Death, Dancing and a Life Giving Relationship
2 Samuel 6. Talks about death dancing and a life giving relationship. I’d much rather
talk about dancing than death…
Video of baby dancing in car seat
Babies can only dance cute. Adults not so much. Children seem to dance with a lack
of self consciousness. Muscle relaxing medication – middle aged man dancing with
abandonment. Guy doesn’t give a rip what people may think of him. Just dance.
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 ram’s horns. 2 Samuel 6:14-15
Death and dancing story recorded in II Samuel 6 -This chapter in among those difficult
passages of Scripture It’s got death and a dance in it – the two don’t seem to fit. We
are taken aback at the harsh action of God, in what we might regard as a merciless act
of justice. On the surface, we see Uzzah doing what appears as a good deed, and God
responding with swift vengeance. We also see David in what appears as inappropriate
behavior before God, suffering no ill consequences.
How is it that I do something good and then this happens? Can’t you see God that I
was doing something helpful? How do I interact with a God like this?
The Story:
The Ark of the Covenant had been captured by the Philistines nearly 20 years prior to
this incident (I Sam 4-7), before David became king. The Ark was Israel’s national
treasure and most sacred object; it was the presence of God among His people. It was
kept in the Tabernacle, in the Most Holy Place, a curtained-off location where only the
High Priest would enter on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The Philistines captured
the Ark, but soon gladly sent it back after God destroyed the idol of their god Dagon and
the people were stricken with tumors. Abinadab was housing the Ark in Kiriath-Jearim
(approx. 20 miles west of Jerusalem) after its return from the Philistines.
When David established his throne in Jerusalem, he set up his rule like the capitol.
Parlaiment buildings were set up, his palace. He didn’t want this to be about his rule.
He wanted God to be the ultimate ruler. He determined to bring the holy Ark to his new
capital, to provide the focus for worship and a rallying point for the nation. He wanted
the glory back. David’s mission is an important, holy task. David wanted to honour God
so he decided to bring it to the capital city
The day David brought the Ark to Jerusalem was perhaps the greatest day of his life.
The Ark was placed on an ox cart. The oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and the Ark slid
and was about to fall to the ground. Uzzah, one of the priests charged with transfering
the Ark, put out his hand to prevent the Ark from striking the ground. Then came the
hard sentence
6
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. 7 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. 2 Samuel 6:6-7
We might have expected God to thank Uzzah; instead He executed him on the spot.
8 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. 9 David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark
of the Lord back into my care?” 10 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. 11 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.
2 Samuel 6:8-11
David called off the mission immediately. Who would dare continue after that? Three
months later David completed the task, and this time with extravagant celebration. We
read that “David danced before the Lord with all his might,” accompanied by “shouts
and the sound of trumpets”. The Ark of the Covenant was there for the death and the
dance…Uzzah’s death and David’s dance.
Michal was in a room above the street looking down and judging David for his lack of
distinguished behaviour.
Tell story – pg 143-144
We are taken aback at the harsh action of God, in what we might regard as a merciless
act of justice. On the surface, we see Uzzah doing what appears as a good deed, and
God responding with swift vengeance. We also see David in what appears as
inappropriate behavior before God, suffering no ill consequences.
How is it that I do something good and then this happens? Can’t you see God that I
was doing something helpful? How do I interact with a God like this?
What was Uzzah’s sin? It’s tempting to say he was in the wrong place at the wrong
time! Uzzah was slain for “irreverence”, vs. 6. The Hebrew people largely regarded the
Ark as a good luck object.
Sometimes the story doesn’t tell us exactly – we have to look at the context and the
broad strokes of the story.
6
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. 7 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. 2 Samuel 6:6-7
Uzzah dies a death by “Religion”
I understand good religion but this is bad religion.
Uzzah saw himself as one whose job it was to “take care” of God. He had God in a box,
and assumed responsibility for keeping Him safe from the mud and dust of the world.
Uzzah ignored, perhaps defied Moses’ clear directions on the proper handling the Ark. It
was not to be touched with human hands, but carried by Levites using poles inserted
through rings attached to the Ark. Only the poles could be touched. In his book The
Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul points out: “Uzzah assumed that his hand was less
polluted than the earth. But it wasn’t the ground that would desecrate the Ark; it was the
touch of man.” Uzzah was a Kohathite, a clan from within the tribe of Levi, which had
been consecrated by God to handle the logistics of moving the Tabernacle—the tent
and its furnishings. The book of Numbers clearly warns that they may not touch the holy
objects “or they will die”. Only the Levitical priests were allowed to carry the most holy
objects; the Kohathites were not to even look at the Ark (Num 4).
