WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.020 Well, now we turn to the preaching of God's Word. 00:00:07.100 --> 00:00:11.460 As I said, we'll be looking at 2 Samuel chapter 6 today, and we'll be reading the chapter 00:00:11.460 --> 00:00:12.300 in its entirety. 00:00:12.700 --> 00:00:16.399 And we see when we read this chapter, it's a focus on the Ark of the Covenant. 00:00:17.140 --> 00:00:22.580 And it may be a symbol or something that you have heard of before, you understand, and 00:00:22.580 --> 00:00:26.620 maybe this is the first time you've heard the story, you have very little understanding 00:00:26.620 --> 00:00:28.879 of this Old Testament passage. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:34.399 But we hope, regardless of that, that this may be a time of encouragement for you as 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:38.019 we understand the true value of the Ark and how it applies to us today. 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:43.439 Because I think oftentimes there can be occasion where we don't really understand the significance 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:45.840 of something we may have, right? 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:49.679 Maybe you've seen the television show, the Antique Roadshow, before. 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:56.879 It's not the most entertaining or stimulating show, but it kind of tracks different antique 00:00:56.879 --> 00:00:58.000 shows across the nation. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.259 It's actually a UK version and a US version. 00:01:00.859 --> 00:01:04.200 And it's these people that come and bring these items, and they don't really know how 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:04.980 valuable they are. 00:01:05.019 --> 00:01:06.120 They want them to get them appraised. 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:11.560 And so we see this dialogue between an appraiser and this person who has this item, whether 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:16.760 it's furniture or jewelry or a piece of clothing or a painting of some sort. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:19.840 And so I saw one a number of years ago. 00:01:20.099 --> 00:01:21.319 There's a US version. 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:26.239 And there was this older American lady who comes with this small wooden semi-circular table. 00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:29.259 And she said she got an antique shop for $25. 00:01:30.539 --> 00:01:34.799 And as the man, the appraiser is looking at it, he points out a lot of the details and 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:36.259 intricacies of it and turns it over. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:39.239 And there's this original label on the back from when it was made. 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:45.239 And he says to her surprise, I think this is probably worth about a quarter of a million 00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:50.019 dollars, over 10,000 times more than what she paid for it. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:52.159 And so, of course, she was shocked. 00:01:52.379 --> 00:01:56.340 It goes on to show her a few weeks later, she actually went to auction to try to sell this 00:01:56.340 --> 00:01:59.159 table because it was far more valuable to somebody else. 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:01.060 And she even knew what it was to herself. 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:07.740 And at auction, it actually sold her $490,000, nearly a half a million dollars for a little 00:02:07.740 --> 00:02:13.439 table that she had no idea its worth or her value that has now had provided her with a 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:14.039 small fortune. 00:02:14.979 --> 00:02:16.180 And so I think that's telling. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:20.780 Again, when we think about the Ark of the Covenant today, we can read a story like this like 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:23.319 we will and think, what's the big deal? 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:28.939 Why in the world does God have, does he act this way? 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:31.719 What are we supposed to learn and glean from this story? 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:33.259 What's the significance of the story? 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:37.000 And I think we learn the significance when we understand the value of the Ark. 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:42.520 The value of the Ark not only to the people of Israel in the Old Testament, but the value 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:48.139 of the Ark and the symbolism that it shows us today about God's character, about his holiness, 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:54.319 about his desire for relationship with us, and how that's meant to influence our lives. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:03:00.479 And so let's turn then to our passage, 2 Samuel 6, starting in verse 1. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:06.019 David again brought together all the able young men in Israel, 30,000. 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:13.500 He and all the men went to Baal in Judah to bring up from there the Ark of God, which is called by the 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:18.400 name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the Ark. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:25.340 They set the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. 00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:32.360 Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the Ark of God on it, and Ahio 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:33.819 was walking in front of it. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:39.420 David and all of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, 00:03:39.939 --> 00:03:44.939 harps, lyres, trembles, sistrums, and cymbals. 00:03:44.939 --> 00:03:51.359 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark of God, 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:52.759 because the oxen stumbled. 00:03:53.819 --> 00:03:57.340 The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act. 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:02.139 Therefore, God struck him down, and he died there beside the Ark of God. 00:04:03.259 --> 00:04:09.319 Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day the place 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:10.719 is called Perez-Uzzah. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:16.480 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, How can the Ark of the Lord ever come to me? 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:21.259 He was not willing to take the Ark of the Lord to be with him in the city of David. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:25.199 Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom, the Gittite. 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:30.139 The Ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom, the Gittite, for three months, 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:32.480 and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:39.620 Now King David was told, The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has 00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:41.360 because of the Ark of God. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:47.259 So David went to bring up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 00:04:47.980 --> 00:04:53.360 When those who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:59.020 And wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:05.120 while he and all Israel were bringing up the Ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 00:05:05.939 --> 00:05:10.639 As the Ark of the Lord was entering the city of David, Michael, daughter of Saul, watched from a window. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:16.060 And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. 00:05:16.060 --> 00:05:21.839 They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:26.079 And David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:30.139 And after he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:32.500 he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:39.819 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins to each person and the whole crowd of Israelites, 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:43.480 both men and women, and all the people went to their homes. 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:50.439 When David returned home to bless his household, Michael, daughter of Saul, came out to meet him and said, 00:05:51.080 --> 00:05:54.080 How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:59.720 going around half naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:01.700 David said to Michael, 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:07.500 It was before the Lord who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:10.680 when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:13.040 I will celebrate before the Lord. 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:18.500 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. 00:06:18.640 --> 00:06:22.280 But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor. 00:06:23.460 --> 00:06:27.140 And Michael, daughter of Saul, had no children to the day of her death. 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:29.040 This is the word of God. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:30.740 Pray with me again. 00:06:33.540 --> 00:06:35.220 Lord, as we turn to your word, 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:38.540 we ask for wisdom and insight that only comes from your spirit. 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:45.600 We pray, Lord, that you allow me to be your empty vessel to communicate your word with effectiveness and truth. 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:51.820 May we each be convicted and encouraged through this preaching of your word, 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:53.879 and we go forth and give you glory. 00:06:53.960 --> 00:06:54.900 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:55.879 Amen. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:56.000 Amen. 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:01.139 And so as we kind of dive into this passage, 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:04.240 trying to think about the significance of the Ark of the Covenant here, 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:08.339 I think it's appropriate if we start and give a little background so we have the proper context, 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:10.659 especially if you're not familiar with a passage like this. