it becomes
apparent that she has no intention of calling off her unauthorized labor
action, I summon the children for an emergency session of arguing over who
should take over laundry duties. We decide on a system based on blame and
denial. This leads to a minor disaster in which everyone’s clothing somehow
becomes pink, and a demand from my children, “How are
you going to get Mom back in the laundry business?” I don’t know, but I suspect
it will involve a lot of chocolate.
The Cameron Column,
a free Internet newsletter; copyright W. Bruce Cameron 2000
God isn’t just concerned that we do the right things.
He is also concerned how we do it
and why we do it.
Paul wrote,
(1 Cor
13:1-3 NLT) If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but
didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong
or a clanging cymbal. {2} If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the
mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love
others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could
speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to
anybody. {3} If I gave everything I have to the poor
and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love
others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
God is concerned that all we do is done in love. If we don’t do things in love, they are
worthless.
Is there an issue in your life of doing the “right thing”?
God is concerned with how you do it and why you do it.
(Prov 12:18 NASB) There is one who speaks rashly like the
thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings
healing.
It’s not just what you say, but how you say it that
counts.
:10 anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza
Why? Because he, being a sinner, put his hand on the Ark, which was
holy.
One commentator wrote (K&D) - “he had no idea of the unapproachable
holiness of the ark of God, and had to expiate his offense with his life, as a warning
to all the Israelites.”
You might ask me, “Well, would it have been better if Uzza
had let the ark fall off?”
Actually Uzza was in a “no-win” situation. The
problem started long before the cart started to wobble. The moment they put the ark on an oxcart,
they were headed for trouble.
Lesson
Now that I’m king … Respect God’s Holiness
Holiness is that quality about God describing His absolute purity, glory,
power, and absence of sin.
Lev.9:22 - 10:3 Nadab and Abihu. The tabernacle
had just been set up, God sent fire upon the sacrifice, and Nadab and Abihu thought they as priests needed to be doing something.
They rushed into the Holy of Holies to offer some kind of unprescribed
incense, and were killed instantly. They
were out of order.
We will find that the closer we get to God, to
more we realize that we aren’t like Him at all.
We down here on earth really have no idea what it is to be holy. It's
getting so bad, that people now even have the gall to say that man is basically
good.
The difference between us and God in holiness:
It's like being invited to a dinner party. You open the door and every body
is dressed extremely formally. You think you're at a fashion show. Then you
look at yourself and realize that you wore your dirty overalls and are covered
with grease and dirt from changing your car's oil that afternoon, you're filthy,
slimy, and you stink.
Jesus told a story about this:
(Mat 22:2-14 KJV) The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain
king, which made a marriage for his son, {3} And sent
forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would
not come. {4} Again, he sent forth other servants,
saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen
and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
{5} But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to
his merchandise: {6} And the remnant took his
servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. {7} But
when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and
destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. {8} Then saith he to his
servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were
bidden were not worthy. {9} Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as
ye shall find, bid to the marriage. {10} So those
servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they
found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. {11} And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a
man which had not on a wedding garment: {12} And he saith unto him, Friend, how
camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?
And he was speechless. {13} Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand
and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. {14} For many are
called, but few are chosen.
God is going to have a wedding feast one day. You’ll have to be dressed appropriately to
get in the door. If you are counting on
wearing what you have on right now, you’re going to have a problem.
You need new clothes. You need new
clothes that have been washed correctly, by someone who knows how to do the
laundry. The Bible tells us that when
Jesus died on the cross, He paid for our sins and made it possible for us to be
clean. The Bible tells us that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
It’s only with Jesus that we have the right clothes for
God’s wedding feast.
:11 David was displeased
NASB - "David became angry"
Lesson
Now that I’m king … Don’t be angry
at what you don’t understand
It’s funny how we can get angry with God when things go wrong, when the
actual fault doesn’t lie with God, but in us because we are being disobedient.
David was angry at God for Uzzah dying, yet David
actually owned part of the blame because he has been moving the Ark
improperly.
