David is still pondering the ins and outs of bringing the ark to The Tabernacle of David. What will David decide to do next? By this time in history the ark has resided in several locations. It traveled through the wilderness by way of The Wilderness Tabernacle with the people of God. They moved the ark with them into the Promised Land. Then the ark was located at Shiloh under the same Tabernacle/tent for awhile. However, that place was eventually destroyed by Israel’s enemies.
After destroying the Tent of Meeting at Shiloh, the Philistines took the ark away from Israel. Their erroneous thinking considered the ark to be some type of magical object which would bring them good luck in battles. Many had seen this happen over-and-over when the Israelites won battles with the ark going in front of them. However, these uncircumcised Philistines soon learned not to mess with the Presence of God and the abode of His Sacred Throne. (Another lesson for another day.)
Nevertheless, 1 Samuel 7:1-2 explains how the Philistines captured the ark and held it for a time. Then the ark went to reside within the house of Abinadab in Kiriath-jearim for many years. It resided in that place during the time of the reign of King Saul.
David felt in his heart that all of these places were temporary. None of them had lasted forever. He wanted to build a permanent home on this earth for God’s throne.
JERUSALEM BECOMES THE CENTER OF WORSHIP
King David had in his heart that he wanted to give the ark a proper place in Jerusalem. This city in the center of the nation was where all of God’s people had finally become united again under God. It was the perfect place. Jerusalem seemed to be a perfect location for the center for God’s people to worship God. Why not move the ark to Jerusalem?
David’s friend Hiram had given him cedar for building a palace. After receiving this gift, David asked the huge question, “Why should I live in a house of cedar when the Lord is enthroned inside a tent?” With all of his heart David desired to change this situation. I think David considered this purpose his main and true mission in life. Little did he realize how this mission would evolve into so much more. God was looking at David’s heart and He delighted in what He knew. David’s heart always honored God. He was a true, faithful and loyal servant.
Yes, David made human mistakes and he had just made a huge one. It has cost the life of one man. God was patient with David and he was teaching him like a son. In the time between David’s first actions to move the ark and now, God had definitely reminded David to be more careful and thoughtful with his plans, thoughts and actions. God’s ways were full of carefully planned and prepared patterns. David’s eyes opened wider and he considered how to make his ways match God’s plans for the ark.
This purpose became an obsession, but it was a good obsession. Perhaps David might have considered this holy mission to be the reason God made him King over the newly united Israel. That was part of it, but there was going to be so much more. For this beginning, David had brought the people together. He was teaching them the ways of The Lord. They were following his lead. It mattered. God was pleased.
DAVID TALKS WITH GOD
Yet, who was David but a shepherd boy turned renegade warrior? The fact that he was King of Israel was probably still a miracle in David’s mind. His humility was huge during this time. Somehow in his heart, David knew that Jerusalem was meant to be the religious center of worship for all of the earth. He considered himself God’s servant and set about to bring this vision to fruition.
The scriptures record an interesting conversation David had with God. We will review this in depth soon when we study 2 Samuel Chapter 7. Right now we still have more to cover from 2 Samuel Chapter 6. It was a very important time for the history of mankind, especially Israel and Israel’s King David. The conversation between God and David was so important that it was recorded twice in the scriptures. The second place is found in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 17.
FIRST TRY FAILS
We previously read of how David attempted to begin this passionate mission recorded in 2 Samuel 6. He set off to retrieve the Ark. His first try, as we have already seen was a great disaster. As with many other biblical characters (Peter and Paul are good examples) David’s zeal was very passionate and strong. Zeal is good, as it often gives one the extra energy to carry out their mission. However, too much zeal and not enough knowledge can cause one to go through troubled circumstances as they learn how to walk correctly in God’s ways. This happened to David on his first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem.
Have you ever experienced times in your life which contained too much zeal and not enough knowledge? It happens to all of us. This is how we learn. God was about to teach David some new lessons.
GETTING EDUCATED
David had to go home and study the situation further. He had to educate himself before attempting to do this again. He still had the passionate desire to move the ark to Jerusalem. That thought never went away. However, it was a time of waiting and preparing.
We all have a time of waiting and preparing. Everything within our spirit wants to plough ahead full force. We know that we know that we know, until we hit that wall and God shows us we didn’t know what we thought we knew. He corrects our paths. God shows us a better way. In the end we realize we should have asked God first instead of being so sure of ourselves. It is a very human trait and David was a very human King.
SEEKING WISDOM
Finally, a wise move was made. David asked for the help of the elders and all of the most intelligent men of Israel. He gathered them together. Respectfully David asked for their advice. He listened to their wisdom. They read the scriptures together and they prayed for God’s guidance.