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:13.680 If we go back to the beginning of Exodus, 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:17.160 we know that the people of Israel have been placed in captivity. 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.600 For 400 years, they're slaves in Egypt, 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:23.240 until God raises up a leader for them, Moses, 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:29.379 to deliver them out of Egypt to the promised land that God had promised their forefather, Abraham, long before. 00:07:30.060 --> 00:07:32.840 And as they're on this journey to the promised land, 00:07:32.899 --> 00:07:34.519 the 40 years that they spend in the wilderness, 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:41.319 we know that God gives them laws for them to follow in how they live and how they ought to worship. 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:45.259 And included in these laws is instructions for the building of a tabernacle, 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:47.500 a place of worship for the Lord. 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:52.319 And so within this tabernacle, we read that they're supposed to make this Ark of the Covenant. 00:07:52.420 --> 00:07:54.639 This is what we read in Hebrews just a minute ago. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.920 And this Ark was a wooden box. 00:07:57.159 --> 00:08:00.039 It was plated in gold, roughly a meter long, 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:02.620 probably about the same size as this lectern here, 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:06.079 a little bit less than a meter high and a meter wide, 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:08.980 and it was not to be touched by human hands. 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:12.500 It had rings on the side for being carried with poles, 00:08:13.140 --> 00:08:17.439 poles that were made of acacia wood covered in gold that were to be carried only by the Levites. 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:20.240 Inside this box was placed the Ten Commandments. 00:08:20.340 --> 00:08:22.319 On top was something called the Mercy Seat, 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:26.640 made of gold, these two cherubim with their arms outstretched. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:30.200 And it was here that God said he would meet with his people. 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:33.680 It was here that God's presence would dwell. 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:37.699 And so this is where the high priest would come once a year, 00:08:37.839 --> 00:08:41.039 sprinkling the blood sacrifice on the Ark 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:44.319 to symbolize the wiping away of the sins of the people. 00:08:45.319 --> 00:08:49.059 And so while the Ark was meant to be kept here in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:51.359 the people of Israel were often on the move. 00:08:51.939 --> 00:08:54.279 And so oftentimes this Ark would be in the middle of the people 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:56.099 as they moved through the wilderness. 00:08:56.739 --> 00:08:59.639 But there was occasion when they were moving into the Promised Land 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:02.000 that the Ark was at the front of this procession. 00:09:02.539 --> 00:09:05.179 We may remember that when they finally entered the Promised Land, 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:06.480 when they crossed the Jordan River, 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:09.259 it was the Ark and the priest carrying the Ark that went first. 00:09:09.319 --> 00:09:10.720 And as they stepped into the Jordan, 00:09:11.319 --> 00:09:13.899 it turned into dry land and they entered the land of Canaan. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:16.919 Also, it was the Ark that led the people of Israel 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:19.319 around the city walls of Jericho. 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:21.939 And the walls came tumbling down. 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:26.779 Well, as we move forward in the story of the history of Israel, 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:28.980 we know that they settled in the Promised Land, 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:30.480 but the fighting didn't cease. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:32.560 Oftentimes they were fighting their enemies, 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:33.960 and on one occasion they were fighting, 00:09:34.379 --> 00:09:37.000 battling the Philistines, and they were losing. 00:09:38.019 --> 00:09:39.440 And so the elders come together and say, 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:41.840 hey, wouldn't it be a good idea if we bring the Ark 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:44.680 from the Holy of Holies and bring it with us in battle 00:09:44.680 --> 00:09:46.340 that we can overpower our enemies? 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.940 Now, this wasn't anything that God had instructed them to do. 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:52.340 This was of their own ideation. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:57.779 They think they're treating the Ark more like a good luck charm 00:09:57.779 --> 00:09:58.639 than anything else. 00:09:59.579 --> 00:10:01.879 And as a result, Israel's defeated. 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:04.639 And the Ark is captured by the Philistines 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.339 who take it with them back to their land. 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:09.939 And so we can't go into all these details this morning, 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:12.980 but if we were to continue in 1 Samuel chapter 5, 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:14.459 we'd see what happened to the Philistines 00:10:14.459 --> 00:10:16.120 when they take this Ark to their land. 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:18.980 They experience in the cursing and punishment of God. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:21.419 The people of the Philistines start growing these tumors, 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:23.659 and they realize God is judging them for having this Ark. 00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:24.639 We need to send it back. 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:27.500 And so they put it on this cart carried by these two cows 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:29.120 and point it in the direction of Israel. 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:34.079 And the people of Israel, they reclaim this Ark 00:10:34.079 --> 00:10:36.279 just across the border of Israel, 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:39.179 but it's kept on the border of Israel 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:42.980 in this little town basically for storage 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:44.039 for the next 20 years. 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:46.899 And so for the entire reign of King Saul, 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:48.439 it's not used for worship. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:49.919 It's not kept in the tabernacle. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:51.799 It remains unmoved and unused 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:54.699 in the periphery of the land of Israel. 00:10:55.819 --> 00:10:58.059 And so that brings us to our passage today 00:10:58.059 --> 00:11:02.479 when King David wants to go and get this Ark 00:11:02.479 --> 00:11:04.259 and bring it to the new capital, 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:06.279 to the city of David, to Jerusalem. 00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:09.039 And so what I want us to consider in our passage today 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:11.399 is three things that this passage points out to us, 00:11:11.459 --> 00:11:13.620 three Ps that we see in this passage. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:15.899 First is the passion for the Ark. 00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:19.459 Secondly, the problem with the Ark. 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:23.059 And thirdly, the promise of the Ark. 00:11:23.299 --> 00:11:26.120 The passion for the Ark, the problem with the Ark, 00:11:26.199 --> 00:11:27.240 and the promise of the Ark. 00:11:27.539 --> 00:11:29.539 So let's consider first the passion of the Ark. 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:32.679 We see in 2 Samuel 5 that David is made king. 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.799 Saul has been killed. 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:36.740 David has already been anointed as the next king, 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:38.159 and he is made king. 00:11:38.459 --> 00:11:40.000 And when the Philistines hear about this, 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:41.559 they want to stop this right from the get-go. 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.620 They've probably heard of David. 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:43.860 They've battled David before. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:45.820 They know he's a mighty warrior, 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:47.820 so they want to make sure he's dethroned 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:50.600 so they can continue ruling over Israel. 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:53.539 But we know that God delivers the Philistines 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:54.980 into the hands of Israel, 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.659 and the Philistines are defeated. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.519 And after this victory, 00:11:58.580 --> 00:11:59.879 the first thing that David wants to do 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:02.100 is to bring this Ark to Jerusalem. 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:09.180 And it's noteworthy to recognize his desire here, 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.620 because it very well could have been 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:12.460 David knew he was going to be king for a while. 00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:14.700 He recognized that Saul wasn't a good king, 00:12:14.780 --> 00:12:16.639 and now he's finally made king. 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:18.560 He has secured his first victory. 00:12:18.900 --> 00:12:20.320 He's the one who's the good leader. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.340 He's the one that can protect Israel. 