It's Complicated (S2): WK 2 - THU
1 Chronicles 15:1-2; 13
David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place
for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it. Then he commanded, “No one
except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The LORD has chosen them to carry the
Ark of the LORD and to serve him forever.”
[Then David said to the priests…] Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time,
the anger of the LORD our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to
move it properly.”
2 Samuel 6:12-15
Then King David was told, “The LORD has blessed Obed-edom’s household and
everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the
Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great
celebration. After the men who were carrying the Ark of the LORD had gone six
steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. And David danced before
the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people
of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and the blowing of
rams’ horns.
The tragic death of Uzzah stopped the joyful procession heading for Jerusalem. Feeling angry and afraid, David refused to continue and left the Ark in the home of Obed-Edom, a Levite. In his confusion, David must have turned to the Scriptures to find out what had gone wrong. There, he discovered the detailed instructions for how the Ark should be transported and rededicated himself to restore corporate worship of Yahweh.
For three months, David prepared to retrieve the Ark. During that time, he received hopeful reports that God's presence had blessed everyone in Obed-Edom’s household, and his determination grew stronger. Finally, David led the crowd of priests and worshipers to Perez-Uzzah to continue the process of bringing God back to the center of Israel.
Several aspects stand out in the descriptions of that day. First, David is so devoted to God that he stopped to make a sacrifice after just six steps on the 8-mile journey. Sacrificing a bull and a fattened calf symbolized submission, repentance, and acceptance of forgiveness. In reality, David isn’t primarily making a sacrifice to God but is accepting God’s sacrifice on his behalf. Some translations suggest that the process paused after every sixth step for additional sacrifices. Echoes of the Sabbath resonate as the group labors every six steps and then rests in God’s salvation on the seventh.
Second, David dances with all his might. Whatever you make of this detail, it is undeniably joyful, loud, and heartfelt. The description leaves no room for spectators to remain neutral about the activity. Just like today, this would have been objectionable to some and liberating to others. Some must have joined in, while others shrank back. David’s dance prompts us to consider the essence of worship. From person to person, God’s greatest desire is that we worship with all our might in the style or language of our most meaningful expression.
Third, David removes his robes. He sheds his identity as king and embraces the attire of an ordinary person. Whether with head bowed, hands lifted, shouting at the top of your lungs, or whispering quietly, true worship is the response of a sinner meeting their Savior. This kind of worship isn’t about style, reputation, or achievement. It is the expression made when accepted in the presence of the only One worthy of praise.
Finally, you probably noticed that David appears to dance and worship in the same way on the day Uzzah died. In both cases, he engaged with his whole spirit. However, the second instance is different. The book of John tells the story of Jesus meeting a woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria. This woman asks about the right way to worship, and Jesus replies that God desires us to worship in spirit and in truth. As it turns out, listening to God and embracing His Word are just as important as our expressions of adoration toward Him.
So, David danced before the Lord, in spirit and in truth.
1. What is your first memory of attending a worship service (if you have one)? What was
it like? What made sense, and what didn’t?
2. Have you worshipped in different styles? What were they?
3. What element of worship do you find most meaningful? Why do you think that is?
4. Spend a minute contemplating Jesus’ love and acceptance. Consider listening to the
worship playlist for the upcoming weekend from your campus or another campus
as you go about your day.
David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place
for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it. Then he commanded, “No one
except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The LORD has chosen them to carry the
Ark of the LORD and to serve him forever.”
[Then David said to the priests…] Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time,
the anger of the LORD our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to
move it properly.”
2 Samuel 6:12-15
Then King David was told, “The LORD has blessed Obed-edom’s household and
everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the
Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great
celebration. After the men who were carrying the Ark of the LORD had gone six
steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. And David danced before
the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people
of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and the blowing of
rams’ horns.
The tragic death of Uzzah stopped the joyful procession heading for Jerusalem. Feeling angry and afraid, David refused to continue and left the Ark in the home of Obed-Edom, a Levite. In his confusion, David must have turned to the Scriptures to find out what had gone wrong. There, he discovered the detailed instructions for how the Ark should be transported and rededicated himself to restore corporate worship of Yahweh.
For three months, David prepared to retrieve the Ark. During that time, he received hopeful reports that God's presence had blessed everyone in Obed-Edom’s household, and his determination grew stronger. Finally, David led the crowd of priests and worshipers to Perez-Uzzah to continue the process of bringing God back to the center of Israel.
Several aspects stand out in the descriptions of that day. First, David is so devoted to God that he stopped to make a sacrifice after just six steps on the 8-mile journey. Sacrificing a bull and a fattened calf symbolized submission, repentance, and acceptance of forgiveness. In reality, David isn’t primarily making a sacrifice to God but is accepting God’s sacrifice on his behalf. Some translations suggest that the process paused after every sixth step for additional sacrifices. Echoes of the Sabbath resonate as the group labors every six steps and then rests in God’s salvation on the seventh.
Second, David dances with all his might. Whatever you make of this detail, it is undeniably joyful, loud, and heartfelt. The description leaves no room for spectators to remain neutral about the activity. Just like today, this would have been objectionable to some and liberating to others. Some must have joined in, while others shrank back. David’s dance prompts us to consider the essence of worship. From person to person, God’s greatest desire is that we worship with all our might in the style or language of our most meaningful expression.
Third, David removes his robes. He sheds his identity as king and embraces the attire of an ordinary person. Whether with head bowed, hands lifted, shouting at the top of your lungs, or whispering quietly, true worship is the response of a sinner meeting their Savior. This kind of worship isn’t about style, reputation, or achievement. It is the expression made when accepted in the presence of the only One worthy of praise.
Finally, you probably noticed that David appears to dance and worship in the same way on the day Uzzah died. In both cases, he engaged with his whole spirit. However, the second instance is different. The book of John tells the story of Jesus meeting a woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria. This woman asks about the right way to worship, and Jesus replies that God desires us to worship in spirit and in truth. As it turns out, listening to God and embracing His Word are just as important as our expressions of adoration toward Him.
So, David danced before the Lord, in spirit and in truth.
1. What is your first memory of attending a worship service (if you have one)? What was
it like? What made sense, and what didn’t?
2. Have you worshipped in different styles? What were they?
3. What element of worship do you find most meaningful? Why do you think that is?
4. Spend a minute contemplating Jesus’ love and acceptance. Consider listening to the
worship playlist for the upcoming weekend from your campus or another campus
as you go about your day.
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