The Ark of the Covenant

[0:00] We're going to look at the ark. The ark. Now you might ask, which one? How many arcs are there? Three. There's Noah's ark, Moses' ark, and the ark of the covenant.

[0:24] ! We're looking at the third ark. The third ark is the ark of the covenant. The ark of the covenant. The third ark is the ark of the covenant. Really, it's the third ark of the covenant. Now it was about four foot long, two foot wide, and two foot high. About the dimensions of this pulpit actually, on its end.

[0:45] If you could picture that. Basically about so high, so wide, and so long. If I was game enough, I'd switch the pulpit and show you. Here it is. This is the dimensions of it.

[1:01] And so when we think of the ark, it prompts us to consider some things. The ark of the covenant. It's very prominent in the Old Testament. When we think of the ark, it prompts us to think of the presence of God. The presence of God. Here at the ark of the covenant was this glorious symbol of God's presence with his own people.

[1:24] And it tells us of many divine truths as we look through the word, what we hear and see about the ark of the covenant. One such truth is that the Lord dwells with his people. The Lord dwells with us. He wants to.

[1:40] God is present. God is present. He is present. Not absent. He is present. And God is always available. Always available. Always at hand. God is holy.

[1:54] God is present. The ark, the covenant was so holy that it was kept behind a veil. You couldn't see it. It was shrouded. It was hidden away. Covered up and only unveiled at certain times.

[2:10] The place right there in the very heart of the covenant. The place right there in the very heart of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. Behind the veil. In the very holy of holies. Right in the middle. In the center of this. The most holiest of all. The sacred. The most sacred place of all.

[2:27] And so the ark speaks to us of the presence of God. Of that intimacy with him. Of that relationship with our Lord God. The word tells us that as we draw nigh to God, he will what? Draw nigh to us. We enter in with reverence. With reverence. Now only the high priest could come into this, as it were. Picture it. Behind the veil. Only the high priest could go in.

[2:56] And only once per year. And only once per year. As he offered the sacrifice for the atonement for Israel's sins. Leviticus 16. Only once a year. But today, brothers and sisters, God's presence is not restricted.

[3:12] It's wide open. It's wide open. And we can now freely and boldly enter right in. Right in. To the very sacred place. Into God's very holy presence.

[3:27] Do we take that opportunity. Or do we miss it. How big a priority is it that we place on meeting?

[3:39] The presence of God. The presence of God. Of being in his presence. When there's opportunity to get together. To gather. To fellowship. To worship. To meet with our Lord.

[3:54] And his people. In the gathering of the assembly. The local church. As a priority to the presence of God. To be there. The ark of the covenant was the first thing that God told Moses to make.

[4:13] In Exodus 25. Verses 10 and 11. The very first item of the furniture. The most important of all. The furniture that went into the tabernacle was the ark of the covenant.

[4:27] The rest of the covenant. The rest of the covenant. The rest of the covenant. It was a priority. It was important. And now. To reflect on this.

[4:38] Julie and I had occasion of late to go on a trip. And if you've ever been on a trip. You've got to pack it all in a suitcase. What you need to take. So the things that are important. You put in first. Don't you?

[4:53] Put those things in first. And the other things all around. If they can squeeze in. And as we went on this recent time away. We made sure that it was the important things.

[5:08] That we put in the suitcase. And we all know only too well how life can get crammed. Can't it? It gets so crammed. Our calendars just get filled up.

[5:21] And time is so precious. And so scarce. And you know we might be time poor. Have you ever felt like that? And so we want to make sure.

[5:35] That we put first things first. Don't we? Put first things first. Put God first. Make that a priority. To meet with God.

[5:45] To be in his presence. To seek him first. To use your time for God. Use it wisely. Those moments of time. Make sure you use them to put God first.

[5:58] The truth is that we can meet with our awesome God. Our awesome God. In Exodus 25 verses 22. It says in there, I will meet with thee.

[6:08] And I will commune with thee. From above the mercy seat. From between the two cherubim. Which are upon the ark of the testimony.

[6:20] Of all things which I give thee in commandment. Unto the children of Israel. Moses was told, There will I meet with thee. At this holy place. In that holy dwelling of the presence of God.

[6:34] And the ark here. If you can just picture it. It's hard for us to grasp it. We don't know really what it looks like. These are all just what some have considered that it may look like.

