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...  Read More

2 Samuel 6:3-11 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart that carried the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark. David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. Then the LORD’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God. David was angry because the LORD’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today. David was now afraid of the LORD, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the LORD back into my care?” So David decided not to move the Ark of the LORD into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. The Ark of the LORD remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and his entire household. It’s tempting to skip this part of the story. The death of Uzzah raises many difficult questions, and I want to be honest from the start— we won’t be able to address them all thoroughly. Sadly, we might overlook the concern that matters most to you. I encourage you to participate in a Crosswalk small group experience to explore even further...  Read More

1 Samuel 4:2-3, 10-11, 19-21 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.” So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed. Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth. She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy” But she did not answer or pay attention to them. She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”), for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured… David is on a mission to return the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, to a central place of worship in the new capital city. But before he does, let’s consider where the Ark has been, why it was missing, and the attitudes of worship our story warns against...  Read More

Psalm 132:1-5 LORD, remember David and all that he suffered. He made a solemn promise to the LORD. He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel, “I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber until I find a place to build a house for the LORD, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” 2 Samuel 6:1-3 David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. This week, we examine 2 Samuel 6 and what David’s life teaches us about worship. If it seems like the study starts with a simple rearrangement of religious furniture, don’t be fooled. There’s much more to it than that. Worship, at its core, celebrates that the “I Am” of Exodus 3:14—the One who “was and is and is to come” in Revelation 1:4—chooses to draw near and live with us. The creator of all things adopts the name Immanuel, ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23). The first chapter of the book of John describes Jesus’ mission of redemption. He is the Word. He is God. He was in the beginning. He is the Creator. And in verse 14, John says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The literal translation of the Greek is that Jesus “tabernacled” among us. Throughout the Old Testament, God describes Himself and His desire for closeness using various metaphors and symbols. One of the most vivid images appears in the wilderness tabernacle that God commanded to be built at the center of the Israelites’ camp during their exodus from Egypt. God outlined every detail of this structure so that the story of salvation could be revealed. It included symbols representing the cross of Christ, His resurrection, prayer, and forgiveness. In the innermost part of the tabernacle sat a gold-covered acacia wood box called the Ark of the Covenant...  Read More

The following guide is designed to facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things...  Read More

2 Samuel 2:5-7 7 Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.” David’s second anointing as king of Judah would have contrasted sharply with his first anointing by the prophet Samuel. Back with Samuel, is what a private ceremony, family only, secretive even. The current king, Saul, was not mentally stable and would have seen this act as a direct threat on him and his kingdom; which it was. But now, David’s anointing would have come with all the pomp and circumstance the Jews would have done for Saul back in the days. This was a public, popular, and very political act. In fact, unlike with Samuel, there’s no hint of the religious aspect to this anointing at all. Truth is, however, David was God’s choice whether in public or private. He didn’t have to be publicly recognized to act as God’s chosen, did he?...  Read More