Let the Celebration Begin

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 6:12-23. David heard the LORD had blessed Obededom and his house because the ark of God was there. So David decided to go get the ark and bring it to Jerusalem. After the catastrophe that happened the last time they tried to move the ark, this time David decided to follow the protocol that the LORD had laid out for them concerning the ark. David was happy and excited to be bringing the ark to Jerusalem.

David created a tabernacle from a tent for the ark. He had the Levites sanctify themselves to carry the ark. This time they didn’t put it on a cart, but the Levites carried it in the manner they were supposed to. When the ones who carried the ark had gone six paces David sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

David was clothed in fine linen and had an ephod of linen. He danced and celebrated before the LORD with all his strength. David and all the people of Israel shouted and blew the trumpet.

As the ark entered Jerusalem, the city of David, his wife Michal, who was Saul’s daughter, looked out the window and saw David dancing before the LORD and she despised him.

They brought the ark and placed it in the tabernacle David had built for it and David made burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. When David finished making the sacrifices to the LORD he blessed the people.

David celebrated with all the people, men and women alike. Their celebration included a meal of meat, bread, and wine. When the party was over they all returned to their houses.

When David returned home to bless his house he was greeted by an angry wife. Michal was upset with David because he had danced shamelessly in front of all the people. In fact she made a slur against him saying, “How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!”

David told her that he was dancing before the LORD, who had chosen him before her father Saul chose him. It was the LORD who appointed him to be king over Israel and that is who he was celebrating.

David basically let her know that if she thought that was something she hadn’t seen nothing yet. He told her that he would become even more undignified than this. In fact he would be humiliated in his own eyes, but the slave girls that she had mentioned would honor him.

Michal wanted nothing to do with David. Was she jealous of him or what? She had no children with David to the day of her death.

This story is also recorded in 1 Chronicles 15-16, which contains more details about the event in case you would like to read it.

David followed the protocol that the LORD had laid out for them concerning the ark of God and this time the transport of the ark was successful. When we obey God, He will bless us. When we choose not to obey Him, we can’t expect to have His blessings on our lives.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 6:12-23

12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, 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 leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she 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 pitched 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 blessed 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 flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20 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 handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose 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 thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Things to think about:

• What did David do different this time when they went to get the ark?

• How can we tell from this Scripture that this was a time of celebration for David and the people of Israel?

• Who was the one person that wasn’t happy about the events that took place?

• What was David’s response to her?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that David obeyed Your instructions this time concerning the ark. He didn’t disregard them as he had before. He made sure everything was carried out to Your specifications. Help us to honor and obey You in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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