In the Mosaic Law there were clear warnings about the Ark, but they were ignored.
Uzzah substituted what he might have regarded as a more efficient way of getting good
work done. But his method was impersonal. He replaced consecrated people with a cart
that was new, and the priests may have figured it was an appropriate method. God says
“I will not be treated as an impersonal force.” Uzzah fatally discovered that he was not in
charge of God.
God in a box
Death is religion. Relationship is dancing. Dancing is life giving.
Characteristics of a Life Giving Relationship with God.
A Life Giving Relationship involves our emotions
8
David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against
Uzzah…. David was now afraid of the Lord…So David and all the people of Israel
brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy…
Not a mechanistic response
It’s a personal and a communal relationship David became upset at Uzzah’s death; the
word “angry” (vs 8) might be better translated “distressed” (maybe even “confused”).
This better fits vs 9, which reveals David’s confusion and despair. “How can the Ark
come to me?” he cries out. David clearly realized that God was offended and he was
not willing to further risk divine displeasure. David did not know how to progress and so
he immediately halted the operation and placed the Ark in the nearby home of Obededom, a Levite.
It is hard not to notice that while God does not tolerate Uzzah’s action, He tolerates
David’s anger. David’s anger did not get him killed because he was treating God as
God, and not as a box to be manipulated.
In a Life Giving Relationship you come to God with mixed motives and
receive God’s covenant blessing
…the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household. So David went there
and brought the Ark of God (Ark of the Covenant)…
2 Samuel 6:11-12
David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heavens Armies. Then he
gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of
dates, and a cake of raisins. 2 Samuel 6:18-19
So David hears about some great blessing coming Obed – Edoms way. He says, I
want some of that. Who doesn’t want blessing? David honours God, he want’s God to
be the ruler of the people. That’s why he’s bringing the ark to Jerusalem. Okay I want
some of that.
God’s heart is to bless – the household just gets blessed by having the presence of God
amongst them.
Lesson: David relearned that God’s heart is to love and to bless
He blesses the people with food and a party.
Illustration: getting a cheque from the Alberta government. Uncle Jim – treasurer.
A Life Giving Relationship is filled with awe at God’s power
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. 2
Samuel 6:2
This 4 foot by 2 foot by 2 foot box had some very important symbolism and artwork on
it. These are kicking strong angels on either side of the throne.
Inside is the ten commandment tablets, a pot of manna, and Aarons rod with the buds
on it. Miracles. This is a miraculous God.
This situation reminds of a key attribute of God—His holiness. God is holy, and not to
be disrespected. We wisely enter His presence with the awareness that He is a
consuming fire. We are not to say His Name loosely or lightly, or in a profane way.
Presumption – I can do whatever.
This wasn’t an accident--the falling of the Ark was a sign, God’s way of stopping the
procession. God was not objecting to the intended relocation, Jerusalem; He was
opposed to the inappropriate means of transport. The Philistines earlier also used an
oxcart to return the captured Ark, but their ignorance was overlooked. Without human
assistance the Ark was divinely guided straight back to Israel. The Jews, on the other
hand, ought to have known how to properly treat the sacred. The lesson here is that we
have access to God, but not casual familiarity. We may boldly approach God, but with
reverence and respect.
David leaves the ark right where it is…doesn’t want to deal with God but then he sees
that God is for us, not against us. God is against evil. Don’t let it creep in…God has a
high standard…we don’t measure up and there is grace. Deal with God … do it with a
humble heart listening to his instruction. You can think you are going about life with
Gods best interest but maybe you have just started to do it your way.
Maybe we’re like Uzzah in the way we casually look at the things that are close to God’s
heart – sacred things. David got sloppy in his obedience to God and followed the
customs of the people rather than God’s clear instruction
Church is boring to some who don’t have an awe of God. Uzzah thought he was
protecting the Ark--Maybe we’re also like Uzzah in our need to defend God.
CS Lewis: You don’t defend a lion—you simply get out of his way.
Fear God – “beware a God” Let God be God. You can’t figure God out.