Sometimes anger comes not just because we don’t understand what God is
doing, but because we don’t take time to understand each other.
(Prov 18:13 KJV) He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and
shame unto him.
Be careful not to overreact and do something stupid.
Illustration
A couple of New Jersey
hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t
seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his
head. “The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services.
He gasps to the operator: ‘My friend is dead! What can I do?’ “The operator, in
a calm, soothing voice, says: ‘Just take it easy. I
can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.’ “There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy’s voice comes back on the
line. He says: ‘OK, now what?’
I think we ought to be careful that we don’t end up shooting each other,
especially if we’ve misunderstood each other.
A king needs to learn to understand. It will take David three months, but
he will find out that they made a mistake in trying to move the Ark
by oxcart.
:13 David brought not the ark home to himself
Lesson
Now that I’m king … Don’t let
difficult times drive you away from the Lord.
We can get discouraged, but we need to keep pressing on.
David’s desire had been to bring the Ark
home so he could be closer to God, and now he is temporarily abandoning that
hope.
:14 the LORD blessed the house of Obededom,
Obed-edom was a Levite, from the family of Korah, whose responsibility it was to take care of the ark of the covenant. (1Chron.26:4)
The parallel passage states:
(2 Sam 6:11 KJV) 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.
Just how did God bless Obededom? How could David
tell that God had blessed him?
(1 Chr
26:4-5 KJV) Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad
the second, Joah the third, and Sacar
the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, {5} Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai
the eighth: for God blessed him.
God blessed Obededom with lots of kids. I wonder if Obededom’s
wife and daughters-in-law didn’t all become pregnant while the Ark
was at his house.
Lesson
Now that I’m king … Let God bless
you!
Sometimes we can get a little frightened with the power of God. Sometimes
we go through difficult times and can think, “If this is what I get for
following the Lord, I’m not sure I’m going to do this!”
Beloved, it is the right thing to follow the Lord.
There are great blessings in following the Lord.
Jesus said,
(John 10:10 KJV)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
We had a wedding yesterday. It was a
wonderful time. There was even a wedding
feast filled with guests who were dressed for the occasion.
But it all started last May when a guy named Caleb asked a gal named Kim to
marry him. He was in love. He wanted her to be with him forever. After he asked her, she responded by saying,
“Yes”.
Jesus is in love with you. He wants
you to live with Him forever. He wants
you to come to His wedding feast. Will
you say “Yes”?
Now that I’m king … I realize that there is another King. He invites me to come and follow Him.
1Chronicles 14
:1 Hiram king of Tyre …to build him an house
These were the Phoenicians. They were famous for their building
skills. Hiram was also the king the Solomon
worked with in building the temple (1Kings 5).
In the Near East, it was considered essential for a
king to build his own royal palace to authenticate his kingdom.
:2 David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him
king over Israel,
Lesson
Seeing what God has done.
It’s after this point, after he has been made king, after a palace has been
built for him, that it begins to sink in to David.
He is king over Israel.
I think it’s interesting to contrast David with Absalom, who felt he ought
to be king before he was.
With David, it doesn’t dawn on him until after he’s king.
I like that.
:3 David took more wives
Also important for a king to do in those days was to establish a large
harem of wives and concubines. Sometimes
wives were taken as a form of political treaty with another nation. The idea was that the other king wouldn't
come and attack you because his daughter was your wife. We know that David did this at least once,
his son Absalom was born by his wife Maacah, the
daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur
(2Sam.3:3).
This action of David's, taking more wives was expressly forbidden by the
Lord.
David had at least seven wives by this time already (six mentioned in
2Sam.3:2-5 plus Michal).
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 - God's laws for the king.
Deuteronomy 17:17 Neither shall he
multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he
greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
:8 all the Philistines went up to seek David.
They weren’t seeking his friendship, even though David has been friends with
the Philistines.
They’ve come to attack.
Lesson
The enemy is ready to attack.
Sometimes it seems to come after those “high points”, like being anointed
king.
