Tree Of Life Ministries Association
http://www.treeoflifeinc.org
Thanksgiving
2 Samuel 6
Pastor Eric Aschendorf
11/29/2002
Pastor@treeoflifeinc.org
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In the United States of America we know Thanksgiving as a celebration and feast that commemorates the one that the Pilgrims had with the Native American Indians. They celebrated after surviving their first winter and collecting their first harvest in North America, thanks in part to those Indians and the blessings of GOD. The Pilgrims had come to this land to seek freedom from religious persecution and to worship GOD how they believed they should. During the trip here and even during that first year they had gained a new appreciation for GOD. They had lost many friends during this period but had gained new friends in the Indians. They had also gained a new relationship with GOD as they were brought to seek HIS presence in their lives more diligently. The adversities that they had endured often knocked them to their knees where they would seek GOD. They were dependent upon HIM for even the most basic of needs because logistic support from England was very scarce. Shipping to America was very costly and dangerous, along with the fact that there existed a rather narrow window of opportunity in which to land these ships. There were no weather reports to help them. GOD was the only one they could depend upon.
2Sa 6:1 Again, David gathered together all [the] chosen [men] of Israel, thirty thousand.
2Sa 6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that [were] with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth [between] the cherubims.
2Sa 6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that [was] in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
2Sa 6:4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which [was] at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
2Sa 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
2Sa 6:6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook [it].
2Sa 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by the ark of God.
2Sa 6:8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
2Sa 6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
2Sa 6:10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
2Sa 6:11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.
2Sa 6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that [pertaineth] unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
2Sa 6:13 And it was [so], that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
2Sa 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod.
2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
2Sa 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
2Sa 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
2Sa 6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
2Sa 6:19 And he dealt among all the people, [even] among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece [of flesh], and a flagon [of wine]. So all the people departed every one to his house.
2Sa 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
2Sa 6:21 And David said unto Michal, [It was] before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
2Sa 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
In 2 Samuel 6 we find the story of King David and the Ark of the Covenant. During a prior battle the Philistines had captured the Ark and later had wished they had not and thus returned it to the Israelites. They wished they hadn’t because by having HIS Word, HIS covenant in their presence without having a relationship with HIM was like having a form of godliness without having the SPIRIT of GOD. It brought to them death and destruction.
The Philistines were not a GOD fearing or worshipping nation. A nation, at that time was not defined by their geographical border, that was called a country. Rather it was defined by what god it’s people served. This simple truth explains how Rahab the harlot from Jericho and Ruth the Moabitess were both accepted by GOD and placed into the lineage of David and thus the lineage of JESUS. This also explains how most of you were grafted into this family of GOD as well.
In Joshua 2:11 Rahab states, “ … for the LORD your GOD, HE is GOD in Heaven above, and in the earth beneath."
In Ruth 1:15-17 we see first Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, after the death of Ruth’s husband and her son entreats her to go back to her own country and her own people but Ruth replies with her statement of faith.
Rth 1:15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
Rth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people [shall be] my people, and thy God my God:
Rth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part thee and me.
Both of these women, Rahab and Ruth leave the worship and devotion to their false gods, their idols, and their devotion to sin and accept the GOD of Israel. They, just like the Pilgrims, flee a place that has them in a type of bondage and pursue a GOD that can and will free them. That will set at liberty the captives and that will continue to do so as long as they continue to place HIM first in their lives.
Thus just as Abraham became the Father of Faith, so too does Rahab become the Mother of Faith by becoming the first recorded individuals of their gender to pursue GOD! Not by sight but by the leading of HIS SPIRIT! Rahab and Ruth are a foreshadowing of the church, spiritual Israel today. They were not Jews but they were grafted into the vine. They, just like most of the Church became part of GOD’s chosen people. Part of a peculiar or set apart people! Part of the nation of Israel by their faith in the GOD of Israel; I AM.
So, as I stated earlier, the Ark of the Covenant is on it’s way back to the people of Israel. Let’s read verses 1-5.