Mystery is ok when there is a sense of God is God and I believe in his mighty power
Following God’s instructions gives life to the relationship
After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David
sacrificed a bull and fattened calf” 2 Samuel 6:13
Easy to miss the implications of this verse. They carried the ark the way God had
instructed them.
Then David did his homework. At his 2nd attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, he
followed the Mosaic Law and obeyed its strict and clear instructions regarding proper
handling of this sacred treasure.
NFL Commissioner “We want to get it right.” What is right? The instructions of God.
And the responses of God. God always gets it right.
Choose life today. I am giving these commands to you because I value life. I want you
to experience life.
You will not always understand God’s instructions but he says this is what I want you to
do.
Purity laws – why don’t I touch a dead animal and then make food….duh. God
understood what we now see as basic science. You don’t want to have plagues. Here
are basic instructions. Ebola virus.
When there is a love relationship – there is a desire to honour God by obeying his
commands. Most of the time there it makes good sense, you can see it. This looks like
life but ends in death.
Illustrate: Mountain of God – Mount Sinai – the hospitals are there for life. Don’t touch
the mountain of God or you will die. Where does the mountain start…..hard to say. But
I won’t go near it.
We were standing on mount Zion looking across to the mount of olives– David’s city and
looking down into the valley below is the kidron valley.
Inside the ark were the stone tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain. The
Ten Commandments. If you listen to my commands you will live.
God is holy. He is set apart. He is so perfect that we have to take a step back and re
evaluate how we are going about our lives. There may be some ways where we see
that I may have good intentions in this area but I may be disregarding God’s clear
instructions. The ends don’t justify the means.
I might be pushing the boundaries here.
A Life Giving Relationship with God is always a good reason to celebrate
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 ram’s horns. 2 Samuel 6:14-15
Those who don’t understand the reasons to celebrate won’t join in…choose to celebrate
anyway. There are those who don’t get it.
Don’t let them steal your joy. Let them make their own choices. God does.
When the ark finally arrived in Jerusalem the correct way, Michal saw David’s dance
and despised her husband. Michal was David’s first wife and the daughter of King Saul.
Perhaps her contempt came from her father. She is 3 times in this chapter called “the
daughter of Saul” (16, 20, 23), implying that she was not behaving as David’s loyal wife,
but his opponent, like a true daughter of Saul. She apparently felt that her husband was
getting carried away in his enthusiasm, acting undignified.
His heartfelt worship, however, repelled Michal. Her displeasure destroyed their
marriage.
Those who have no reason to dance before God can look down on or mock those who
do. David removed his royal robes and wore an ephod, a priestly garment, to mark the
religious significance of the occasion. He was willing to look humble, common and
undignified in the eyes of some, in order to fully express his delight in the Lord. His
dance was not inappropriate.
Lesson: David learned to express honest thanks to God for His power and love
David worshipped with reckless abandon – danced with abandonment in God’s
presence. I don’t care what anyone thinks, this is me and God and I am crazy about
him. Yes he does have a high standard but I like that. He is not unfair – I will be held
accountable by God.
David danced after being completely angry at God…he came to a place where he was
willing to understand God again.
Conclusion:
David encounters the Ark—one situation ends in death, one in the dance. David was
alive to God. David had learned to live openly, trustingly, passionately and exultantly
before God. Rather than seek to control God, David sought to submit to God’s will.
It is comforting reassurance to know that, while God is holy, because of Jesus we are
now welcome to come before Him. Jesus was the only innocent man ever to be
punished by God. Because of His sacrifice God can show mercy and offer forgiveness
to us. We may not like to think of ourselves as “defiled”, yet that is what we are. On the
cross, Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice for damaged merchandise. When He died, the
curtain in the temple hiding the ark was torn in two, symbolically showing that we all
have access to the holy of holies because of Jesus, our High Priest. It is only when we
begin to comprehend God’s holiness that we begin to see the enormity of our sin and
the price paid for our forgiveness. Let’s make it our goal to glorify God and enjoy Him
forever.
Every Sunday a Celebration
“…a great celebration…dancing before the Lord with all his might…shouts of joy and
blowing of rams horns…King David leaping and dancing before the Lord…I was dancing
before the Lord who chose me…so I celebrate before the Lord. 2 Samuel 6:12, 14, 15, 16,
21, 22