King David heard that because of the Covenant Box the Lord had blessed Obed Edom's family and all that he had; so he got the Covenant Box from Obed's house to take it to Jerusalem with a great celebration. After the men carrying the Covenant Box had gone six steps, David had them stop while he offered the Lord a sacrifice of a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing only a linen cloth around his waist, danced with all his might to honor the Lord. And so he and all the Israelites took the Covenant Box up to Jerusalem with shouts of joy and the sound of trumpets. 2 Samuel 6:12-15
David had tried to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem before, but he had not done it in the manner God instructed. The Ark of the Covenant represented God's presence to the Israelites.
When it is time to break camp, the clan of Kohath shall come to carry the sacred objects only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering them and all their equipment. The Kohath clan must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohath clan whenever the Tent is moved. Numbers 4:15
Instead of the Ark being carried by a member of the Kohath clan of the tribe of Levi, David had the oxen carry the Ark. When the oxen stumbled Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark. He was killed by the Lord.
As they came to the threshing place of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Covenant Box. At once the Lord God became angry with Uzzah and killed him because of his irreverence. Uzzah died there beside the Covenant Box, 2 Samuel 6:6-7
We can not expect, although we often ask, for God's blessing as we do things our way. David came back seeking God's blessing, but prepared to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem God's way. David sang and danced before the Lord, which He did the first time he tried to take the Ark to Jerusalem. What changed, he followed God's instructions, men instead of animals were carrying the Ark, and the sacrifice.
The Lord is God of structure.
Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way. 1 Corinthians 14:40
Men are still intended to carry the presence of the Lord.
Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves but to God; he bought you for a price. So use your bodies for God's glory. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Men are still called to sacrifice.
So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Romans 12:1
Other things that stood out to me was that David wore only a linen cloth as he danced before the Lord. There is nothing that should be between us and the Lord. We can praise and worship Him boldly. Also just as David heard of the blessings that were being given to Obed Edom and it made him seek to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, we are meant to share what God is doing in our life. Others can see and hear of our blessings and want to seek God's presence for themselves.
Prayer - Lord, thank You for Your presence in my life, let me be a living sacrifice for You that draws others to desire Your presence in their life. let my praise and worship be to You with nothing between us. Allow me to follow Your ways and stop trying to do things my own way or create shortcuts to You.
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