[6:47] But the scriptures tell us this. That the ark was completely covered with gold. So you can imagine as you stepped into that holy of holies.

[6:59] With all of this golden furniture. How it would have had a glow about it. In the early prayer time this morning. Someone was praying that there would be a holy hush.

[7:11] Imagine as you stepped into that holy of holies. That sacred place. The holy hush. The holy glow as it were.

[7:23] The awesome picture of it. And friends the Lord Jesus Christ is here. He's presented here. In the ark of the covenant. We see him pictured in many aspects of his nature.

[7:37] Underlying the gold covering was wood. And it was a particular wood. That reminds us of our Lord's sinless humanity. This particular wood was such that it rotted.

[7:48] It was not a wood that would become corrupted or decay. It was hard. Durable wood. Resistant to weather and insects.

[7:58] It was this picture of our Lord's sinless humanity. The Lord Jesus is called in Jeremiah 23.

[8:11] A righteous branch. And it goes on to say he's the Lord. Our righteousness. The Lord Jesus is present here.

[8:22] In the pictures of the ark of the covenant. We see that the gold reminds us of Christ's divinity. Not only was there that sinless humanity. The wood.

[8:33] It was the gold. Which is a reminder of deity. Of divine glory. Of God's glory and presence. The presence of God.

[8:44] Seeing God's presence and glory. As the people wandered through the wilderness times. The lid of the ark was a slab of solid gold.

[8:54] It was called the mercy seat. Here it was on the mercy seat that the high priest would come. Just once a year. This human high priest would come and sprinkle the blood.

[9:09] For the atonement of God's people. A picture of Calvary to come. And when we see the mercy seat. It was surrounded by a rim of gold.

[9:22] A crown as it were. And when the son of God came. As he became flesh and dwelt amongst us. It said that man crowned him. With bonds.

[9:33] Jammed them. Bashed them. Pierced them into his skull. But God will crown him. With glory and honour.

[9:45] We are told. This crown. At the top of the ark. Speaks of kingship. The ark speaks of God's throne room.

[10:01] On each of the two sides of the ark. Were two gold rings. In which were placed two gold covered poles. For carrying it. And over the ark at both ends.

[10:11] Were these two cherubim. With their faces turned toward. Each other. And their outspread wings. Over the top of the ark. Formed. The throne of God.

[10:21] As it were. While the ark itself was called. And considered his footstool. And inside the ark. Were these two stone tablets. Of God's covenant with the people.

[10:33] Now these two stone tablets. Which is the law. Were underneath. The mercy seat. The stained mercy seat. So the tablets speak.

[10:45] Of God's covenant with his people. When we contemplate the presence of God. We think of the law. Of his. Directions.

[10:58] The law of God. Of his commandments. Which we. Can scarcely measure up to. Yet thank God. For the bloodstained mercy seat.

[11:09] Which he puts above. The law. His pardon. His grace. His covering. And so his blood. Is there. Pictured at the ark of the covenant too.

[11:21] The atonement. Being made at one with God. Then inside the ark too. We have. The pot of manna. There was a container. That held the manna. Manna was the bread from heaven.

[11:33] It was a sign of God's. Supply. A sign of God's. Sustaining work. Of God's. Provision. And the manna was a sign too. Of the bread. Life.

[11:43] The bread. Of life. Who we know. Is the Lord Jesus. Inside the ark too. Was Aaron's rod. The budded. Number 17.

[11:54] Verse 10. It was back in the rebellion of Korah. Against Aaron. God commanded Moses. To take 12 rods. Or staffs. For the 12 tribes.

[12:05] And writes on them. The names of the tribes. Aaron also presented his. He had his own name on it. Moses laid these rods. These staffs. Before the presence of the Lord.

[12:16] Before the ark. And the next morning. Aaron's staff had budded. And it sprung to life. With a bud. The flower. And an almond fruit. And the fruitfulness of Aaron's rod.

[12:26] Showed that he was God's chosen. Appointed. And anointed. As the high priest. The life. The lifeless staff. Sprang to life.

[12:38] And it was brought to life. It speaks of the resurrection. Of our Lord Jesus. From the dead. To be our eternal. Great high priest. Not a human. High priest now.

[12:50] But the great high priest. Our chief. Our great high priest. So Aaron's rod. Was this symbol. Of God's power. Then as we see. The staff.

