The Importance of Reverence for God’s Presence
2 Samuel 6:1–23
Numbers 4:15 (NIV)
they must not touch the holy things or they will die.
Numbers 7:9 (NLT)
they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.
1 Chronicles 13:1–3 (NIV)
David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul."
1st A Lack of Reverence Results in Spiritual Blindness
2 Samuel 6:1–5 (NIV)
David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all.
He and all his men set out from Baalah of 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 that are 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. 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 the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.
2nd A Lack of Reverence Can Bring Spiritual Death
2 Samuel 6:6–7 (NIV)
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 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.
2 Samuel 6:8 (NLT)
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.
2 Samuel 5:20 (ESV)
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, "The Lord has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.
3rd Reverence for God’s Presence Brings Blessing
2 Samuel 6:9–12 (NIV)
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 aside 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. 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 down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.
2 Samuel 6:12 (NIV)
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 down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.
4th Reverence for God Brings Joy
1 Chronicles 16:7–8 (NLT)
On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the LORD: Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16:28–29 (NLT)
O nations of the world, recognize the LORD, recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong. Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.
2 Samuel 6:13–15 (NIV)
When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might,
while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
5th A Lack of Reverence Leads to a Barren Life
2 Samuel 6:16, 20–23 (NIV)
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. 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, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" 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.
2 Samuel 6:16 (NIV)
she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD
2 Samuel 6:21 (NIV)
David said, "I will celebrate before the LORD.
2 Samuel 6:22 (NIV)
I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes."