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:24.920 Rather than worrying about the Ark of the Covenant, 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:25.780 he could have been worrying about 00:12:25.780 --> 00:12:27.080 having a parade for himself 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:29.800 to return to his own capital. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:32.060 But instead, we see that he does something 00:12:32.060 --> 00:12:33.040 very different here. 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:36.480 Instead, he desires the presence of God. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:38.519 He assembles 30,000 men 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:39.960 from every corner of the kingdom, 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:42.080 commanders, soldiers, priests, farmers, 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.780 to form this procession 00:12:43.780 --> 00:12:45.860 to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:47.120 and bring it back to Jerusalem. 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:49.259 Because he recognizes here 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.940 that even though he is the king, 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:52.780 the people of Israel need to recognize 00:12:52.780 --> 00:12:54.220 he is only an earthly king. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:55.860 He is not the true king. 00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:58.940 It is Israel who needs a true king. 00:12:59.019 --> 00:13:01.240 For his kingship to succeed 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:02.800 is wholly dependent 00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:05.639 on the presence of the almighty king. 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:08.559 And so this stands in a stark contrast 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:09.379 from King Saul, 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:11.639 who didn't care about the presence of God, 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:14.379 who only worried about his own glory. 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.159 But what we see here 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:18.080 is the Ark actually represents 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.699 the throne of God. 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:22.240 And for the past 20 years, 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.899 it's basically been in storage. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:26.939 David wants to return this Ark 00:13:26.939 --> 00:13:28.980 that it may be the center of worship, 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:30.720 that the people of God may understand 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:33.819 that God desires to dwell among them. 00:13:33.820 --> 00:13:36.300 And so we see this actually 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:38.500 in, again, this Old Testament law. 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:40.040 Because in Numbers 2, 00:13:40.140 --> 00:13:41.140 God gives instructions 00:13:41.140 --> 00:13:44.020 for where this Ark is to be kept. 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.020 And even how the people 00:13:46.020 --> 00:13:47.600 are to camp around the tabernacle. 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:49.500 The tabernacle was to be set up 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:51.900 in the middle of the nation of Israel 00:13:51.900 --> 00:13:54.560 with three tribes on every side. 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:56.760 And in the middle of this tabernacle 00:13:56.760 --> 00:13:58.220 was the Holy of Holies. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:00.140 And in the middle of this Holy of Holies 00:14:00.140 --> 00:14:01.880 was the Ark of the Covenant. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:04.299 It meant to symbolize 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:05.639 the centrality of God 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.320 among his people. 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:07.919 This is what David 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.399 wanted to return to. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.179 I'm going to ask why. 00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.500 Why does David have this urge? 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:16.379 Well, this is really a desire 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:17.559 that goes back to the very 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:18.879 beginning of time, 00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:19.539 to creation. 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:21.539 See, even at the fall, 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:22.879 when sin entered the world 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.820 through Adam and Eve, 00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:26.240 we've had this ongoing struggle. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:29.060 How do we return to the presence 00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:29.740 of the Lord? 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:31.019 How do we enter 00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:32.519 into right relationship with Him? 00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:34.100 How do we live and approach 00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:35.519 God and His holiness? 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.779 And it's really the whole 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:38.519 Ark of Redemption, 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.779 the whole Old Testament story 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:41.299 that unveils the answer 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:42.560 to this question. 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.659 It's not about man coming to God. 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.000 It's not about how we prove 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.000 ourselves to God 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:48.259 that He may be pleased with us. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.180 It's about God coming to us. 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.779 It's about God providing 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.600 a way of salvation. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.700 So David doesn't view 00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.540 this Ark of the Covenant 00:14:55.540 --> 00:14:57.379 as a good luck charm, 00:14:58.040 --> 00:14:58.920 as the people of Israel 00:14:58.920 --> 00:14:59.840 had done in the past. 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:02.200 He's not simply getting the Ark 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:02.940 in order to follow 00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:04.080 this Old Testament law 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.320 as it was supposed to be kept. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.800 He's understanding the blessing 00:15:07.800 --> 00:15:10.379 that comes from God 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.639 being in His presence. 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.680 And so if we turn to 00:15:13.680 --> 00:15:15.740 1 Chronicles 13 through 15, 00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:17.279 this actually provides 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.360 a parallel passage 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.320 to what we read here 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:20.379 in 2 Samuel 6. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:22.019 And it provides a bit more 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.980 detail for us. 00:15:22.980 --> 00:15:23.860 And in those passages, 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:25.399 it actually tells us 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:27.000 the Psalms that David 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.960 and the people sang 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:29.200 when they brought the Ark 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.139 to Jerusalem. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.879 And it's actually a combination 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.899 of the two Psalms 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.600 we sang this morning, 00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:35.720 Psalm 96 and Psalm 105, 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.740 where we rejoice 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:39.700 at the presence of the Lord. 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:41.560 The presence of the Lord 00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:42.759 brings us joy 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.399 because we have 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:44.879 a covenant-keeping God. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.680 We have a God 00:15:45.680 --> 00:15:47.279 who performs wondrous works, 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.820 whose love endures forever. 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:51.540 This is why David 00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:52.379 and his people 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:54.440 had this passion 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.500 for the presence of God. 00:15:56.540 --> 00:15:57.660 And so a question for us, 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.920 do we share this passion 00:15:58.920 --> 00:16:00.560 for the presence of God? 00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:02.480 Do we understand 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.460 our need for Him? 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:06.180 And a need not just means 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:07.100 that when we come to church 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:07.860 on a Sunday morning 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:08.840 we want to meet with Him, 00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:10.260 not just a need for God 00:16:10.260 --> 00:16:11.520 when things are going wrong 00:16:11.520 --> 00:16:12.600 in our lives, 00:16:12.660 --> 00:16:13.500 when our relationship 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.320 with our spouse 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:15.160 is on the rocks, 00:16:15.760 --> 00:16:16.860 when we're having trouble 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.560 with our children 00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:19.200 or having difficulty at work, 00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.680 a true need 00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:23.279 for the centrality 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.340 of God in our lives. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:24.940 Because I think 00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:26.120 this is what often happens 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.000 even in the lives 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:27.560 of Christians. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.440 We have this desire 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.180 to cultivate 00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:31.560 this comfortable life 00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:32.200 for ourselves. 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.980 We want to have a good job. 00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.259 We want to have 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.100 a good relationship 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:36.820 and a good family. 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:37.860 We want good standing 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.580 in our society. 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.539 We want some level 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:41.240 of comfort and dignity. 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.840 And yes, we want God too. 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.700 We want a relationship 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:44.300 with God too, 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.620 but we view that more 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:47.080 as the cherry on top 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.919 of the Sunday 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:49.899 of our lives 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:52.179 rather than allowing 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:53.039 that relationship 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.539 with God, 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.560 the presence of God 00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:55.480 to be central 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.820 to our lives. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.519 We have to change 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.139 our way of thinking 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.139 that we may reorient 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.360 our entire lives 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:04.160 around God 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:05.099 and His presence 00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:06.039 rather than thinking 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:07.099 that we can just 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.599 allow Him 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.000 to remain on the periphery, 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:11.039 to engage Him 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:11.539 in the Gospel 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.400 when it's convenient, 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.140 when it's comfortable. 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:16.480 No, we need God 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:18.100 as a center of our lives 00:17:18.100 --> 00:17:18.920 for our very 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.800 spiritual survival. 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:23.400 And so that brings us 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.200 to our second point, 00:17:24.280 --> 00:17:25.000 then the problem 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.160 with the ark. 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.360 We see David has 00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:28.080 this passion 00:17:28.080 --> 00:17:29.160 for the presence of God, 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.300 but he pursues 00:17:30.300 --> 00:17:30.860 this passion 00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:31.700 in the wrong way 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:33.080 because we see 00:17:33.080 --> 00:17:33.600 in verse 5, 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.420 the ark was brought 00:17:34.420 --> 00:17:35.060 out of the house 00:17:35.060 --> 00:17:35.720 of Abinadab. 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:37.560 It's placed on this cart 00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:39.140 in front of this procession 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.620 heading to Jerusalem. 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:42.480 And the people are singing 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.080 and there's playing 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:43.679 a bag of instruments, 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:45.460 but yet this oxen stumbles, 00:17:46.419 --> 00:17:47.720 the ark starts to slip, 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.839 and this man named Uzzah 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.539 reaches out 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:51.939 to stabilize the ark. 00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:52.960 And what happens? 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.339 He's immediately struck dead. 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.179 Can you imagine 00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:59.339 the change in mood 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:01.519 of 30,000 people 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.299 when this happens? 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.960 People singing 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.879 and dancing 00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:07.099 and rejoicing 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:08.419 with instrument 00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:09.359 and voice 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:11.439 to see instantly 00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:12.559 someone drop dead. 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:15.519 what were they left 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.039 to think? 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.379 Why in the world 00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:18.460 would something 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.220 like this happen? 00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:22.079 And this is the part 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.599 of the story 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:24.740 where a lot of people 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.279 get annoyed 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:27.740 because we think, 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:28.639 what in the world 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.220 happened here? 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.179 What a nasty, 00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:31.240 grumpy, 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.759 vindictive God 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.339 is this? 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:35.879 Why in the world 00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:36.399 would he allow 00:18:36.399 --> 00:18:36.859 this to happen? 00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:38.220 Because we look at Uzzah 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.099 and we think he's just 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:40.339 trying to protect the ark. 00:18:40.419 --> 00:18:41.019 He has the best 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.579 of intentions. 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:43.000 He has a good heart. 00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:44.199 He was sincere 00:18:44.199 --> 00:18:45.199 in his concern. 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.799 Yet God struck him dead. 00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:49.460 Why in the world 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.199 would I want to worship 00:18:50.199 --> 00:18:51.059 a God like this? 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.099 See, the problem 00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.720 with his viewpoint 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.480 is the same problem 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.159 that Uzzah had 00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:55.559 and the people 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.439 of Israel had. 00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:58.819 It's that they assumed 00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.699 their own innocence. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:02.319 If we go back 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.039 to the book of Exodus 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.379 again, 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.240 when God gave 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.419 the law to Moses, 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.679 he gave very 00:19:06.679 --> 00:19:08.619 specific instructions 00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.579 for how to build 00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.039 the ark, 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:11.139 for how to carry 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.619 the ark, 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:12.539 for how to store 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.000 the ark. 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:15.159 The ark had 00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:16.019 these gold rings, 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:16.679 like I said, 00:19:16.719 --> 00:19:17.439 with these poles 00:19:17.439 --> 00:19:18.279 that were to be kept 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:18.879 in the ark 00:19:18.879 --> 00:19:19.419 at all time 00:19:19.419 --> 00:19:19.859 for carrying. 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.719 It was only 00:19:20.719 --> 00:19:21.199 to be carried 00:19:21.199 --> 00:19:21.799 by Levites. 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.679 It was never 00:19:22.679 --> 00:19:23.319 to be touched 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:24.779 by any other human. 