[13:02] That they held. And how God used it. As a sign of his power. As Aaron's rod. Was used to. Initiate the plagues. In Egypt.

[13:12] And to part the Red Sea. As a sign of God's. Presence again. Displayed at the ark. Ark. So the truth for us. Is that we can meet. With our awesome God.

[13:23] The presence of God. Is there. At the ark of the covenant. And it says. That I will meet with thee. I will commune with thee. From above the mercy seat. Between the two cherubim.

[13:35] That are upon the ark of the testimony. Another name for ark of the covenant. So in the ark of the covenant. We're also reminded. Secondly of this. The power of God. The power of God.

[13:45] The children of Israel. The children of Israel. Delivered from slavery in Egypt. The bondage of sin. That it pictured. And where the ark of God was. God showed up.

[13:58] In his power. His glory. God's power and glory. Is just as real for us today. Brothers and sisters. His power and his glory. Is just as real.

[14:08] Just as available. But it doesn't act in contradiction. To his word. That's the. That's the. Discerning. Point. Isn't it?

[14:20] Some things are called the power. And the glory of God. Yet it doesn't. Line up. It doesn't line up. Then it's wrong. I know that.

[14:34] Tends to put people off this church. When I say things like that. But it's the truth. I've got to tell you the truth. I mean just as an aside. I saw a bit of a. Something that.

[14:45] That made me chuckle. But it's. Kind of. The truth. That there's. It was a. It was a satire site. So it's.

[14:55] Obviously tongue in cheek. Just poking fun. Making a bit of a. Point. In a. Satirical way. Now there's a new Bible out now. And it's got lots and lots of blank pages.

[15:09] So you can write your own revelations into it. You know. And there's some places where it's just about like that. Isn't it? You need. Need some blank pages.

[15:19] So you can say what God's told you. That's. Extra biblical revelations. That you can add into your Bible. Friends. If it's not in the Bible. It's not Bible.

[15:31] So. We see the power of God. It's just as real. It's just as available. But it lines up with this book. Amen. And we see the power of God.

[15:42] The power of God in the tabernacle. As the people of God traveled. As they traveled on the ark. They represented God's presence. God's guidance.

[15:52] God's guidance. For their journey ahead. As they traveled. God's powers manifest. In their lives. And over the ark. We see. As pictured here. High enough for all to see.

[16:03] There was this cloud visible. Every day. And a pillar of fire. Through the night. A sign. A graphic. Visible sign.

[16:14] God's power. Was evident. And as they marched on. The cloud. Moved with them. Really they moved with the cloud rather. And when they camped each night. The pillar of fire.

[16:25] Assured them. Of God's faithful presence. And of his power. God's power was demonstrated. To the people of God. Day and night. And as the Israelites journeyed on.

[16:36] The ark was carried by the priests. In front of the army. According to God's direction. So we see it pictured here. Where the priests are carrying the ark. As God's directed them to.

[16:47] With the staves. The poles. With the ark sat upon them. And the priests are here. Carrying the ark. Into the river Jordan. And as they stepped foot in it. And a pathway opened up.

[17:00] The sea was split. The river was split. The river Jordan. And it opened up. The parted waters. So they could enter into the promised land.

[17:10] The ark was there. Right at the lead. Of the people of God. The ark led the way. The way into God's blessings. And friends. The Lord is with us.

[17:21] Working in us. For us. He's opening the way for you. He's opening the way. If you just walk in his way. He will go before you. He will go with us.

[17:32] And as they battled on. Against their enemies. God manifested his power. Time and time again. The ark was born. Again.

[17:42] We can see. In the procession around the walls of Jericho. Again the ark led the way. And God brought great victory. As people followed his missions.

[17:54] And the walls of Jericho fell. When they carried the ark. You see some. Where it shows the ark. But actually it was hidden.

[18:04] As pictured here. The ark wasn't visible. It was hidden. It was wrapped in the veil. In the badger skins. The blue cloth. Carefully concealed. Even from the eyes of the Levites.

[18:16] Who carried it. Then at one time. The ark fell into enemy hands. The Philistines. In 1 Samuel 4. We read the story there. Verses 3 through 11.

[18:27] Now this. Happened. To make a. Point. For Israel. As they had tried to use the. Ark of the covenant.

[18:38] As a kind of. Charm. As a kind of good luck charm. While their hearts were far from God. Maybe they got a bit. Glib. A bit.

