2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:1-5

David having subdued the enemies of Israel, now refuses the ark, the glory of Israel, from the obscurity in which it had slain, vers. 1, 2. 1. The first attempt failed. (1.) They were guilty of an error in carrying it in a cart, vers. 3—3. (2.) They were punished for that error by the justice death of Uzzah, vers. 6, 7, which put a step to their proceedings, vers. 8—11. 2. The great joy with which it was at last done, vers. 12—15. And, (1.) The enfones that were between David and his people, vers. 17—19. (2.) The unconfessors that were between him and his wife upon that occasion, vers. 18, 20—23.

1. ¶ A Gain, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 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. 3. And they let 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, drove the new cart. 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. 5. And David, and all the house of Israel, played before the LORD on all manner of instrument made of firewood, even on harps, and on platteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

Long had the ark lain neglected in the house of Abinadab; we find but once mention of consulting God before it during all Saul’s reign; but David knew the value of that sacred treasure, and therefore prepares to resume it as a place more suited for its reception.

1. He speaks highly of the ark, from its relation to God, whose presence made it glorious, and who was pleased to dwell between the cherubims. Note, (1.) It is God’s presence in all ordinances that makes them glorious. (2.) They who have high thoughts of God, will therefore reverence all his holy institutions.

2. He Before Chord & Intake.

3. He makes great preparations to attend it with a magnificent retinue, in solemn pomp and holy joy. Thirty thousand men, the flower of his army, to guard it, or the prime mobility, elders, and great men, out of all the tribes, and instruments of music of all kinds, himself leading the sacred band; and counting himself honoured, though a king, in this employment of praise, and humble attendance before the God of the Lord. Nor, (1.) The greatest kings need think it no disparagement to their dignity, to join with the meanest Israelite before that God, who regarded not the persons of the rich more than the poor. (2.) Sacred Philomoly always revives, whenever God revives a spirit of religion.

4. They committed a great error in the method they took to remove the ark; because a cart had brought it home from Phildha, they therefore concluded it might bring it lately up from Kirjath-Jearim, called also Ilaue, v. 2. though God had expressly commanded the contrary, Numb. vii. 9. Nor, Authority and bad precedents, weigh often more than the express word of God.

1 Num. iv. 4. Or fromblest. 5 Or withness. 6 Lev. 2, 3. Fr. 1, 1. 18. 7 John. 17. 8 Lev. The breach of Uzzah. 9 John. 8. Phil. 1. 10.

6. And when they came to Nachon’s threshing-floor, ‘Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and made hold of it, for the oxen + shook it. 7. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God firmer him there for his + error, and + there he died by the ark of God. 8. And ‘David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place, 5 Perez-uzzah to this day. 9. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, ‘How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 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 Obed-edom the Gittite. 11. And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD ‘bleified Obed-edom, and all his household.

2 Samuel 6:6-11

Uzzah and Alio, the sons of Abiandah, are crucified with the care of the cart, to drive the onto whole draw it; but an awful providence flopped their journey, and turned their mirth into mourning. We have here.

1. Uzzah’s raftness and punishment. It was contrary to an express command, to carry the ark in a cart; it was enjoined, that none but prelts might touch it; and if Uzzah were a Levite (which is uncertain) and a Kohathite, yet might he not fee the ark, much less handle it, but only carry the poles on which it was fixed. But perhaps Uzzah’s long familiarity with the ark had lessened his sacred reverence for it, and therefore when the oxen shook it, either they stumbled, or the cart was in danger of overturning, Uzzah firstcutted forth his hand to support it, and God immediately fmote him, that he died. Nor. (1.) A good intention will not excuse a wrong thing. (2.) By our raftness and intemperate zeal, we are apt to give many a wrong touch to the ark of God, and it is of the Lord’s mercies we are not confused. (3.) In matters of God’s worship, we must carefully adhere to his revered will, least by human contrivances we die by the ark’s side.

2. David is both terrified and displeased with the stroke on Uzzah. Displeased at this interruption of the solemnity, ready it should seem to entertain hard thoughts of God, as if his judgment were too severe, and counting it as ill ones, which his enemies might improve to his disadvantage. For all lawful, and God should break forth on him also, as conscious that he could not abide it, if the Lord were shod to mark what was amiss in him. He resolves therefore to proceed no farther, but carries the ark to the house of Obed-edom, a Levite, that was near; and calls the name of the place, in remembrance of this mournful event, Perez-uzzah, the breach of Uzzah. Nor. (1.) We are too apt, under provisional afflictions, to entertain displeasure against God’s dissensions, rather than against the sins in ourselves that provoke them. (2.) Every stroke upon others for their sin, should be a warning to us to repeat of our own. (3.) If the breach between the broken law of a holy God, and a sinful soul, he not healed by the Lord Jesus Christ, an everlasting monument will remain upon the sinner of God’s inexorable justice.

3. Obed-edom was no loser by his bleshed servant. He welcomed the ark to his house, notwithstanding the terrible judgments which had overtaken those who irreverently reared it. He knew by avoiding their sin, he need not fear their punishment; and God rewarded him in a remarkable blessing on himself and household, so that in the three months the ark continued with him, every thing prospered. Nor. (1.) None ever had by feasting to God. Godliness hath she promise of the life which now is, as well as of that which is to come. (2.) It is a blessing to dwell under a good man’s roof, for all who are alone him are the better for him. (3.) All our prosperity must be ascribed to God, and when he adds to all a thankful heart, then we are blessed indeed!