00:19:26.659 --> 00:19:27.419 And we read 00:19:27.419 --> 00:19:29.339 laws like this, 00:19:29.459 --> 00:19:30.099 many, many, 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:30.819 many more laws 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:31.119 that we see 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:31.699 in the Old Testament, 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:32.199 Exodus, 00:19:32.459 --> 00:19:32.819 Leviticus, 00:19:32.899 --> 00:19:33.159 Numbers, 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.539 more so than just 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.319 regarding the ark. 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:35.639 And we think, 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.419 why in the world 00:19:36.419 --> 00:19:36.960 did God give 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.179 all these laws 00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:38.899 to the people of Israel? 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.839 They seem so tedious 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.439 and so burdensome. 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.000 If you were with us 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.639 a few months ago, 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.559 we actually walked 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:47.079 through very quickly 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.519 the Ten Commandments 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.819 in Exodus 20. 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.899 And in those few sermons, 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.059 we looked at the uses 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.539 of the law. 00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.539 Why did God give us 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:54.919 the law? 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.839 Well, one of those uses 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.480 that we looked at 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.539 is the law serves 00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.700 first and foremost 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:01.220 as a mirror for us. 00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.839 Because when God 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.460 looks at the law, 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:05.000 he sees his perfection. 00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:07.659 When we look at the law, 00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.319 we see the depth 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:09.939 of our sin. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.579 It shows us how far 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:13.679 we have fallen 00:20:13.679 --> 00:20:15.039 from God's standard. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.339 And so while other religions 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:18.679 say, follow the law 00:20:18.679 --> 00:20:19.639 and you can be saved, 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.419 the God of the Bible 00:20:20.419 --> 00:20:21.259 says you cannot 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:21.879 follow the law 00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:22.720 and you cannot 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.399 save yourself. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.220 And so this is the problem 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:26.799 that Uzzah had. 00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:27.460 It was this lack 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.039 of humility 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.539 that was likely based 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.559 on this familiarity 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.579 that he had 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:33.200 with the ark. 00:20:33.939 --> 00:20:34.879 It said that this ark 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.440 had been stored 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.180 for 20 years 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:37.580 on his family's property. 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.000 He likely would have 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.900 seen it often. 00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:41.620 And so maybe he thought 00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.640 that he had some sort 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.500 of special standing, 00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.940 that he was good enough 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:46.180 to be around the ark, 00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:47.340 that while the enemies 00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:48.580 of God face the wrath 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.120 of God, 00:20:49.780 --> 00:20:50.960 his nearness gave him 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.200 some sort of special privilege. 00:20:54.280 --> 00:20:54.980 And I wonder, 00:20:55.060 --> 00:20:56.320 is that not how we often 00:20:56.320 --> 00:20:58.320 view our own relationship 00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:58.880 with God? 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:58.920 God, 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:01.240 we come to church 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.860 on Sundays, 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:04.080 we have some level 00:21:04.080 --> 00:21:04.780 of familiarity 00:21:04.780 --> 00:21:06.760 with the Bible 00:21:06.760 --> 00:21:08.680 and with singing psalms 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.280 and prayers 00:21:09.280 --> 00:21:09.820 and we think 00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:11.420 somehow that earns us 00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.240 some sort of credit 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.760 to God. 00:21:14.360 --> 00:21:15.440 But yet so often 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:17.360 our heart is cold 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:19.000 and we're totally 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.780 disengaged 00:21:19.780 --> 00:21:20.420 with the gospel. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:22.520 If you think around 00:21:22.520 --> 00:21:23.660 the city around us, 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.640 oftentimes that also 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:26.060 comes with a sense 00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:26.760 of satisfaction, 00:21:27.020 --> 00:21:27.260 self, 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.740 while we're willing 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.700 to judge others. 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:30.279 If you think about 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.240 the fringe going on 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.500 right now, 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.779 the tens of thousands 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.500 of people who are 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:35.000 in this city right now, 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:36.759 we walk around 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.980 and we see these signs, 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.160 some that are inappropriate, 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.640 I don't even want 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.259 to look at the sign 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.940 much less actually 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.740 go to the show. 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:44.740 And it's easy for us 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.460 to look at these people 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:45.720 and say, 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:45.920 yes, 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.140 God is going to judge 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.740 these people. 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:48.879 Well, 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:50.000 I think that we're secure 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:52.259 in this little Christian bubble 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:54.480 relying on our own morality. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:58.059 C.S. Lewis in his book 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.799 Mere Christianity, 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:01.000 he states that man's 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.900 greatest vice, 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.660 the utmost evil of man 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.559 is our pride. 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.400 He calls this the complete 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:08.960 anti-God state of mind 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.720 and from pride 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:11.819 pours forth every other sin, 00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.339 he says. 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.819 And he talks about 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.339 in this book 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.339 how pride distorts 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.059 our relationship, 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.160 our relationship with man, 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.440 but also our relationship 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.140 with God. 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.900 And he writes this, 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:22.000 in God, 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.019 you come up against 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.840 something in which 00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:25.160 in every respect 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.420 is immeasurably 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.700 superior to yourself. 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:30.000 Unless you know 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.300 God as that 00:22:31.300 --> 00:22:32.320 and therefore 00:22:32.320 --> 00:22:33.140 know yourself 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:34.040 as nothing 00:22:34.040 --> 00:22:34.920 by comparison, 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:36.460 you do not know 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.060 God at all. 