[18:49] What's the word. A bit casual. About their. Oh we've got the ark. We can just march in. And do. This and that. And they tried to manipulate God. For their own benefit.

[19:00] The power of God. Is not something. That we are to misuse. It's holy. Isn't it? His power. He is holy. And the Israelites. Got a bit glib.

[19:11] And careless. They probably believe that. Well the ark's with us. How can we lose? Surely God will never allow the ark. To be taken. But they were not right.

[19:22] With God. And it was taken. Friends. God is not moved by sacred objects. Or rights. Or works. If we neglect to walk with him.

[19:36] It's about that right heart. Isn't it? That repentant heart. That heart right with him. And the departure of the ark. Symbolized now. How the glory of God had departed.

[19:47] As we read. Of the word. Ichabod. And so the Philistines. Soon learned. That the ark. Like God's word though. Was designed. As a comfort.

[19:57] And an encouragement. To God's people. Not to his enemies. And the ark. Actually became. A difficult thing. For them. It became. An unpleasant.

[20:08] Thing for them. To have the presence of God. Because they too. Were not right with him. So. We read. How the Philistines. Placed. The ark. Into the temple. Of their chief god.

[20:20] Small g. Dagon. And Dagon. Was considered. To be the father of Baal. So it was one of their. Primary gods. Small g. Their idols.

[20:31] Their false gods. So they wanted to put. The ark. Next to the. Statue of Dagon. Have to demonstrate. How they were more powerful. And stronger than Jehovah.

[20:43] Then the Philistines. Entered their temple. The next morning. As they had put the two. By. Each other. And found that Dagon. Was face down. Prostrate.

[20:54] As it were. Worshipping. The. Ark. As it were. Worshipping. God. And so. That was quite a. Humiliation for them.

[21:04] That their god. Was face down. Like one of the. Worshippers. And then they put it up again. And the next day. It happened again. Only this time. Was smashed in pieces. And the Philistines.

[21:15] Then were plagued. So it ended up. They couldn't get rid. Of the ark. Quick enough. Could they? They just. Couldn't get rid of it. Quick enough. And they returned it to Israel. God caused disease.

[21:26] And death. To fall on the Philistines. Because of God's judgment. The Philistines. Returned the ark. And again. We see the power of God. When God is at work. He will win.

[21:41] He will. He will overcome. And his enemies. Will be scattered. Again. We see the power of God at work. Prevailing over his enemies.

[21:52] We see the ark reminds us. As we've seen. Of the presence of God. Don't neglect the opportunity. To enter in. Enter in. Every chance you can. At home.

[22:04] At work. At fellowship times. Don't miss it. The presence of God. The power of God. Let's not. Mishandle it.

[22:14] Let's not take it for granted. Let's appreciate it. It's holy. The holy power of God. It's manifest. And thirdly.

[22:24] We see how the ark speaks to us. Of the praise of God. The praise of God. When God is evident. When God is with us. As he is. Or don't we to praise him.

[22:36] Or don't we to praise him. When the Philistines returned the ark. It ended up now in Anadab's house. Abinadab's house. For 20 years. Now Abinadab.

[22:47] Lives on 20. It was for 20 years. He lives on seven miles away from Jerusalem. Seven miles. Away from Jerusalem. Was meant to be at Jerusalem.

[22:59] Yet they just carried on. It was 20 years in the wrong place. People were in rebellion. They were still caught up in idol worship. Israel had repeated times.

[23:10] Of idolatry. Of false worship. On occasions they. Neglected or they polluted. The true worship of God. The true God. God wants our worship and praise.

[23:23] To be to his honour. And in accordance with his word. And the ark of the cover. To be the centre. Of this. Evident worship. Of the tabernacle.

[23:36] The centre of the tabernacle. And now it needed to be returned to Jerusalem. So King David. Set about returning it. He wanted to return it to Jerusalem.

[23:48] But we'll see the people did this. Not in the way. David did the right thing. By wanting to take the ark back to Jerusalem.

[23:59] But he did it in the wrong way. The wrong way. And our worship must be in accordance with the word. Mustn't it? Our worship must be in accordance with the word.

[24:10] It talks about decently. And in order. There's a decency. There's an order. There's an accord. There's an instruction. And we want to accord with that.

[24:21] David made this terrible error. Of using a new car. Now this method David used was contrary to God's instructions. The Lord had directed.