1.1 Chron. 22. 45. re. ¶ 1 And it was told king David, saying, The

LORD hath bleshed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. 2 So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom, into the city of David, with gladness. 13. And it was 3/4 that when they that ‘bare the ark of the LORD, had gone six pieces, he sacrificed oxen and fathings. 14. And David danced before the LORD with all his might, and David was ‘girded with a linen ephed. 15. So David, and all the house of Israel, brought up the ark of the LORD ‘with fluoring, and with the sound of the trumpet. 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 keeping and dancing before the LORD; and ’the despised him in her heart. 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 patched for it: and David offered burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings before the LORD. 18. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, he ‘bleified the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 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 thagon of wine: so all the people departed every one to his house.

2 Samuel 6:12-19

The blessing of the ark on Obed-edom, and his house, soon reached the ears of David, and now his fears are removed, and his deftest return to have the ark with him at Jerusalem. Hereupon once more he attempts to remove it, and through the Divine blessing faccends. Nor. Though we are sure lost and kindred in our race, we must not despair; success shall at last coven our labours.

1. David saw and rectified his former mistake: the Levites, according to Divine persecution, are appointed to carry the ark, and when they had gone six pieces, David carried oxen and fathings to be offered, as an atonement for former occurs, and in thankfulness for present help. Nor. (1.) When God by his corrections hath led us to repentance, we need not doubt but we shall inherit a blessing. (2.) The blood of the one great sacrifice must be regarded in all our undertakings, as the alone foundation for our dependence on God’s favour and regard.

2. David in all humility, with every demonstration of joy, preceded the ark. He laid his royal robes aside, and, in an ephed, like that the ministers of the sanctuary were, with exultation leaped and pressed God with all his might: his heart was engaged in the blessed service, and his body spoke the transport of his God.

3. The people joined their king in the lively expressions of their joy: with shouts of triumph, and the strangers chagrin voice, they brought up the ark to the tabernacle David had provided for it, according to the former usage; and there before it David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, expiation of his gratitude and thankfulness for the success he had met with. Michal, Saul’s daughter, was the only disguised spirit among them. She could not bear to the her husband alone, as she apprehended, demean himself, and her rebuke we shall quickly bear.

4. David dismissed the people. He bleshed them in the name of God, prayed for them and over them, that they might thus ever delight in God and his ways; and gave each of them a cake, and a good slice of meat, probably part of the sacrifices, which were always eaten as a sacred land, and a flogue of wine. And thus the people returned to their houses, highly satisfied with the generous treatment. Nor. (1.) All God’s people are called to kraft on the one great sacrifice, and to eat that bread, and drink of that cup, which the Saviour, the Son of David, hath provided for us. (2.) A generous and munificent spirit naturally engages our regard. (3.) When we have the blessing of the King of kings upon us, then may we well depart in peace.

5. ¶ 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 hand-maids of his servants,’ as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovered himself! 21. And David said unto Michal, ‘It was before the LORD, which chastest 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. 22. And I will yet be more vile than thou, and ‘will be a bake in mine own sight: and of the maid-servants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

6. There-

7. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.

2 Samuel 6:20-23

Having happily finished his public service, David returns joyful, to bless his household, and to finish the day with prayer and praise at home. No man is too great to be chaplain in his own family.

But here his joy meets with some allay from the pride and fretishness of his wife Michal. Clouds will thus obscure the brightest day, and Kings sometimes feel the unrealness of domestic acts.

1. Michal, Saul’s daughter, who had beheld the procession, v. 16. despised David for so denouncing himself, and therefore goes out to meet him with an ironical commendation, expressed for contempt of his behaviour; and ordinance, as if his deeds and gestures were immodest as well as foolish, because he had exchanged his royal mantle for an ephod, and danced amidst his fobyd’s before the ark of God. Note, (1.) The exercises of religion often provoke the contempt of carnal minds: having no fences exercised to relish holy joys, they despise them. (2.) It is no new thing for the enemies of God’s people, to charge them with lewdness, and to reproach their affections as indecent. (3.) Ridicule, not reason, is the weapon chiefly employed by the enemies of truth.

David vindicates himself from her reproaches, and seeks withal to humble her pride. It was before the Lord he danced, in honour to him, and with a single eye and intention to his glory: it was the tribute of gratitude he owed to that gracious God, who had preferred him before her ungodly father: therefore he would again express his thankfulness, and if this were to be vile, would he vile; this, nor feared the reproach of which she was so liberal. His humiliation before God, would engage the respect of those hand-maidens she despised, and cause him to be had in honour by the pious poor, whose regard he most valued. Note, (1.) We must not be laughed out of a religious profession, or be ashamed of it; but the more we are opposed, or infused, the more resolutely persevere. (2.) If God knows our hearts to be upright before him, the censures of others may well lie light upon us. (3.) We can never sufficiently humble ourselves before a holy God; there the greatest king is no better than sinful dust and ashes. (4.) The regard of good men, the few of despised, is more to be valued than the disregard of the multitude of the great and irreligious is to be feared.

3. Michal suffers for her insolence. God afflicted her with butenance, and brought upon her real reproach for the undiserved disrespect she had shown to her husband, and her contempt of the ark of God.