Sermon Summary

This week Pastor Chris continued through the life of David, looking at how David responded when his adverse circumstances changed. As we move into 2 Samuel, David’s season of difficulty had shifted as he was elevated and promoted. David made a bold decision to build his life around the presence of God, and He wanted God to be at the center of the nation. Through David, we learn what it looks like to build our lives around God rather than adding the Lord to a foundation we’ve already laid.                

1 Chronicles 13:3 (ESV)

3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.”

1 Samuel 4:11 (ESV)

11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

David’s Decisions to Put God in the Center

  1. Beginning: Moved the ark to Jerusalem.
  2. Middle: wrote a prayer book.
  3. End: Prepared for the temple.

2 Samuel 6:1–4 (ESV)

1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 4 with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.

Exodus 25:22 (ESV)

22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

2 Samuel 6:5–10 (ESV)

 5 And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 10 So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

What was Uzzah’s error?

  1. He was not Kohathite Levite. 
  2. He did not consult the Word of God.
  3. He touched the ark, which is holy.

1 Chronicles 13:10 (ESV)

10 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.

  1. The Holiness of God

Numbers 4:5-6, 15 (ESV)

5When the camp prepares to journey…they shall…cover the ark…6They shall put on it a covering…and they shall insert its poles… 15When the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.

“God’s holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered. We know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable… Holy is the way God is. To be holy He does not conform to a standard. He is that standard.”

–A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy.

2 Samuel 6:11–12a (ESV)

11 And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. 12 And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.”

  • The Blessing of the Lord

2 Samuel 6:12b–15 (ESV)

So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

1 Chronicles 15:13–15 (ESV)

13 Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

  • The Truth & Pattern of God

1 Corinthians 10:6 (ESV)

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

The Plumbline of God is the Word of God.

Exodus 25:9 (ESV)

9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Amos 7:7–8 (ESV)

7 This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them;

Purpose of a Plumbline: A plumb line is a weight suspended from a string used as a vertical reference line to ensure a structure is centered.

Take up the Plumbline

  • Allowing compromise.
    • Fear of cultural consequences.
    • Reducing the force of prayer.
    • Taking the attractive parts of the Bible only.
    • Accepting a shallow faith.
    • Accepting a non-Biblical worldview.

Don’t be a Casual Builder

1 Corinthians 3:10–13 (ESV)

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

Discussion Questions

1. What was the ark of the covenant? What is symbolic about David’s decision to take back the ark of the covenant from Abinadab (see 2 Samuel 6:1-4)?

2. What was Uzzah’s error and what were the consequences of his error?

3. Why is it so important for us to understand God’s holiness in our relationship with Christ?

4. What is a plumb line and what was God’s purpose for it (see Amos 7:7-8)? What should be our plumb line current day?

5. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-13. Be honest: what is the foundation of your life? Do you need to realign with the Word of God in any specific areas? Share with the group.

Application Questions

1. Are you adding God to your life, or is your life built around God and His presence? Share your answer with your discipler and realign with God this week.

2. Are there any areas of compromise in your life right now? Share honestly with a friend or mentor this week.