[24:32] How should it be carried? On the poles. On the shoulders of those select men. The ark was to be transported using the poles through the rings.

[24:46] But did they do that? No. So dramatic tragedy would strike. The procession moved towards Jerusalem. David was doing the right thing. But in the wrong way.

[24:59] The wrong way. You see that in 2 Samuel. From verse 1 of chapter 6. We'll come to that.

[25:09] David. It says David gathered together all the chosen men. Verse 2. And David arose and went with all the people that were with him. From Baal of Judah.

[25:20] To bring up from thence the ark of God. Whose name is called by the name of the Lord. Of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. So chosen men. 30,000. It was massive.

[25:34] Verse 3. Note here now. David's error. Verse 3. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart. And brought it out of the house of Abinadab.

[25:48] That was in Gibeah. And Uzzah and Ahioh. The sons of Abinadab. Drave the new cart. Using a new cart was not God's way. That was the problem.

[25:59] Okay. We see here a picture of what it might have looked like. We see the ark. Not carried. By the men that God had chosen.

[26:11] Not carried in the way he'd ordained and instructed that it be carried. And directed. But in a new way. On a new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab. Which was at Gibeah.

[26:22] Accompanying the ark of God. And Ahioh went before the ark. We see now that David pulled out all the stops. All the praise and all the worship.

[26:35] Verse 5. And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments. Made of firwood. Even of harps. And on sultries.

[26:45] And on timbrels. And on cornets. And on cymbals. It was massive. Massive. 30,000. They were all playing before the Lord.

[26:57] I'm sure they were playing godly songs. But they were doing it in the wrong way. And so we see the next verse.

[27:08] Verse 6. That tragedy struck. Verse 6. And when they came to Nacon's threshing floor. Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God.

[27:19] And took hold of it. For the oxen shook it. You know, maybe there was a bit of a bumpy bit in the road. And the ark kind of, you know, the cart kind of shook a little bit.

[27:31] And Uzzah thought, oh, I'm going to help God out and stop the ark from falling down. Verse 7. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah.

[27:42] And God smote him there for his error. And there he died by the ark of God. Swain by God. You can picture it here. He's probably doing what he thought was maybe, I don't know, what he was thinking.

[27:55] And it says, David was displeased because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah. And he called the name of the place Perathuzah to this day.

[28:07] Uzzah sees the cart lurch. He stretches out his hand to steady the ark. He wants to keep it from falling. And fire from heaven strikes him dead on the spot.

[28:19] The Hebrew wording here is apparently very violent and graphic. It means that literally, literally exploded. It was bang! Bam!

[28:31] Or as it was slain by God for putting forth into the ark of God. Friends, the holiness of God is not something to take lightly, is it? I think that's perhaps part of the point, that he was careless.

[28:51] We cannot take the holiness of God lightly. When we gather, when we study, when we seek to follow our Lord, let's tremble at his word.

[29:02] Let's take it seriously. This is no light thing. This is eternal truth. We must obey it. Take it in our hearts and apply it. Live it for his glory.

[29:14] So the Lord prescribed the ark to be carried by the sons of Kohath. Numbers 4, 4-15. There were specific people, the sons of Kohath.

[29:25] And it specifically prohibited the use of a cart. We see that in Exodus 25, verse 14 and 15. Numbers 4, 5 and 8. And a human hand was not allowed to touch it.

[29:37] Numbers 4, 15. So well-meaning as Uzzi may have been. God said, don't do it. Doing God's work is a serious business.

[29:49] And we must do God's work in God's way. We must never do it carelessly. So we can learn that, I trust. The things of God need to be taken seriously.

[30:00] You can see many examples where it's not taken seriously. People of God, take it seriously. Your Christian life, take it seriously.

[30:11] Amen? We can't play games with God. We can't play church. Take it seriously. Not carelessly. Beseech you.

[30:24] As a brother. These verses should speak to us. The things of God should not be taken carelessly. Saul did that.

[30:36] He found that out at Gilgal. In 1 Samuel 15, 22. The Lord said, To utterly destroy that which was from Amalek. But Saul thought, Oh, I'm going to keep a few animals here and sacrifice them unto God.

[30:54] Seemed like a good idea at the time. But he was disobeying God, wasn't he? He disobeyed God. He thought, Oh, Why not make a sacrifice of these animals?