:9 valley of Rephaim
“giants” - Located a few miles southwest of Jerusalem.
:10 David
enquired … Shall I go up …
David didn’t assume that he should face the Philistines.
Lesson
Enquiring of God
How did David enquire of God?
We don’t really know for sure. It
may have had something to do with priests, ephods, prophets, things like the Urim and Thummim, perhaps even
the Ark. How this worked we aren’t sure.
How do we “enquire of God”?
We need to be going to the Word of God.
(2 Tim 3:16-17 KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
This is our best source for guidance in life.
There may be times when we feel that God is speaking to our heart.
We need to be careful that it lines up with Scripture.
It would be a wise thing to have your thought “tested” –
check it out with another person – get wise counsel
(1 Cor 14:29 KJV) Let the prophets speak two or three, and let
the other judge.
(1 John 4:1 KJV)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
:11 Baal-perazim
“Lord of the breakthrough”, God broke through the enemy like flood waters.
Lesson
Remember God’s deliverance.
Because God had done such a great deliverance, David named the place for
the victory.
Every time someone would go by that valley and ask, “What is this place”,
they would hear the answer, “Baal-perazim”. If that person said, “What do you mean, “Lord
of the Breakthrough?” they would hear the story of God’s deliverance.
It’s good to remind ourselves of God’s deliverances in our lives. Write them down.
Remember. It will encourage you
during the times you face new trials.
When David himself faced Goliath, he did so remembering how God had
delivered him from earlier problems...
I Samuel 17:34-37 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his
father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the
flock: And I went out after him, and
smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I
caught [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear:
and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath
defied the armies of the living God.
David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the
lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of
this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
:12 burned with fire
David here was following what the scripture said should be done with idols.
Deuteronomy 7:5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy
their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn
their graven images with fire.
Lesson
Leave the old life behind
You don’t need to make a museum for your old nature. Get rid of the stuff that used to make you
sin.
:13 the
Philistines yet again spread …
The enemy keeps coming back
:14 Go not up … come upon them …
Don’t put God in a box
God may want to do a new thing.
Lesson
Don’t second guess God’s answer.
Here is David getting attacked again by the Philistines. Why bother asking God? Why not just do what God said last time?
Sometimes we find ourselves in trouble, and we go to God for help. He tells us what to do, we do it, and we’re
delivered.
But when the same situation occurs again, we often don’t bother asking God
for help. After all, plan “A” worked the
first time, it will work again. But God
might have a plan “B” in mind.
Pulpit Commentary: “God will have
his people entirely dependent upon himself, and not upon past experiences.”
Isaiah wrote,
(Isa 43:18-19 KJV) Remember ye not the former things, neither
consider the things of old. {19} Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall
spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.
:15 a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry
trees
God was going to give David a signal to start fighting. The sound was going to be like that of an
army marching, coming from the tops of the trees. I believe God was sending His angelic army
into the battle because God was going to fight this battle.
:16 David
therefore did as God commanded him
It’s important to get God’s instructions and then obey them.
Lesson
Do what He says.
David didn’t just hear, he did.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
:16 Gibeon
even to Gazer
Two cities located northwest of Jerusalem,
the distance between them about 15 miles.
1Chronicles 15
:1 prepared
a place for the ark
Why didn’t David do this the first time? Hmmm.
It would seem that David must have been just planning on bringing in the
ark and waiting until he got to Jerusalem
before figuring out what to do with it.
Or perhaps he was planning on keeping it in his living room.
But this time he’s not taking anything for granted.
Lesson
Be prepared
Illustration
A Scout Master was teaching his boy scouts about survival in the desert. “What
are the three most important things you should bring with you in case you get
lost in the desert?” he asked. Several hands went up, and many important things
were suggested such as food, matches, etc. Then one little boy in the back
eagerly raised his hand. “Yes Timmy, what are the three most important things
you would bring with you?” asked the Scout Master. Timmy replied: “A compass, a
canteen of water, and a deck of cards.” “Why’s that, Timmy?” “Well,” answered
Timmy, “the compass is to find the right direction, the water is to prevent
dehydration...” “And what about the deck of cards?” asked the Scout Master
impatiently. “Well, sir, as soon as you start playing Solitaire, someone is
bound to come up behind you and say, ‘Put that red nine on top of that black
ten!’”
