Intro. On Wednesday night, we have been studying the book of Revelation. Last Thursday, we looked at the church of Sardis. It was a church that had its orthodoxy, it had a name, but was dead!!! How could that happen to a church? How could this happen to a people. Before our text, let’s consider what Israel had:
In Exodus 25 the instructions were given of how to build and care for the Ark of God. It was the first piece to be designed. It was the only piece of furniture from the tabernacle that would be used in the Temple. Why? Because there is only one mercy. That earthly mercy seat was the symbol of the heavenly! It represented and exhibited, the very essence of the presence of God. They were:
1. Secure in the Presence - Ex. 25:22 "And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat," Secure in the satisfaction of the blood
2. Safe in the Pursuit - Josh 3:3 "When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it." They followed mercy.
3. Successful in its Provisions - Jericho, Josh 6:11 "So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp." (imagine as Jericho wondered- a treasure, a casket- no- the Presence of God) You know the story, GOD WAS VICTORIOUS! The Ark represented the way of God, and God had a plan to reveal himself to mankind. It was the only plan! Rahab trusted the ARK! Now, in our text, we are 300 years after Jericho.
I. The Forgotten Mediation - The Ark of the Covenant was the judgment and mercy of God embodied in a sacred box. God had provided a means for His wrath against sin to be appeased and for man to approach Him. It is Picture of Christ. And the Ark had been in the house of Abinadab for almost 50 years.
A. The Neglected Provision - Due to neglect of Saul, the Ark had been ignored and the people had become careless and ignorant about the God’s provision for sin and Worship. They apparently had contented themselves with offering sacrifices at Gibeon, without any thought of the ark. They had a worship about their God that did not include the presence of God.
1. A Distorted Salvation - They did not see the need of the Ark. much like today, many embrace an “any way will work” salvation. Danger to the lost.
2. The Disregarded Savior - many that claimed to belong to Him.
- They became Ignorant of the Words of God’s Teachings,
- They Ways of Fellowship with God. They had disregarded the Truth. In the modern church, the disregard of the Genuine Christ is producing
religious exercises without the power of Christ.
B. The Neglected Presence - Ark was God’s provision, but also God’s presence.
1. The Absence of Secure Direction - His presence had guided, but not now.
2. The Arrogance of Self Dependence - During the reign of Saul, the Ark was forgotten. The only mention was when Saul was concerned for Jonathan.
C. The Neglected Pardon - There was no provision except God’s way.
Some scoff at Christ, but to do so is to merely neglect, or refuse Pardon. Today there is still only one way to God, and Mankind has no right to change God’s plan - The only way is Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Jesus is the Mercy seat - 1 John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation (mercy seat) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Now David had a desire for the Ark to be in Jerusalem, where it belonged. David had a desire for REVIVAL in the Land. And he wanted these that followed him to know the provision and presence of the true God. So he organized:
II. The Finest Mission -vs. 1-2 They sought to see the presence of God returned.
A. The Unified Deployment - 30,000 of the best of the best were coming to Abinadab’s house! Some delegation! All came with one purpose. UNITY is GOOD!
B. The Undisputable Desire - Bring up the Ark - their intentions were GOOD. Oh that we need to seek the presence of God!
C. The Unrivaled Deity - Lord of Hosts - My God, Jehovah, the infinite, incomprehensible, eternal, and immutable, unchanging God of heaven, the Lord of armies above and below; whose habitation was between the cherubim that overshadowed the mercy seat. HE ALONE CAN GIVE US MERCY AND HE IS GOOD! Their recognition of God was GOOD! So it was a fine mission. But we must never forget, intentions without truth are dangerous
III. The Frailty of their Method - vs. 3-6
A. An Unacceptable Change - vs. 3 - New Cart- The Levites were the only ones to move the ark, and they used the staves and did not touch the ark. It was a method of Reverence, but still disobedience.
Why is it that man thinks he can improve on God’s method! To believe that one could get to heaven any other way than Jesus Christ is
irreverent to the blood of Christ.
"But if we say that all religions are the same, and there are many ways to heaven it will make people feel better" -BUT IT WILL BRING GOD’S WRATH ON THEM!