[31:08] But God said, Don't do that. God said, Utterly destroy the Amalekites. His sacrifice to God was rejected.

[31:21] The worship and praise of God should not be done carelessly, even according to our own thinking, but according to his will. Amen?

[31:31] Amen? And so, it happened also where some men tried to look into the ark. In 1 Samuel 6, verses 19 and 20. They tried to look into the ark. You know, We're not allowed to, but I'm just going to have a quick peek.

[31:44] That's what they thought. They were nosy, curious. What does the ark look like behind that curtain that only the high priest can see once a year? I want to have a look too.

[31:55] That's what they did. And they were struck dead. How easily we trifle and treat the worship of God carelessly.

[32:08] The praise of God is taken so carelessly today. We ought to take warning, wouldn't we?

[32:20] Take it seriously. David was not supposed to have used the cart to move the ark. That's the whole point. It was meant to be carried by the family of the Levites. And even they were supposed to have it covered with a cloth that it might not be seen, nor were they to touch it.

[32:36] God had directed it be carried. So, now, it may be this was not a willful act of sin on the part of David. He might have just been ignorant.

[32:49] Possible. Perhaps the teaching of the proper way to carry it got lost. The ark had been long forgotten. Perhaps things got missed.

[32:59] David wanted deeply in his heart to please God. But the praise of God must be in accordance with his word. That's the point. So, that's something we can learn, I trust.

[33:10] This idea of a new car was actually adopting what the Philistines had used in 1 Samuel 6, verse 7. They had started the idea. It was their idea.

[33:22] 1 Samuel 6, verse 7, the Philistines had invented this way. But the word was clear how the sacred ark was to be carried. So, when David used the ark, he was doing what the Philistines had done.

[33:37] David was doing the work of God with the methods of the world. Don't we see that sometimes today? We do, don't we?

[33:50] Doing the work of God with the methods of the world. And where it's a contradiction, it's a problem. And it can be a diversion.

[34:02] It can be a distraction. It can be, it can take away from what God wants for us. So, he consulted the people, it says, in 1 Chronicles 13.

[34:16] Yeah, that sounds like a great idea, David. That's what they said. 1 Chronicles 13, in the first verses there, he consulted the people. He said, let's put it to a vote.

[34:29] Yep, that's what you want, that's what you're going to get. That's what they wanted, they wanted the new car. Don't we see that in some churches today? It's popular.

[34:42] Let's do it. Wow. It's happening, isn't it? But if we fail to follow God's word, we miss God's blessing, God's best.

[34:54] God wants the best for us. And the ark of God is holy. It's a picture of holy things. It was to be carried as God directed it to be.

[35:06] Numbers 4, verse 15, we see Aaron and his sons, they'd made an end of covering the walls of the sanctuary as the camp is to set forward. after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it, for they shall not touch any holy thing lest they die.

[35:23] It was pretty clear, it's in here, black and white, what they were to do and not do and the consequences of not doing it. A special covering was to protect the holy objects and to protect them from touching the holy objects which would bring about their death.

[35:40] For even the Kohathites, the ones carrying it couldn't even touch it or look on it because it was holy. And then we see 2 Samuel 6, David was afraid of the Lord that day.

[35:53] This was, Lazar had just been struck dead, slain by God. David was afraid and he said, how shall the ark of the Lord come to me? So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edon, the Gittite.

[36:12] So here we see verse 11 of 2 Samuel 6, and the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-Edon, the Gittite, three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edon and all his household.

[36:23] So it says the ark here for a temporary time was left in the house of Obed-Edon in Gath-Rimon for three months. Again we were reminded how the ark speaks to us of the presence of God.

[36:33] What happened for this man, Obed-Edon? It says he was blessed. He put time and space aside in his house for something of God and God blessed him.

[36:49] The Lord brings blessing when we put him first. The power of God was here.

[37:00] As we seek after the presence of God, he will show his power and he will bless. Next we see that David determined to bring the ark to Jerusalem with great praise and rejoicing.

[37:11] This time he did it the right way. We read of that in 2 Samuel 6 from verse 12. David directed that it be done scripturally and he ordered that the priest take six steps and stop for a sacrifice of a live animal.

[37:34] How far was it again? Was it 7? It was a few miles. You can imagine. I've lost track of that detail.