Actually, this is a pretty important lesson in life.
If you aim at nothing, you’ll surely hit it.
Do you know where you’re going?
How are you going to get there?
Solomon wrote,
(Prov 6:6-11 NLT) Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and be wise! {7} Even though they have no prince,
governor, or ruler to make them work, {8} they labor hard all summer, gathering
food for the winter. {9} But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will
you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson: {10} A little extra sleep, a
little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- {11} and poverty
will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed
robber.
:1 pitched
for it a tent
David would eventually want to build a temple, but for now he makes a tent
for the Ark. Moses’ Tabernacle is still being used, and
was located at Gibeon at this
time.
:2 … for
them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark …
How did David know what the Lord wanted?
Somebody took the time to read the Scriptures.
(Deu 10:8 KJV) At that time the LORD separated the tribe of
Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to
minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
Lesson
Learn from your mistakes
Illustration
John received a parrot for his birthday. This parrot was fully grown with a
bad attitude and worse vocabulary. Every other word was an expletive. Those
that weren’t expletives were, to say the least, rude. John tried hard to change
the bird’s attitude and was constantly saying polite words, playing soft music,
anything he could think of. Nothing. He yelled at the
bird and it got worse. He shook the bird; it got madder and ruder. Finally, in
a moment of desperation, John put the parrot in the freezer. For a few moments
he heard the bird squawking and kicking and screaming expletives, then suddenly there was quiet. Frightened that he might have
actually hurt the bird, he quickly opened the freezer door. The parrot calmly
stepped out onto John’s extended arm and said, “I’m sorry that I might have
offended you with my language and actions and ask for your forgiveness. I will
endeavor to correct my behavior.” Astounded at the bird’s change, John was
about to ask what had brought this about when the parrot continued, “May I ask
what the chicken did?”
We need to learn from our mistakes. But I find that sometimes the hard
thing is determining just what the mistake was.
We might be tempted to think that Uzzah made a
mistake in touching the Ark.
The actual mistake was in putting the Ark
on an oxcart. The actual mistake took
place long before Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark.
:5-10 Kohath … Merari … Gershom
These were the main three families of the Levites
Elizaphan, Hebron,
Uzziel were all families within the family of Kohath.
David chooses 6 leaders (4 from Kohath) and 862
helpers (512 of Kohath).
:11 Zadok
and Abiathar
David continues the priesthood. Descendants from Aaron.
:12
sanctify (consecrate) yourselves
sanctify – qadash (kaw-dash') - to be clean, ceremonially
and morally. Set aside for the worship
of God. Kept separate
from the world's defilement. A possession of God.
It's like my toothbrush. I'm the
only one who uses it. Yuck! if anyone else uses it.
It's sanctified unto me. For my exclusive use.
The Levites were to be "sanctified" before their serving.
I Peter 1:13-16
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to
the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ; As obedient children, not
fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so
be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
We too, just like the Levites, are to be holy, because our Father is holy.
:13 we
sought him not after the due order
(1 Chr 15:13 NLT) …We failed to ask
God how to move it in the proper way."
(1 Chr 15:13 NASB) …we did not seek
Him according to the ordinance."
(1 Chr 15:13 NKJV) …we did not consult
Him about the proper order."
Lesson
God’s ways are orderly
It seems that sometimes God has ways about doing things.
In the church, when we spend time exercising the gifts of the Spirit, there
needs to be order. Paul gives us some
instruction:
(1 Cor
14:26-33
KJV) How is it then,
brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath
a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an
interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. {27} If
any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three,
and that by course; and let one interpret. {28} But if
there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak
to himself, and to God.