Then David and God dove into an even deeper time of prayer, fasting and further study. David read the scrolls he had neglected to read before. He realized the things he had overlooked while being so zealous toward his task. God spoke to the King who had passionately sought His face. David came out of that time knowing exactly what God wanted. All David wanted was what God wanted.
At the start, David only knew he had failed. Now he needed to understand why. I can imagine him fasting and praying, offering up praise and adoration, begging God to forgive him for his previous wrong attempts. In my mind’s eye I can see David humbly asking God for another chance to bring the ark to a new and proper home, only this time in the right way. Part of repenting is turning and setting what was wrong right. David longed to do so. One of the questions in David’s earnest prayers was “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”
SOMETHING COMMON TO MEN
We all fail in our missions for God at some point. It is usually from human error, or ignorance of the scriptures, or the fact that we were not fully aware of God’s ways. Sometimes God even says “no.” We have to understand what to do next.
When this happens we need to return to God in prayer. It is a good time to remember the last things God showed us. We should do just as David did. This is the time to ask God why. Let Him show you where you went wrong. Soak up the scriptures on your subject. Then ask Him how to correct your actions. Do not be discouraged.
Once you are sure you know you are realigned with God’s will, get back up and go out to follow God’s will for your life again. God didn’t create his children to become losers. He wants to give them victory after victory. God is for us. Ask for God’s continual guidance as you go. He will help you, just as He helped David.
SOMETHING GOOD FROM EVERYTHING
You may have heard that old phrase that states “something good comes from everything.” This applies even to our failures. It was in this time of David drawing closer to God for answers in which he expressed his whole heart openly to God.
My friends, this is an amazing thing to do. I’m surprised David had not done this so openly before. Always express your heart openly to God. Trust Him to hold your dreams and ambitions. He will hear you and he will lead you. Do not wait to talk with Him. Do it today.
What did David say when he opened up his heart to God? David announced that he desired to build a house for God to live in on this earth. This touched God’s heart in the deepest of ways. All of God’s relationships with men in the past had been filled with God directing them to build a place where He could dwell with them. It was always about God hoping that these men would cooperate with His plan. God never forces people. He is always patient and waits like a gentleman until we understand. Many of God’s leaders started out unsure. God had to persuade them to step up and move. Not David. He was ready.
The clincher was that David desired God’s plan even before God asked. Think about what a change that must have been from God’s perspective. King David approached God and basically said, “I want you to have a dwelling that is higher than mine. I want to be able to come there and have a closer relationship with you.”
ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP
This is what turned God’s heart toward David’s heart. It was the closer relationship that David desired with Him. This pleased God so much that he made David a great promise. We hear that promise in 2 Samuel 7. It has to be one of the most amazing promises ever made to mankind.
David had expressed his desire to bring back the ark to Nathan, the prophet. Nathan had advised David to precede, but that night Nathan had a dream. The details of Nathan’s dream are recorded in 2 Samuel 7: 4-16. This passage of scripture is very important. If you read the words carefully you will realize God is promising that one of David’s ancestors will be the Messiah. It is the first time we hear of this. Then God promises that David will have a throne in Israel forever.
THE RELATIONSHIP LEADS TO THE PROMISE
So, here is the scripture that tells of Nathan’s dream. Again, what an amazing passage! Abraham had great promises from God, but I think David’s promise was even more important. I want to take this passage, type out the words, and place them under my pillow at night when I go to sleep. This is such a comforting passage to me. I can only imagine how much it meant to David.
2 Samuel 7: 4-16; But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel.
And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”
Abraham’s promises were great. Jacob’s promises were greater. Now we hear the promises to David. Could there be anything more wonderful? All because David made a mistake and had to take some time out with God. He completely opened his heart and praised God. David genuinely expressed his love to His Heavenly Father and declared something that was near and dear to the heart of God. David wanted to build God a permanent home on this earth so that He could dwell with us forever and ever. God could not have loved David more than in that moment.
Now I am going to say what I always say. I’m going to tell you again of God’s faithfulness to those who love Him. It this not why God proclaimed that the greatest commandment of all is love? Ask Abraham, Jacob or David. They will all quickly tell you: God always keeps His promises.
PRAYER: Father, teach us to worship as David did in The Tabernacle of David. He desired for you to dwell in the highest and best place on the earth. We also desire this. Help us to know why you chose Jerusalem as the worship center of the universe. Teach us to see what David came to see after seeking Your face and knowing Your will. Lead us into the holy sacred places where you have chosen to put your name forever. Amen
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