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:39.440 See, 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.140 the reason that we 00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:40.820 get so offended 00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:42.440 by a passage like this 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.440 and how God 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.320 takes action 00:22:44.320 --> 00:22:45.759 and judges 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.580 a man like Uzzah 00:22:46.580 --> 00:22:47.580 is because we fail 00:22:47.580 --> 00:22:48.420 to see the message 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.440 that God is communicating, 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:51.380 that our sin 00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:52.840 is serious. 00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:55.039 See, 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:56.140 Uzzah's problem 00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:56.840 was that although 00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:58.019 he recognized 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.120 that the ground 00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:00.700 might defile the ark, 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.320 he thought that 00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:02.380 his hand would not. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.740 When in actuality, 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:06.440 the filth of his sins 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.680 was far worse 00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.660 than the dust 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.120 of the earth. 00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:12.640 He had no concept 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.980 for the seriousness 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.820 of his own sin. 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.860 He didn't understand 00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:16.600 that our sin 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.440 and God's holiness 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.500 cannot coexist 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.180 peacefully. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:20.840 And so we see 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.440 the effects 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.680 of this attitude, 00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:23.180 the effects 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.620 of this way 00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.059 of thinking. 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.120 And so I think 00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:26.799 it's worth actually 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.279 pointing out 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.920 some of the language 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.779 that's used 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:30.740 in this passage. 00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:31.460 If we look again 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.400 in verse 8, 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.080 this is how it reads 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:34.660 in the NIV. 00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:36.920 Then David was angry 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.980 because the Lord's wrath 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.580 had broken out 00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.180 against Uzzah 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.960 and to this day 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.820 the place is called 00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:41.660 Perez Uzzah. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:43.160 Now in this one verse 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.960 there's a Hebrew word 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.240 that's used three times, 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:46.120 perats. 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:47.659 And it means 00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.519 to break out 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.679 or to break through. 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.059 And so listen 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.619 to this verse 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.099 if it's read 00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:53.839 literally here. 00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.199 Then David 00:23:55.199 --> 00:23:56.099 became angry 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:56.879 because Yahweh 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:58.079 had broken out 00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.159 with an outbreak 00:23:59.159 --> 00:24:00.139 against Uzzah. 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.619 And so the place 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:02.139 is called 00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:03.419 Outbreak of Uzzah 00:24:03.419 --> 00:24:04.459 to this day. 00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:06.679 And it's interesting 00:24:06.679 --> 00:24:07.239 because this is 00:24:07.239 --> 00:24:08.159 the same word 00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:08.599 that's used 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.059 to describe 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.979 how God defeated 00:24:09.979 --> 00:24:10.599 the Philistines 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.439 in the prior chapter. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.400 Listen to this. 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.779 2 Samuel 5, 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.420 verse 20 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.799 literally reads this. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.299 And David came 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.920 to the Lord 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.759 of Outbreaking 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:20.080 and David 00:24:20.080 --> 00:24:21.100 struck them down there 00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:21.620 and he said, 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.440 Yahweh has broken out 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.920 against my enemies 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.880 like an outbreaking 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:26.480 of water. 00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.380 Therefore he called 00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:29.360 the name of the place 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.580 Lord of Outbreaking. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.080 And so notice 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:33.660 the way that God 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.220 breaks out 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.279 against David's enemies 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.059 in chapter 6 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.860 is the same way 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.480 he breaks out 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.180 against Uzzah. 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:39.279 Or chapter 5 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.700 is the same way 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.160 he breaks out 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.700 against Uzzah 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.500 in chapter 6. 00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:43.560 You see, 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.220 God's lethal 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.080 holiness 00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:47.100 and justice 00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:48.860 is the same 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:49.740 for the pagan 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:51.759 as it is 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.140 for the churchgoer. 00:24:55.040 --> 00:24:56.019 And this is hard 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.860 for us to understand 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.480 sometimes. 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.940 But God is not 00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.640 impressed 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.680 with our church 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.460 attendance record. 00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:03.540 He's not impressed 00:25:03.540 --> 00:25:04.480 or pleased 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.660 with our casual worship. 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.620 He's not, 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.440 he does not want 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.019 to accept 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:09.460 our own spiritual standards 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.160 that when we fool 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:11.019 ourselves into thinking 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:12.059 that we are good enough 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.920 or that our sin 00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.680 isn't that bad 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.299 or that God 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.140 owes us something. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.500 God desires 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.100 for us to see 00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:19.019 the seriousness 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.279 of our sin 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.779 in light 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.400 of his holiness. 00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:24.940 And that ultimately 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.420 leads us 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.380 to our final point. 