Earlier, Paul had said that when a person speaks out loud
with a tongue, and there is no interpretation, that the church isn’t built
up. There needs to be interpretation
when tongues are used out loud in a group.
Otherwise it’s just noise.
{29} Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
There’s a limit to the number of prophets. There needs to be “judgment”.
{30} If any thing be revealed to another
that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. {31} For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and
all may be comforted.
When you are in a group that is allowing folks to speak,
make your point and let others have a chance to speak as well. Give everyone a chance.
I don’t think this means that the teacher is supposed to
stop his teaching either. That is
another type of setting.
{32} And the spirits of the prophets are
subject to the prophets.
Some people claim that they lose control under the power
of the Holy Spirit. Not so. You have the ability to control what comes
out of your mouth.
{33} For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in
all churches of the saints.
God doesn’t do the “confusion” thing.
(1 Cor
14:40
KJV) Let all things be
done decently and in order.
There is an order to things.
:15 upon
their shoulders
According to God's Word.
Numbers 7:6-9 And Moses took the wagons
and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.
Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon,
according to their service: And four
wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari,
according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar
the son of Aaron the priest. But unto
the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service
of the sanctuary belonging unto them [was that] they should bear upon their
shoulders.
I imagine that this was kind of a scary thing after what happened to Uzzah. I wonder how
many volunteers David had to carry the Ark.
:16 David
spake … to appoint … singers
to appoint – ‘amad – (Hiphil) to station,
set; to cause to stand firm, maintain; to cause to stand up, cause to set up,
erect; to present (one) before (king); to appoint, ordain, establish
There was direction in worship
The leaders were to appoint the singers.
It wasn’t “whoever wants to sing …”
:16 by
lifting up the voice with joy
(to raise sounds of joy)
Worship should be characterized by joy.
Though there is a place for sad-sounding songs (Psalms has lots of them),
the overall tone of worship should be one of joy.
To the musicians: I think that we
set the mood. We need to be careful to
pick joyful songs, and we need to keep ourselves in the joy of the Lord.
Why joy?
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew
me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of
joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.
If we find ourselves truly in God's presence, then we will truly be
surrounded with joy.
We’re going to see in Philippians that you can have joy even in tough
times.
:17 Heman, the son of Joel
1Chron.6:33 - Heman was the grandson of Samuel
the prophet.
Again, as mentioned with 1Chron.6:33, I think it's neat that though
Samuel's sons didn't walk with the Lord, he had a grandson that took after his
grandfather!
:17 Asaph the son of Berechiah
Asaph became the head of the musicians.
I Chronicles 16:5 Asaph the chief, and
next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth,
and Jehiel, and Mattithiah,
and Eliab, and Benaiah, and
Obed-edom: and Jeiel with
psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound
with cymbals;
I Chronicles 16:37 So he
left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph
and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work
required:
The ministry of music fell to Asaph and his
descendants.
I Chronicles 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host
separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of
Heman, and of Jeduthun, who
should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number
of the workmen according to their service was:
Asaph wrote a twelve
psalms. (Ps.50, 73-83)
Psalms 50:1 {A Psalm of Asaph.}
Psalms 73:1 {A Psalm of Asaph.}
Psalms 74:1 {Maschil of Asaph.}
Psalms 75:1 {To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph.}
Psalms 76:1 {To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph.}
Psalms 77:1 {To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.}
Psalms 78:1 {Maschil of Asaph.}
Psalms 79:1 {A Psalm of Asaph.}
Psalms 80:1 {To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim-Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph.}
Psalms 81:1 {To the chief Musician upon Gittith, [A Psalm] of Asaph.}
Psalms 82:1 {A Psalm of Asaph.}
Psalms 83:1 {A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph.}
:18 and Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters.
porters – show‘er – gatekeeper, porter
:19 to sound with cymbals of brass;
to sound – shama‘– (Hiphil) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a
sound; to sound aloud (musical term)
cymbals – m@tseleth – cymbals
brass – n@chosheth – copper, bronze
:20 with
psalteries on Alamoth;
psalteries – nebel – a skin-bag, jar, pitcher; harp, lute, guitar, musical instrument
These “harps” were a neck at an angle to the body of the instrument.
