“God struck him down…”
I. David ESTABLISHES the KINGDOM. (2 Sam. 5-6)
A. A KING, a CAPITAL, and big VICTORY. (2 Sam 5)
B. BRINGING the ark (God) HOME. (v. 1-2)
C. WHERE had the ark (God) BEEN? (1 Sam. 4-7)
Last week we saw that Saul’s time was short and David was soon to be king. This week David takes the steps he sees as necessary to establish his throne. He wants a central location…and he wants to have God close by.
1. Kid’s question: What’s the first thing you would do if you were a King/Queen?
2. What kinds of symbols do we have today that remind us of God’s presence with us? Do you find them helpful?
II. This did not GO as PLANNED. (v.3-11)
A. Some IMPORTANT but FORGOTTEN details. (v.3-4; Num. 4:1-15)
B. The VERSE that UNSETTLES us. (v.7)
C. David’s REACTION and RESPONSE. (v.8-11)
He sets out with 30,000 men to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. But it’s an understatement to say that no body could have guessed how the day was actually going to play out. This is text that shakes us a bit, but not as much as it shook David.
3. What is you initial reaction to this text? What questions/thoughts does it stir up?
4. When has God not acted in a way that you wanted or expected? How did you respond?
III. A SECOND and very DIFFERENT attempt. (v.12-23; 1 Chron. 15:12-15)
A. Some TENTATIVE first STEPS… (v.13)
B. …FOLLOWED by CELEBRATION. (v.14-19)
C. Michal and David’s DIFFERING PERSPECTIVE. (v.16, 20-23)
3 months goes by and David tries again. He sees the blessings that have come to the household of Obed-Edom and frankly, wants that to be happening to the city of Jerusalem. This time he has learned a bit about the way God wants things done.
5. Have you ever been angry with God? What (in anything) helped it to resolve?
6. What do you think gave David the courage to try again? When have you had to “restart” your relationship with God?
IV. Living REVERENTLY and UNDIGNIFIED. (v.21-22)
A. The DANGER of religious FAMILIARITY. (v.6; Lk 7:44-47)
1. Truth – God COMES on His TERMS. (v.9; Acts 17:25)
2. Call – SURRENDER, OBEDIENCE, and TRUST. (v.13; Mt. 11:28-30)
B. The IDOLATRY of our own IMAGE. (v.16,20; 2 Tim 3:1-5; Mk 8:34-36)
1. Truth – We LIVE in His PRESENCE. (v.21; Acts 17:28; Ps. 139:7-10)
2. Call – OPEN up to the larger PERSPECTIVE. (v.21-22; Ps. 24)
What does this text say to us today? There are two main temptations that it highlights that still lurk in the shadows of our lives. The story we’ve covered as well as the larger scope of Scripture helps us to take steps to root these temptations out of our lives.
7. How can we best balance the love and grace of God with reverence for his holiness and power?
8. How might living more aware of God’s presence with you as well as His love and grace for you, free you from the idolatry of maintaining your own image? Think of some specifics.
“On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return. ”
― Annie Dillard