2Sa 6:1 Again, David gathered together all [the] chosen [men] of Israel, thirty thousand.
2Sa 6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that [were] with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth [between] the cherubims.
2Sa 6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that [was] in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
2Sa 6:4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which [was] at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
2Sa 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals
So what do we have here? As you look at it from the back to the front. In the back are the warriors, the general congregation, the 30,000 men of Israel. At the sides of the Ark and slightly forward are Uzzah and Ahio with large sticks, so that they can “drive” the cart by hitting the oxen on the rear to propel them forward and on the front leg or side when they need them to turn the other direction. Out in front are the musicians, the praise and worshippers and King David.
Think back with me now to the time when the nation of Israel was marching through the Wilderness of Zin (The Wilderness of Sin). GOD had given them an order that resembled what David was doing. They too had the general congregation, the warriors in the back. They too had the Ark in front of this group with the Priest around it while the bulk of the Priests were on the two sides. In front of it all, they had the Tribe of Judah, the Praise and Worshippers. So what David has looks like what they had in the dessert.
One little neat thing to notice about this formation is that if you were a bird flying above this and looked down, it would appear as a cross.
When the JESUS come back to do battle in the final war of the ages this will be GOD’s marching order. You will have Michael and his warriors in the rear. Gabriel and his messengers in the middle with the oracles of GOD! While the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH leads the way in Praise and Worship. We have been called to Praise and Worship the LORD! We are called to give HIM all the glory.
Thus, as David is bringing the Ark of the Covenant back they were having “church”! Then they came to Nachon’s threshing floor and the Ark shifts as the cart hits a bump. Uzzah being a conscientious type and knowing the importance and value of the Ark puts his hand upon it to keep it steady and prevent it from falling. For this he is stuck dead! Why? Is this right? Is this fair?
First, we must do as David now does. We must thoroughly examine the situation. Where are they? They are at Nachon’s threshing floor!
A Threshing floor is where the wheat is taken and beaten on the ground so as to separate the useful wheat from the outer shell and stalks. This is where that which is of use is separated from that which is not. I don’t think it would even be a stretch to apply this to spiritual things and to say that this is where the things of GOD are separated from the things of the world! This is where the old or the world’s way of doing things is separated from GOD’s way.
Secondly, there is meaning in the name of the place. Nachon’s threshing floor. Nachon means, “prepared”. Had David and the nation of Israel been properly prepared this would never have happened.
David must have had some similar thoughts run through him. For at this point, as we see in verses 9-10 he stops the service.
2Sa 6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
2Sa 6:10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
Now the Ark resides in the house of Obededom and will continue to do so for the next three months. During this time Obededom and his family are reverencing the presence of the LORD in their house. They have a healthy fear of HIS presence. They know that to mishandle HIS presence can bring death to them. They must, however, attend to the Ark during this time. If nothing else they must dust it or insure that something is covering it and protecting it. They must insure that the presence of GOD is still there and to keep it protected from would be thieves. As they do this they are blessed and to a degree that the word of the blessings gets back to King David. David knows that he must get the Ark to the city of David, to Jerusalem. He knows that he must have the presence of GOD with him!
Somebody, somewhere, somehow during these three months figured out what they needed to do (Ex 25). Look at what it says in verse 12.
2Sa 6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that [pertaineth] unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
Now look at the last word, “gladness”. David did not go after the presence of GOD because he was being forced to. He went after it with gladness. They were going to have “church”! They were going to have the presence of GOD, the Shikinah glory of the CREATOR of the universe in their presence!
Notice that in verse 13 David adds a new element to this trip that they started three months earlier. Now he starts sacrificing.
