Are you ashamed of God… Or, exalting Him?

2 Samuel 6:1-3a David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. 

David took the initiative to honor God. Leaders should lead and honor the Lord. 6:1-2

2 Samuel 6:3b-6  Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.

2 Samuel 6:7-8  The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

Only the sons of Kohath were to carry it. David’s intentions were good. But, he brought the Ark up inappropriately. (Ex. 25:14-15; Num. 3:30-31; 4:15; 7:9). Only the sons of Kohath were to carry it.

When we desire to honor God, we must do it God’s way. We should not seek to do the right thing the wrong way.

David was angry with the Lord. David substituted zeal for obedience. He seemed to resent what God had done.

If we think God is unfair, we need to think again When people resent what God is doing in their lives, they need a biblical point of view Just because it’s “what I want” or “the way I see it doesn’t make me right”

Our resentment oftentimes involves justifying ourselves and not God This time, David does not consult anyone and, in so doing, shows some self-righteousness

2 Samuel 6:9-11 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?”  He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.

David was afraid of God due to this incident. He need not have been. Ironically, one need never be afraid of God if He is feared properly. 1 Pet. 1:15-19; 1 Jn. 4:17-18

We need not become superstitious; only do things the way God tells us. God blessed the presence of the Ark after David would not take it to Jerusalem. We need not become superstitious; only do things the way God tells us.

2 Samuel 6:12-15 Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

2 Samuel 6:16-17 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 

2 Samuel 6:18-19 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

David lost his fear of God and his anger toward God (himself David lost his fear of God and his anger toward God (himself?) subsided. To his credit, David put the matter behind him, embraced a biblical view of God, and was able to worship.

An improper view of God hinders worship Whether we are angry toward God or ourselves, we need to deal with problems, put them behind us, and worship God Dwelling on the past will destroy the present and place the future in jeopardy

When we worship God properly we help others do the same Corporate worship is right and pleases God - Ps. 34:3; 147:1; 149:1; 150:6

Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

To “bless the Lord” involves “enlarging the Lord”, acknowledging His greatness, and praising Him for it.

2 Samuel 6:20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death. 2 Samuel 6:21-23 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Michal didn’t get it. She represents a modern mindset that prefers formal, straight-laced worship to genuine spontaneity.

Spontaneity is not the same thing as “anything goes” or disorganized worship - 1 Cor. 14:33, 40 It is a naturalness, a heart -felt worship - Jn. 4:24 True worship is also careful worship - 1 Thess. 5:19-22

Michal may have been impacted by her father’s spiritual dullness. May God deliver us from that kind of impact on our children. Michal paid a price for her mean-spiritedness. So will we.

Are we ashamed of our relationship with God and His Word? David was a man unashamed of His God and honored Him publicly with joy. Are we ashamed of our relationship with God and His Word?

Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

John 12:42-43 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

“Pilgrims (strangers)” = Resident, foreigner, stranger, alien” “(Elect) Sojourners” = staying for a while in a strange or foreign place…residing temporarily” “Pilgrims (strangers)” = Resident, foreigner, stranger, alien” This is not our home!

The candidates may be a concern, but so are those voting for them. We don’t love the world when we compromise, but we are loving the world!

The world is winning at evangelism. We’re not reaching the world, but the world is reaching us.

Imagine what America would be if believers had focused on making disciples! While good citizens should seek to impact their nation by voting, serving, and praying, we should always remember one key reality…

But, we can make a difference! Unless we are too ashamed. We are not home yet. But, we can make a difference! Unless we are too ashamed.

Are you ashamed of God… or exalting Him?