A Story that Disturbs and Agitates Us
I. The STORY on the SURFACE. (v.1-23)
A. David is CENTRING things in JERUSALEM. (2 Sam. 5)
B. WORSHIP is a top PRIORITY. (v.1-5, 12-19)
C. An MOMENT that DISRUPTS everything. (v.6-11)
D. A STRANGE domestic DISAGREEMENT. (v.19-23)
This is story that often leaves us stunned, at least the first section. The chapter takes several months to play out. There is a lot going on as we read between the lines, but let’s start by just looking at the main flow of the story.
1. Kid’s Question: As you read through this story, what is one question you’d like to ask God about it?
2. Imagine walking along with the procession that day and seeing Uzzah reach out and then be struck dead. What would you have thought/felt/done in that situation?
II. ENGAGING the WHY questions. (Ps. 13:1-3)
A. Why DESTROY an “Ark PROTECTOR”? (v.7)
B. Why INCLUDE the FIGHT with Michal? (v.16, 19-23)
The death of Uzzah seems like such an over-reaction to the action that he took. We look at what we assume to be his intention and are stunned by the response of God to Uzzah’s concern for the Ark. Another smaller question comes in at the end of the chapter…but suffice it to say this is a passage that makes us all say, “Why?”
3. How comfortable are you with asking God “why” questions? How comfortable are you when God doesn’t seem to answer?
4. Do you sense any link between the story of Uzzah and the story of Michal? Why do you think God might have had these in the same section of text?
III. The BACKSTORY that lies UNDERNEATH. (Ex 25 and Num. 7)
A. God is the KING, not a THING. (I Sam. 4-6; Ex. 25:10-22; Num. 7:1-9)
B. God is PRESENT, but God is OTHER. (I Sam. 6:19-20)
1. A helpful METAPHOR for HOLINESS.
There are some underlying issues that are important to note as we walk through this story. They may not make us feel comfortable with all that has happened, but at least they provide some understanding. And maybe the discomfort that we feel in reading this passage is actually something we need.
5. When have you (maybe without realizing it) viewed God more as a thing than as the King? How did that play out?
6. What does it mean to you that God is “other”? How does this impact your own walk of faith? Where might it cause a challenge for you?
IV. ENGAGING with a HOLY God. (Is. 6:3)
A. The DISRUPTIVE force of the OTHERNESS of God. (v.7; Is. 6:4-5; Heb. 12:26-29)
B.
It REORIENTS us to the true REALITY. (v.9; Mark 8:33)
1. God does not NEED our PROTECTION. (v.6-7; Jn 19:10-11)
2. God is not a PATHWAY to STATUS. (v.2,16,20; Jn 13:14-15)
C. Jesus gives us ACCESS to God’s HOLINESS. (Eph. 2:13; 2 Cor. 5:21)
David’s parade 3000 years ago seems so far away, but the things that happened in this chapter force us to face some hard questions. This God of the Old Testament is embodied in Jesus. But how does that impact the way we live in a relationship with Jesus? What does it mean to engage with a Holy God?
7. When has God disrupted your plans? What was that like? What came out of that?
8. Are there things that God does that we feel we need to “soften”? What is that
saying about us? How important is our “comfort” to our trust in God?