2Sa 6:13 And it was [so], that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
He is not “giving” but he is “sacrificing”! He is giving an enormous amount. Every six paces for roughly 23 miles up hilly or mountainous terrain! Think about this. Where Obededom lives is in the city of Gath-Rimmon approximately 23 miles away. A mile consists of 5280 feet. 23 miles is then 121440 feet. If the average stride of a man is considered to be 3 feet long! Then stopping every 6 paces (or 6x3= 18), David would stop and make a sacrifice a total of 6746 times! The likely hood is that this number is even greater when you consider that they were probably traveling along a road and because of the terrain this road probably was not a straight line from Gath-Rimmon to Jerusalem.
David is being sure that GOD and the people of Israel understand how much he values the presence of the LORD. In Ps 122:1 David says,
Psa 122:1, [I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Still later when the Apostle Paul is speaking in Antioch about GOD he says in Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”
As we saw in 2Sam 6:12 David was doing this gladly! It was not done out of obligation. He was after, he was seeking GOD’s heart! He so desperately wanted the presence of GOD that he would sacrifice everything. He hungered and thirsted after the presence of GOD like the hart or male deer panteth after the water (Ps 42:1). Thus, David, the foreshadow of the MESSIAH, the one who was anointed to be king long before he became the king in actuality, has also established the order for church service into the presence of GOD.
Note that the Ark, GOD’s presence and HIS Word were not going to travel on a cart! They were not intended to be brought to the world, to the earth by some inanimate object. Rather they were to be carried forth on the shoulders of man.
2Sa 6:13 And it was [so], that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
Man was to bare GOD’s presence and HIS Word. It was through GOD’s likeness (Gen 1:27), through man that the world was to see HIM.
Isa 52:6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore [they shall know] in that day that I [am] he that doth speak: behold, [it is] I.
Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Next, There was to be great sacrifice! It is not cheap to have GOD’s presence! If you sincerely are seeking GOD’s presence in your life know this, it is going to cost you something of value!
Luk 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
David was a man after GOD’s heart. He was a seeker. One who was willing to pay whatever great price it would take to have GOD in his presence. He knew that things worked in GOD’s timing and he had developed the patience to wait upon the LORD while he had been tending his father’s sheep. While he served another. This was an attribute that was later tested when he was in service to King Saul. This is an attribute all of us must learn who are desirous to be used of the LORD. Possibly even more so for those of us desiring to be used in the ministry. In Acts 8:9-24 Simon Magnus a sorcerer of Samaria who had been converted to CHRISTianity by Philip is severely rebuked by Peter when his impatience shows as he tries to purchase the wonder working power of the HOLY SPIRIT. This is the way of the world. This “Instant Age”! An age where you simply run into the store or jump online and acquire it “now”! This was what Simon was accustomed to also, so it is probable that this is also what their society was accustomed to “in their own way”.
Act 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Act 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Act 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity.
Act 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
In these passages there are two other things that should be noted. First is that just as JESUS was born of the SPIRIT of GOD at HIS birth, HE didn’t start HIS ministry or to be a witness in power and authority until HE was born again at HIS baptism by John (Matt 3). Remember how after HE comes out of the water the HOLY SPIRIT descends in the form of a dove. This is when JESUS becomes the “fullness of GOD” on earth. On the Day of Pentecost, this second baptism, this baptism fully into the HOLY SPIRIT is what the disciples had been told to wait for by JESUS in Acts 1:8. This is the experience, the baptism that they would need to become witness’s of HIM. We now see the same thing again with the believers in Samaria. They had received the Word of GOD and accepted JESUS as their SAVIOR through the preaching of Philip but then there was a lapse of time while they were prepared further for a second in-filling of the SPIRIT.
Second, notice the heart of Simon the sorcerer. Peter sternly rebukes him! Most people would be offended, would cop an attitude and would leave the church but not Simon! He has humbled himself to the authority of JESUS and HIS servant Peter. He simply seeks to see if he can be forgiven for his sin. It is going to cost you to have the presence of the LORD! Simon has paid with his position of authority and his ego. Two things that are not easily overcome in the natural but “with GOD all things are possible.”
As I previously stated, “It is not cheap to have GOD’s presence. It is going to cost you!”