[37:47] But six steps sacrifice. Six steps sacrifice. As they moved forward, David began to dance, leading the procession back to Jerusalem.

[37:59] From verse 12 we read that King David said, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-Edon and all that pertaineth unto him because of the ark of God.

[38:09] God blesses by his presence, doesn't he? He blesses. His presence is a blessing let alone what he gives to us. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edon into the city of David, into Jerusalem with gladness.

[38:27] And it was so that when the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And verse 14, and David danced before the Lord with all his might.

[38:40] And David was girded with a linen ephod. Here was David, he wore this special robe but it wasn't his royal robes. People might have thought, well, why is King David dressed like that?

[38:53] But he didn't care, he just wanted to dance and praise and he was glad and rejoicing, wasn't he? And it says, verse 15, David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting with the sound of a trumpet.

[39:10] Everybody was excited, it was a blessing, they were doing it the right way. Verse 16, and as the ark came, sorry, go back, and as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Eichel, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David.

[39:28] David? She had to take a second look I'd imagine and she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord and she despised him in her heart.

[39:47] They were doing the right thing in the right way and someone still found fault. They noticed the praise of God. It drew criticism from Mikael, Saul's daughter.

[40:01] Even though David was doing everything right, unto the glory of God, he still had his critics. Now when you serve, critics, amen, get used to critics.

[40:16] Critics who sit back and pick instead of praise. Amen. Don't let it put you off. It's part of the course, isn't it? As a Christian, you might be blessing God, serving God, delighting in God, doing it God's way and people that despise you in their heart.

[40:40] People of God. When you serve God, get used to critics who sit back and pick instead of praise. But don't let it put you off.

[40:51] Get used to it. Amen. Let's not join their camp. The Lord withdrew his blessing from Michal because of her murmuring.

[41:02] You may do something for the Lord and you know it's right. Your heart is right. It's unto the glory of God. It's unto his praise and honor and you're doing it scripturally. You may do something unto his great praise and yet attract criticism and attacks.

[41:24] It's normal. Isn't it? It's normal. Scriptures are full of such examples like Michal. Don't be deterred. Keep on praising.

[41:35] Amen. Keep on praising the Lord. Keep on dancing. Keep on joyful because God is in it. Verse 17 And they brought the ark of the Lord and set it in his place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had brought.

[41:59] David offered burnt offerings before the Lord. And as soon as David had made an end of burnt offerings and peace offerings he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

[42:10] What a picture of the praise and worship of God's holy people acting in accordance with God's holy word doing God's holy will. The ark was kept at Jerusalem until a place was prepared for it where it eventually was placed in the first temple the temple of Solomon.

[42:31] And then the record is a little unclear what happened after that. But let us be encouraged as the ark reminds us of these three things brothers and sisters as we wrap up now. The ark of the covenant speaks to us of the presence of God.

[42:47] Enter in enter in boldly enter in boldly the presence of God. We don't have the ark of the covenant today.

[43:00] Whether it's still in existence who knows. But we have the reality don't we? Christ in you. The hope of glory. Enter into his presence.

[43:12] Come before his presence with singing. Enter into his presence. Come boldly before the throne of grace. The presence of God. We see the power of God.

[43:22] It's not something that is not present anymore. The power of God is very truly present. The power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe it. The gospel.

[43:33] We see the grace of God. The power of God transforming the lost to be found. The blind to see. The power of God is just as real.

[43:48] In accordance with this. It's real. The power of God. And thirdly we see the praise of God. Be like David. Who cares about those who despise you in their heart?

[43:59] Praise him. Praise him. And do it scripturally do God's will the right way. Do it to his glory and praise and do it according to his word.

[44:11] And all the praise will be to him. Amen. Friends, be encouraged today as a believer. We don't have a physical ark of the covenant. We don't have some veil. It's been torn at the cross, isn't it?

[44:27] From top to bottom. That's what Jesus did. So you can enter in boldly. Let's not hold back. Let's enter into his presence, his power, and give him all the praise unto his glory and honour.

[44:43] Bless his name. I trust you know him. I've been preaching really to Christians this morning. I pray that you know him, whom to know his life eternal. Gladness of your soul when you trust him is beyond compare.

[44:57] And it's not, measured by happenstance. It's measured by his worthy name. It's to him the all of glory and all the honour.

[45:09] And if you know Jesus, then that's everything, isn't it? That's everything. Everything. Thank you.