Some Things Are Sacred

Some Things Are Sacred

2 Samuel 6:1-12

There are passages in the bible which sometimes leave us a little confused or even disturbed when we try to understand why things worked out the way they did in 2 Samuel Chapter 6:1-12 we such an example.

This week God used the everyday events of my life to teach me a simple truth - that truth is that some things are sacred and are not meant to be touched or altered even when we have the best of intentions.

Last week I talked about how something beautiful came out of something that was in a state of ruin. I used my recent kitchen renovation as an example. Well it seems God is keeping me in the kitchen for a little while as I will elaborate on in a few minutes.

The Ark of the Covenant

Built by Gods command to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:10-16)

Made of Acacia wood (The tree of Life) an important plant in traditional Egyptian medicine

Overlaid with pure gold and crafted according to Gods measurements

It is a Sacred container carrying the stone tablets of the 10 Commandments

It also held Aarons rod that budded and manna

The Ark could only be carried by priests of the tribe of Levi

The lid was called the Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:18-21)

Over the Ark were two cherubim, with their faces turned toward one another Leviticus 16:2; Num. 7:89).

Their outspread wings over the top of the Ark formed the throne of God, while the Ark itself was his footstool (Ex. 25:10-22; 37:1-9). The Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies,

Where only Aaron, Moses or the High Priest could enter once a year on the Day of Atonement

It was carried into battle before the Israelites

Always wrapped in a veil of animal skin and covered in a blue cloth

It parted the Jordan River

It was present at the battle of Jericho where the walls came tumbling down

The Philistines at one point captured and kept the Ark for six months

They sent it back because they suffered greatly while they possessed it

The Ark was to be consulted before going into battle God would speak from it

It was entrusted to King David and King Solomon

It was set up in Solomon s Temple

Lost to the Babylonians and to this day its location remains a mystery

This is a Sacred object of the Living God which was used as a protective case to guard Gods word

Used to display Gods power, righteousness, wrath and glory

In short you do not mess with it because it is Sacred.

Sacred means: Dictionary

Considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspiring awe or reverence among believers in a given set of spiritual ideas

Biblical commentaries suggest that Uzzah who was the caretaker of the Ark after it had been returned to Israel from the Philistines had become too comfortable with it in his house. The bible tells us it stayed in his house for twenty years before they brought it up to Jerusalem. (I Samuel 7:2) It may be that Uzzah forgot what the word sacred meant and became familiar with the Ark like an old piece of furniture etc. That may be why he felt it was O.K. to touch it and keep it from falling as it teetered in the cart on its way to the City of David.

(http://biblecommenter.com/2_samuel/6-10.htm)

Now how did I come to remember that certain things are meant to be sacred?

My wife and I had our kitchen remodeled and it was completely gutted and made new. She carefully chose everything that went into it. She alone wanted to paint it. She bought all new appliances for it. She bought new pots and pans for me to cook with since I do most of the cooking.

After all this she then began the painstaking task of organizing the cupboards and drawers. That meant that plates and bowls and tableware, spoons, forks etc would go into specific places. That meant that groceries would go into specific cupboards etc, etc.

She spent hours making these decisions and she did all the work herself and then took time to show my daughter and I just where everything was and where it should go.

My daughter and I began to discuss the new and improved kitchen and we agreed that my wife Fran must have failed to see the mistakes she made with the new arrangements concerning the cupboards.

While my wife was at work I set about changing the kitchen that she had already organized. I managed to move the contents of several cupboards from one place to another. I finished about four of them when she pulled up in the driveway.

She had a long day at work and was tired. She looked at what I had done and immediately voiced her displeasure. I looked to my daughter for support but she chickened out on me and just hung her head to hide her smile.