David now had reason to be excited. He was about to realize the desires of his heart. He was about to see the presence of the LORD in his city. After 23 miles of move six paces and stop to perform a sacrifice, move six paces and stop to perform the next sacrifice and again and again, he now must face a test. Michal, his wife, Saul’s daughter sees him coming as she looks through a window from their house. She sees him leaping and dancing before the entire precession in only his linen ephod, in the clothes of the common man. She feels he is a poor example and that this is no way for someone of his stature to be acting!
Before he faces her he has a Thanksgiving meal for all of Israel. In verse 19 we see something that should be considered “striking”!
2Sa 6:19 And he dealt among all the people, [even] among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece [of flesh], and a flagon [of wine]. So all the people departed every one to his house.
In Jewish society women were relegated to an isolated life. They were not to be spoken to in public by men and rarely recognized in public settings throughout scriptures. This is why later in the New Testament when JESUS is seen by HIS disciples speaking to a Samaritan women at the well, HIS disciples are astonished (John 4:27-30)! This woman became an Evangelist of JESUS. She took her water pot, returned to Samaria and boldly proclaimed how she knew JESUS to be the MESSIAH and “… many of the Samaritans of that city believed on HIM for the saying of the woman which testified, HE told me all that ever I did (John 4:39). She brought back a city while the Apostles brought HIM a happy meal! She looked “Tradition” and “Religion” in the face and decided instead to serve JESUS.
When David is finished with the Thanksgiving meal he returns home to face “Tradition” and “Religion”. Michal is waiting for him. Before we really look at this let’s backup to verse 16 and set the table.
2Sa 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
This is exactly the type of opposition you will be confronted with if you ever truly sell-out to the LORD’s service. David was so excited that he had discovered how to have the presence of the LORD to abide with him in Jerusalem that he had willingly danced and possibly even sung all the way from the house of Obededom. He had exposed himself to all kinds of possible ridicule by openly worshipping GOD without fear of exposing anything about himself. As he came into the city he wore nothing but his linen ephod. The ephod was an official garment of the Jewish high priest, which he would be required to wear when engaged in religious duties. The linen ephod was like the official one in its basic design but simply made of linen. It was the clothing of the common man. Basically it was a rectangle piece of linen with a hole in the center cut for the head to pass through and then attached under the armpits. Generally it went down to the waist.
Michal, his wife was also King Saul’s daughter. She had been raised to know how a king “should” or was expected to act and what was not proper for him. Thus David had embarrassed her and in her eyes he had brought shame to the family.
2Sa 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
2Sa 6:21 And David said unto Michal, [It was] before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
2Sa 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
Michal was upset with David and David tells her why he was unashamed of himself. Why he would be willing to debase himself or even more if that is what he felt he should do for the LORD. David understood that he owed everything about his life to GOD and that nothing was going to keep him from the LORD! He wasn’t afraid to do anything before the LORD. He wasn’t afraid of what anybody would say. He would do anything to show how thankful he was for the presence of GOD in his life. If GOD said shout, he would shout as unto the LORD. If GOD said sing, he would sing as unto the LORD. If GOD said to dance before HIM, then David would dance before the LORD. If GOD had asked David to raise his hands before HIM or to clap them or to speak in an unknown language, David would not have hesitated. This was his declaration to Michal.
Michal, however was steeped in her traditions and religious beliefs so that she could not accept this. Because of her resistance to how David had expressed his thanks to the LORD she suffered lack. She would not give, willingly, all of her “self” to the LORD and thus HE would not give willingly all that HE had available to her. HE could not give to her much because she was not yet faithful to HIM in the little things of her life.
2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
How thankful are you today for the presence of the LORD abiding with you? How thankful are you that HE even cares to abide with you? Are you willing to suffer lack in your life in order to retain your dignity before men or would you prefer to give birth to something great? If your preference is for greatness then you must lay your “self” down! You must expose your “self” and let HIM see all of you! There can be nothing held back!
What are you thankful for today?
Psa 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications.
Psa 116:2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon [him] as long as I live.