Alamoth – ‘Alamowth –
from ‘almah –
virgin, young woman; young women, soprano?; a term in psalm heading-Alamoth
:21 with
harps on the Sheminith to excel
harps – kinnowr – lyre, harp (from
a unused root meaning to twang)
These “lyres” had a body, two arms, a crossbar, and were strung from the
body to the crossbar.
Sheminith – sh@miyniyth – from sh@miyniy – eighth (ordinal number); perhaps an
eight-stringed musical instrument; perhaps a musical notation, i.e. an octave
Another possibility could be a translation of “fat, dull, heavy”, meaning
the “dull, heavy range” (ie. bass guitar?)
to excel – natsach – to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer,
be enduring; (Piel)
to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief
This was the “lead” instrument.
:22 Chenaniah … because he was skilful
Chenaniah – K@nanyah – “Jehovah establishes”
Lesson
Skill is important in music
There is a place in music ministry for skill.
He taught people how to sing, he didn’t just do all the singing by himself,
but helped others to sing. Interesting for a worship leader.
:24 did blow with the trumpets
blow – chatsar – to sound a trumpet
trumpets – chatsots@rah – trumpet, clarion
This was done ceremonially as prescribed in God's Word.
Numbers 10:10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn
days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets
over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings;
that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I [am] the LORD your
God.
:24 Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
doorkeepers – show‘er – gatekeeper, porter
This was also mentioned back in verse 18:
and Obededom,
and Jeiel, the porters.
This is all describing a procession, and the order was probably something
like this:
The singers and players in front, in three divisions
Chenaniah, chief singer
Two doorkeepers
Priests with trumpets
Ark
Two doorkeepers
King, elders, captains of thousands.
:25 out of
the house of Obededom with joy.
Lesson
Stay connected
Even though the ark would no longer be at Obededom’s
house, notice how he’s staying connected with it.
He can’t get enough of the Lord.
:26 when
God helped the Levites
(NASB - "because God was helping the Levites...they sacrificed)
God never asks us to do something that He doesn't then give us the ability
or strength to do it.
God helps us in our service to Him.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God
which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his]
good pleasure.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by something that God has laid before you?
I Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful [is] he that calleth you,
who also will do [it].
:27 David
[was] clothed with a robe of fine linen
There’s a been suggestions made that David had
been dancing naked before the Lord.
II Samuel 6:20 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!
What she was saying was that David was making a fool of himself by being an
exhibitionist in his zeal, not that he was naked, but that his actions were “below
someone of his class”.
:27 David
also [had] upon him an ephod of linen
A priest’s garment, it was a vest that covered your tunic.
This was not the high priest’s ephod though. It was also made of linen, but had gold,
blue, purple, and red woven into it, with precious stones decorating it. (Ex.28:4-12)
David is a type of Jesus. Both priest and king.
A priest after the order of Melchizedek, not of the line of Levi
(Heb.6:20; 7:14,15)
:29 David
dancing and playing
(NASB - “saw David leaping and making merry”)
Apparently the word “dancing” describes a dance in a circle, probably like
what we think of as “Hebrew folk dancing”.
Not ballroom dancing. Not square
dancing. Not disco dancing. Nothing “sensual” or erotic
about this kind of dancing.
:29 she
despised him in her heart
Lesson
Don’t miss out
Perhaps Michal had very good reasons why she
should be upset at David.
Even though she loved David at one point in her life, she could make a
point at saying that David ruined her life.
Also, she has her ideas of what a king should act like by what she saw in
her father.
But David is not her father. And her father really wasn’t the best of role
models for her to be following. David is
the man “after God’s heart”, not Saul.
But she’s missing out on one of the most wonderful things to have happened
in a long time.
Don’t let bitterness or misunderstandings cause you to miss out on what God
is wanting to do.