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.720 Because while this passage 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.880 exposes the problem 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.579 that Israel had 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:30.960 with the ark, 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:32.160 the story doesn't end here. 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:33.460 The people of Israel 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.380 aren't just left 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.460 in this hopeless reality 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.120 of their sin 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:37.500 because what we see here 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.399 is the promise 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.639 of the ark. 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:41.859 In verse 9 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.539 it says that 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:44.079 David was afraid 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.579 of the Lord 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.500 and instead of 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.699 continuing on this journey, 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.339 instead of bringing 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.119 the ark all the way 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:48.619 to Jerusalem, 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.059 he basically abandons 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.639 his plans 00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:51.279 and he leaves 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:51.659 the ark 00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:52.079 in the house 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.659 of Obed-Eden. 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.479 He didn't really, 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:54.879 he didn't say 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.559 that he asked for mission, 00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.639 he just said he left it there. 00:25:56.719 --> 00:25:57.299 Can you imagine 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.819 Obed-Eden 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.519 when he receives 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.779 this rather 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.899 unwanted gift? 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:02.699 Think about this, 00:26:02.719 --> 00:26:03.899 he probably would have heard 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:05.620 that this caused plagues 00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.420 to the Philistines, 00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:06.960 this ark 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.640 and now it's brought 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.380 to Israel 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:09.940 and Uzzah's just died 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.759 because he touched the ark 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.840 and David wants 00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.500 to leave the ark 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:13.900 with him. 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.759 It's like someone 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:16.320 handing like a hand grenade 00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:16.980 without a pin. 00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:17.660 Of course he doesn't 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:18.420 want this gift. 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.480 But yet in this game 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.100 of hot potato, 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.759 you take it, 00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.480 I don't want it, 00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:23.160 David wins 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:24.080 because he's king 00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:25.860 and what we see here 00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:27.440 is this illustration 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:29.240 of what happens 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.180 when we do recognize 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:31.019 our own sinfulness 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:32.300 in light of God's holiness. 00:26:32.540 --> 00:26:33.880 We often want to run 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:35.040 and we want to hide. 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:37.140 This is what Adam and Eve 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:37.700 did in the garden, 00:26:37.780 --> 00:26:38.220 did they not 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.280 when sin entered the world? 00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:42.600 We sense this crushing weight 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:43.280 of guilt 00:26:43.280 --> 00:26:45.480 and helplessness 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.740 because we don't possess 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.500 the righteousness 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.180 that's needed 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.240 to meet God's standards. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.860 But that's not the response 00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:53.920 that God wants from us. 00:26:54.760 --> 00:26:55.820 He doesn't want sin 00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:57.360 to drive us away from him, 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.620 he wants us to recognize 00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.140 our sin 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:00.180 and run to him. 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.600 Recognize your sin, 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.759 I am the only one 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.639 who can save you. 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.659 And we see 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.359 this is the message 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.099 of this passage. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.439 Obed-Eden isn't destroyed, 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.299 it's just the opposite. 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.279 With the ark 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.000 in his presence, 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:12.719 his family 00:27:12.719 --> 00:27:13.819 experiences blessing. 00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:16.399 David is told of this 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:17.259 and he returns again 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.379 with this renewed joy 00:27:18.379 --> 00:27:19.159 to bring the ark 00:27:19.159 --> 00:27:20.559 back to Jerusalem. 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.639 And so when he does 00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:23.279 it this time, 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.599 it's very different 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.139 than how David 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:26.079 approaches the first time. 00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:26.939 He doesn't just come 00:27:26.939 --> 00:27:27.679 with enthusiasm 00:27:27.679 --> 00:27:28.439 and passion, 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.359 he comes with 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.439 a proper understanding 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.120 of forgiveness. 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.240 He comes with 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.860 a recognition 00:27:32.860 --> 00:27:34.279 of his own sinfulness 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.820 in light of God's holiness. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.340 And so rather than 00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:39.200 bring the ark 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:40.019 on a cart, 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.559 it's carried 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.620 as it should have been 00:27:42.620 --> 00:27:43.420 by these poles, 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.440 by the Levites. 00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:45.940 And before they even 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.820 begin their journey, 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.000 before they even 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.480 take that seventh step, 00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:51.360 David offered sacrifice. 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.500 When they arrive 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.080 in Jerusalem, 00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:55.400 more sacrifice. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.360 And so again, 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.059 it shows us 00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:59.000 that David is in keeping 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.700 with the law 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.539 of the Lord here. 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.440 When we think about 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.339 the tabernacle again 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.240 as was described 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.759 in Hebrews, 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.220 before the high priest 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:05.919 could enter in the 00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:06.700 Holy of Holies 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.740 where the ark was kept, 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:09.720 a sacrifice was to be made 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.940 at the altar of burnt offering 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.519 at the entrance 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.419 to the tabernacle. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.519 And so this symbolizes 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.720 the payment of blood 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.539 that must be made 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.500 in order for us 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.279 to enter into 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.259 the presence of God. 