The Life Of David
Pt. 18 When You Don’t Respect God’s Power
2 Samuel 6:1-23

The people disrespect their GOD
After the death of Saul’s last son, Ish-Bosheth, David is anointed king over all Israel at 30 years old and moves the capital from Hebron to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:3-5). In his first act as king of the united nation, David wants to honor God and bring the ark into the new capital from Abinadab’s house where it had been for almost 70 years. True worshippers of God want God to be honored truly! It ended up there because the Philistines had previously captured it and put it in Dagon’s temple. God then punished them with tumors and broke the idol of Dagon. When they sent the ark back to Israel, some people looked inside it and were killed (1 Sam. 5:6; 6:19). Instead of discovering how to respect God, they put it in Abinadab’s house, and it was never accessed by Saul in his 40-year reign. The reality is that God isn’t far from us, but it is our hearts that are far from God (Acts 17:26, 27). As the ark came to Jerusalem on a cart pulled by oxen and led by Uzzah and Ahio, when the oxen stumbled, Uzzah steadied the ark, and was killed by God for disrespecting His power. God commanded it to be transported on poles by Levites, covered in blue—anything else brought death (Deut. 10:8; Num. 4:15). Don’t let familiarity with God produce lethargy toward God (Ps. 96:1-9).

Michal disrespects her HUSBAND
The death of Uzzah halted the celebration and put such fear in David the ark stayed at Obed’s house outside Jerusalem for 3 months. When David was told God blessed Obed for the ark, he reinstituted the celebration and brought it into the city the way God prescribed (1 Chron. 15:1, 2, 13-15). Appropriate connection to God produces tremendous blessing from God! Thousands packed into Jerusalem as Levites carried the ark and played joyous songs with singing, instruments, and cymbals (1 Chron. 15:16). David removed his kingly robes and led the procession dancing, singing, and raising his hands. The overflow of your heart should make it to your hands! After celebrating, David went home full of joy to bless his house, but his wife decided to use her influence to ridicule and disrespect him. However, she didn’t care about her husband’s image but that her father was never blessed like David. In response, God judged Michal for her bitter, jealous heart against a man of God in his service to God. Don’t let others affect your love for God as you live for God!