B. The Unaware Participants - This is a sad one
1. David should have known better, but did not act accordingly
2. The ones with the ark were Ignorant of its History - Playing religion
3. They were Involved without Understanding
They were in religious practice, without Biblical preaching and teaching.
C. The Unworthy Worship - vs. 5 They enjoyed what was of no value.
1. Problem in their Playing - They were having a GREAT TIME!
Truth with emotion is great! But it was emotion without truth. It was about them!
2. Just because we go through the motions does not make it worship
They could say, "boy did we have a time today", but something was wrong
3. They even drew a crowd, but GOD CARES IF WE ARE RIGHT!
The worship was about THEM, not about the one who gave them cause to worship. Lost men and women need salvation, not merely something to make them feel good.
IV. The Fatal Mistake - vs. 7-11
A. The Danger - vs. 6 - The danger of being Casual in our worship.
1. A Casual Thinking - Uzzah had seen this ark for 20 years at the house of his father - It had become common! The HOLINESS and REVERENCE was gone. He was not conscious of God’s Presence and Character!
2. A Costly Touch - Uzzah tried to help God!
We must reach the Lost, but we cannot change the Gospel. We must worship, but we cannot water down God’s Righteousness.
Uzzah did not curse, or blaspheme or even damage the ark - In his thoughts he was trying to help - but he approached God in his own thinking.
That is the Dangers of a Casual Religion:
- Man will believe there are many ways to mercy.
- Some will believe that they are doing God a favor.
- Most will forget the Awesomeness and Might of an Unmatched God. Our Worship is His RIGHT, and our Privilege!
Many are seeking a “do as you please religion”, and the joy is gone!
God wants us to walk with Him, love Him, and live our lives HIS WAY.
Will we sacrifice the presence of God by leaving Him out of our worship?
B. The Death - Uzzah Died - anger - flaring nostrils of God kindled - burned
1. His Error - Uzzah was a good man who thought he could do things his way. But there is only one way! He put forth HIS hand. His own works failed him. Our works will not get us to heaven.
2. The Peril of His Error - He died by the Ark
What are the dangers of us trying to rethink, redo, rewrite and revise God’s plan? People will die for eternity! (David, others did not die, but Uzzah did - what if Uzzah had been taught - What if the Levites had been in their place?") Sadly, He died in the shadow of redemption!!
If the church is not careful, we will allow the message of the cross to be weakened, and forget, it is God’s way only! Will some perish because God’s people have decided to improve (change) God’s ways?
C. The Defeat - Because of their failure, one died, and the rest were discouraged.
1. The Burning Grief - displeased same word as kindled.
2. And His Grief turned to Fear - He has gone from shouting to panic!
We must always remember, FEAR IS ALWAYS PRESENT WHERE FAITH IS NOT EXERCISED! David wrote - Ps 56:3 "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."
This is also seen in the life of the disciples - Waves too high, storm to strong, but Jesus was with them! Matthew 8:26 "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
V. The Finding of Mercy - DEATH! So would revival ever come now? Yes it would.
A. The Faithful Levite - Obededom (1 Chron 15 he was a levite)
He willingly accepted the ark, no doubt, he knew what to do and how to treat it. God blessed him and all his house - Revival in the house for three months!
B. A Found Loyalty - vs. 12-15
1. David returned to seek the Lord - vs. 12
2. They now did it God’s way - vs. 13 Carried the ark 1Ch 15 tells us the details: 12 " And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. 13 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. 14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD."
3. They had a New time to Worship! - vs. 14
Concl. If you are here and think that you can go to heaven your way, please understand that the Bible says differently - Jesus Christ is the only way. He loves you and has died for you and all your sins - But you must call on Him alone to save. You cannot go to heaven your way, only God’s way.
If you are God’s Child, are you trying to do it your own way, even tho you have been purchased by the blood of Christ?
Have we become so familiar with God that His ways, His presence, and His holiness are veiled?
Church, what are we to do? Bottom line to our story, and our lives today. We have focused more on ourselves and what we have, than on the one that gave it to us! How do you think we make our God feel, when we are more interested in Him, than we are ourselves? If we are focused on HIM, we will come to this place, prepared to meet with God?
We will desire to meet with God to please Him! If we are not careful, we will be guilty of the same sin that Israel committed, when we forget and avoid the anointing, presence, and holiness of God!
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