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:21.859 And so this is 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:22.919 what causes David 00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:24.159 to dance and to leap 00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:24.759 and to sing 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.480 with all his might 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.519 because he recognizes 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.559 and understands 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.259 that fellowship 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.960 with God is possible. 00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:31.019 What had been promised 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.619 to Moses 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.759 when this law was given 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.759 holds true. 00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.720 I will meet you 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.659 at the mercy seat. 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.599 And if this is true 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.139 for David, 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.519 then it's all the more 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.319 true for you and me 00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:43.079 because what David 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.159 could only see dimly, 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.599 we now see clearly. 00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:48.720 To see the value 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.480 of this ark 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:51.139 is to see the foreshadowing 00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:52.259 that it provides us, 00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:53.359 pointing us forward 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:54.359 to the future reality 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.419 that we will no longer 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.980 depend on the blood 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.680 of animals 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.320 for the forgiveness 00:28:58.320 --> 00:28:58.880 of sin. 00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.980 It points us forward 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.380 to our perfect sacrifice, 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.240 the Son of God, 00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:02.620 Jesus, 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.620 who came to earth, 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.900 who lived a perfect life, 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.660 perfectly fulfilling the law, 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.380 dying the death 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:08.820 we deserve, 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:10.200 rising in victory 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.720 over the grave. 00:29:13.800 --> 00:29:14.740 And so it brings us back 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.240 to what we read 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.539 in Hebrews chapter 9. 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.940 Jesus did not enter 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.600 the tabernacle 00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:19.600 by means of blood 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.860 of goats and calves, 00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:21.680 but he entered 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.700 the most holy place 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.759 once and for all 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.619 by his own blood, 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.359 thus obtaining 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.220 eternal redemption. 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.740 See, the presence of God 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.519 does not reside 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.819 on that mercy seat 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:33.339 of the ark any longer. 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.740 Behind that veil, 00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.299 that curtain 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:37.859 that separated 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.839 the holy of holies. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.339 See, that veil 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:41.140 has been torn 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:42.339 and we no longer 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.039 need the ark 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.640 to experience 00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:45.180 the presence of the Lord. 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.700 In fact, 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.900 this is what was prophesied 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:49.079 by Jeremiah. 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.440 In Jeremiah 3.16, 00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:52.000 he says, 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.180 the ark of the covenant 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:53.799 of the Lord 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:55.559 will not come to mind 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.759 or be remembered 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.000 or be missed. 00:29:58.900 --> 00:30:00.599 It shall not be made again. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.720 At that time, 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.980 Jerusalem shall be called 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:05.220 the throne of the Lord. 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:06.259 What is he talking about? 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:09.000 He's prophesying 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:10.440 where we live now. 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:12.380 We recognize 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:14.200 that we don't need the ark. 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.140 Those who have received 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:15.960 God's grace 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:17.259 through faith in Christ, 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.779 we no longer need an ark 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:20.480 because we are the ark. 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:20.519 God, 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:22.799 we are the temple of God. 00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.440 It is God 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:25.140 who dwells in us. 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.000 And so in the same way 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:29.200 that David could rejoice 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:31.019 and celebrate as he did, 00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.940 we can as well. 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.079 We see at the end 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.559 of this passage, 00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.240 we can't spend 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.019 too much time here, 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.940 but we see that David 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.440 is chastised by Michael 00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:40.200 for his exuberance. 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:42.380 And how does he respond? 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.500 He responds by saying, 00:30:44.620 --> 00:30:45.440 I will rejoice 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.440 because the Lord 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.620 has chosen me. 00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:51.319 Can we respond 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:52.179 in the same way 00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:53.159 by saying, 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:55.559 the Lord has chosen me? 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.579 If so, 00:30:57.659 --> 00:30:58.239 we rejoice 00:30:58.239 --> 00:30:58.859 in the presence 00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.579 of the Lord. 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.799 If this is not you, 00:31:01.939 --> 00:31:03.159 recognize that Christ's blood 00:31:03.159 --> 00:31:04.319 has been shed for you. 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.339 His grace 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:06.359 is available to you. 00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:07.639 He longs to be 00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:08.759 in your presence. 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:12.379 And so may it be 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.039 our desire 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:14.960 to live 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:16.000 in the presence 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.819 of the Lord 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.819 that he may be 00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:19.240 central to our life, 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.599 that our sins 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.400 have been forgiven 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:23.400 and we rejoice 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.460 in perfect relationship 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:24.920 with him. 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.339 Let's pray together. 00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.500 Lord, we thank you 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.099 for the symbolism 00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:35.180 we see in the Ark 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.700 of the Covenant. 00:31:35.700 --> 00:32:05.680 Let's pray together.