2 Samuel 6:1-23
6:1-2 David makes a massive effort to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem; 30,000 selected men join him in the move. He is intent on making this place a center for the children of Israel's faith. The ark of God has been a symbol of God's covenant with the group, with humanity. It was not God Himself but a representation of His holiness.
6:3-4 They bring the ark of God on a cart, though it is supposed to be (and designed to be, Exodus 25) carried. This rule is symbolic: there are no shortcuts. We carry our faith. We hold it in our hands and our hearts. But as the ark is brought to the house of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio (his sons) drive the cart. If their mistake is not evidence of false faith, it is at least evidence of their disregard for God's word.
6:5 At the ark's arrival, David and all of the house of Israel (the many people of the 12 tribes) celebrate. David always enjoyed worshiping God through music; many and various instruments are played for the occasion of the placement of the ark.
6:6-8 Uzzah touches the ark as it slips and is struck by God. David is horrified! He does not understand. Likely this moment is symbolic of the figurative stumbling we do that is caused by our unfaithfulness, unrighteousness. It causes us to err in detrimental ways. If the men of Israel were disregarding God's work in the beginning, in the presence of the ark, it would likely get much worse as time progressed.
6:9-11 David reroutes the final destination of the ark; he decides to place it in the house of Obed-Edom (a descendant of the Levite family God entrusted with the care of the ark). God, pleased with the arrangement, blesses the Obed-Edom and his family for hosting the ark.
6:12-13 Once David is convinced that the ark has been placed where God planned, he relaxes and prepares to celebrate. It's important to David to keep God in the details of life. The foundation is sound when the placement of things is precise. The ark was not supposed to remain with David, who was king but not a god.
6:14-15 So David worships. He pours his whole heart out to God: love and gratitude, trust and reverence, humility and servitude. David danced before the Lord with all his might. Wearing the appropriate clothing for being in the presence of the ark: white linen. Pure. Simple. Honest.
Though he has faults and mistakes and fears, David loves God. It has been David's purpose in life to serve and love and follow our compassionate, strong, wise Creator. When we love God with all our heart, when our worship of Him obliterates everything else, the faults, mistakes and fears become an inconsequential wisp. In a moment of sincere, explosive worship it's just Him and us. Two souls entwined in love as the world falls away.
6:16 As David leaps and whirls before God, Michal grows to loathe David. Immediately we learn that Michal does not love God. She does not understand David's response to God's presence in his life. Saul had arranged Michal to be David's wife but then took her away from David. Though David has since regained Michal through Abner, it is clear that the relationship was never meant to be.
6:17-18 Following custom, David makes sacrifices to God. Though even David knows what God truly wants, Psalm 51:16, he is truly delighted to give to God the best of everything he has... surely God has given no less than the best of everything He has.
6:19 And David distributes to all of the people there worshiping what God has provided. This is symbolic of David's role as king. He is meant to bring God's will and provision into their lives. To share it equally and abundantly in service of God's will.
6:20 Michal viciously mocks David for his worship behavior when he returns home. She does not get it, the love that causes a person to lose themselves in the world and find themselves wrapped in God's love. Michal does not like that David, even as king, is just his real self. There's no front or facade, David wants people to know he loves God and serves Him. And the influence of such a king is a blessing to any people. Michal prefers a husband, a king, who would rule with haughty authority... but that is not David, who is a child and servant of God before anything else.
6:21-22 David is unfazed and unashamed. He tells Michal exactly what must profess to the world: nothing will stop us from loving and revering and worshiping our God. David will not alter his behavior to please people, not even his wife. He will live righteously and sincerely in total alignment with God:
“It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”
6:23 Michal and David have no children, which suggests that their relationship ended the day she revealed her unfaithful heart.
