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- 2 Samuel
- 1 Chronicles
- May the 4th be with you.
Everyone has their own way of studying…this is how I study this section: I read 2 Samuel. I research and study. Then I read 1 Chronicles. If at that point I understand 1 Chron, then I know I am “good to go”. I also look to see which section is longer. When I see 1 Chronicles is longer I know it is a “good” read because Ezra usually only wrote about obedience, not failure. (so if you see Samuel is the linger book…☹️
2 Samuel
Well, David has been busy making babies. Refer to the David Genealogy we printed. (click here). (Lacey I mailed this one to you)
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David is no stranger to the Philistines. Since the day of Goliath, the name Philistines has been in his life. They have been enemies but David has been in their land hiding from Saul. They grew accustomed to David being around until they heard he wasn’t JUST the king of Judah, now he has been anointed the King of Israel (and Judah). You can see now the Philistines see him as a threat. David, even as a king, consulted with the Lord on all his decisions (for now). Here is a map to go with the read.
Chapter 6
If you went back to 1 Samuel 6 and 7 you would remember that the Ark was stolen by the Philistines and then when it was returned it was kept in a house….in a house!!! Could you imagine the knock on the door that day!
1 Samuel 7:
1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all.
So this sweet boy named Uzzah puts his hand out and touches the Ark when the oxen stumbled, and The Lord was so angry He struck him dead right then and there. If this is your first time reading this story this may seem harsh…I mean c’mon his heart is in the right place! Oh, how I have used that phrase many, many times….”Well, her heart is in the right place”. I even use it on myself “Well, I am going to do that or not do that…it doesn’t really matter because my heart is in the right place! No! The scriptures don’t affirm that, it is black and white…do what is right!
- Why is the Ark on a cart?? I may have skimmed a little during some of the law (only when it was repeated I promise) BUT I definitely would have remembered a cart. (If God had used a southern woman to write this, it would have been called a Buggie 😂) God is Holy and He will be treated as Holy. ONLY members of the Kohath family in the Tribe of Levi are to carry the Ark using the special poles, like this:
- Is Uzzah from the Kohath tribe?
- The Ark is NEVER to be touched. Ever! That’s why we have special poles!
- God did not stumble…the Ox did!
If God had ignored this scene as they were bringing the Ark (The Lord) to Jerusalem He would be dismissing the process of how we spiritually and physically approach God. If God had ignored this moment it would have said “All that I have taught you about who “I AM’”, was wrong and you don’t have to follow my decrees, as long as your heart is in the right place. This has to be one of the best stories in the Bible to think about all day. How do we view or approach the Lord? Has Uzzah been living with The Ark in his house for so long he has grown “too comfortable” with the Presence of the Lord (ouch, right)? I am so sorry if you like the song “I am a friend of God”, but it drives me crazy! He is the Almighty, All-Knowing, All-powerful, Creator of the Universe!`Uzzah may have had his heart in the right place but how he approached the Lord was wrong and God used this as a HUGE “teachable moment” for David and the Israelites.
So what appears to be a harsh moment in the Bible is the absolute opposite. What should the consequence have been for all of them that day? What should the consequence be for us? Today is a great day to take a step back and think about our reverence for Our Lord.
David himself took a 3-month “moment” to collect himself and move the Ark correctly. Again, could you imagine the knock at the door at Obed-Edom’s house? The Ark eventually will be in Jerusalem. As David returns and follows the directions for properly moving the Ark, he brings it to a town called Gibeon, about 6 miles just outside the town of Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles: Besides the awesome detail (for geeks like me), how amazing is it to read Asaph and how the Psalms are incorporated. I tend to think of them as scrolls that were written. They were sang, read, memorized..used!
The next 2 days are Psalms. Please mark your calendar for May 7th as we turn the page to 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17. Let’s call this 7-17! It is a HUGE HUGE READ that without it, I don’t know how anyone reads the New Testament!
Reading the Bible - 2021 
I love this story. I always get swept away in the families. This ark has been in Abinadabs house for 20 years but Eleazar, the older brother, was the one that took care of it, I just can’t imagine Uzzah and Ahio never once touching it. My older brother would never have been able to pull that off. Also, can you imagine what this did to this younger brother when Uzzah died. The grief would have been unbearable not just for Ahio but the whole family.
Another nugget that I’m sure was brought out in a sermon from sometime is that the first time the ark was moved David was maybe dressed as a king, I thought maybe even as a warrior, but when it was moved the proper way David was dressed in a linen garment, same as the priests. The commentary said that’s one thing that made Michael so mad. He was dressed like everyone else instead of a king.
It took 3 months for David to humble himself and organize this proper procession. I love they took 10 steps and then sacrificed. Whew, 10 steps and no one died.
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Can we address the elephant in the room…MORE wives and concubines…just why?? How? When? Where? Ok I’ll shut it.
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I hear ya…but the thought of having sister wives to help me pick off this laundry is so appealing 🤪
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