David Chapter 5 - God And Country Revival/Conquerors For Christ

As previously stated, David was made King of the Tribe of Judah wherein he served for 7 ½ years (2 Samuel 2:11) before becoming king of all of Israel. Even though Saul was now dead, actually killed by the Philistines, still, the Scripture says there was trouble between the house of Saul and the house of David. The Scripture says, “Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker” (2 Samuel 3:1). Concerning this, “The house of Saul was opposed to and persecuted the house of David. Fellowship was impossible, and then he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, so it is now (Galatians 4:29). The carnal nature is the enemy of the Spiritual, but victory is assured to the latter.” That is, if the believer follows God’s prescribed way, which is The Cross. We find now that, after David had become King of Judah, he married several more wives (2 Samuel 3:2-5). Without once inquiring of The Lord for direction in any of these matters, David followed a crooked, tortuous path, in effect, the dark ways of man. Neglecting the teaching of the Book of Genesis, he became a polygamist, marriages which bore bitter fruit in Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah. Other mistakes, as we shall see, were made as well. Had David fully consulted The Lord in all these matters, his “house” would have grown stronger much faster. Unfortunately, there are no perfect Christians. And if you think such, and you are looking for such, don’t look in the church, and don’t look in the mirror. However, thankfully, The Lord does not give up on us, and yet, we must understand that all wrongdoing, no matter the call of God on a person’s life, will always and without exception bring its negative results. No person sins with impunity and gets by. Even though The Lord always forgives, at least if the person sincerely seeks such and even though He will restore many things, perhaps all things, still, sin carries with it a baggage that brings great hurt. The hurt may be a while in coming, but it will come. That’s the reason the Word of God says that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” All sacrifice has been made that you and I can have forgiveness and thank God for that. Still, it is better that we not sin in the first place in which sacrifice is needed.

David Made King Over All Israel

“Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel” (2 Samuel 5:1-3). Actually, this was the third anointing. First, by Samuel when David was but a boy. Second, when he was anointed to be king of Judah. And now, over the entirety of Israel. Why did it take Israel so long to do this? As we have stated, regrettably, believers are not prone to do right until it’s in their best interest to do so. So, the elders of Israel would now anoint David to be king over all of Israel because they thought it in their best interest.

Thirty Years Old

“David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years” (2 Samuel 5:4). David was a type of Christ; therefore, Christ began his public ministry when he was thirty years old. Christ reigned over the powers of darkness, albeit, not over Israel. One day soon, He will reign not only over the powers of darkness but over Israel as well and, in fact, over the entirety of the world. It was the will of God that David be the first king of Israel and not Saul, however, Israel jumped the gun, so to speak, and demanded a king before it was time, with the result being Saul, which was exactly what The Lord said it would be, catastrophic. But now, thank God, the direct will of God was being carried out, which would result in Israel becoming the nation that God intended for it to be.

The Army of David

Beginning at Ziklag and continuing through the time that David was the King of Judah, many began to come to David, and the Scripture says, “…and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war” (1 Chronicles 12:1). This was a glorious time as Israel finally began to do God’s will. It began with David’s darkest days; it went on to unimaginable victory. The present need is, “helpers of the war,” for we are engaged in a war. However, this war must be fought God’s way, and it is a war of faith and that exclusively.

Warriors

The Holy Spirit says of the Benjamites, “They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin” (1 Chronicles 12:2). Even though these were Benjamites and, consequently, from Saul’s tribe, still, they knew the anointing of God rested on David and not on Saul. How much faith did it take for these men to forsake Saul and come to David, even though, at that time, he was a fugitive but yet had the anointing of The Holy Spirit? How much faith does it take today for men to forsake man’s religion and come to David?

The Faces of Lions and Swift as a Deer

“And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes (deer) upon the mountains” (1 Chronicles 12:8). In the spirit world, these men were so anointed by The Holy Spirit that their faces looked like “lions” and their swiftness was as “deer”. The question becomes, what do we look like in the spirit world? Back in the 8th verse of the 12th Chapter of 1 Chronicles, the Bible says that the “Gadites (from the tribe of Gad) there separated themselves unto David.” There has to be a separation from man’s way to God’s way. There would be hinderances to stop them, such as the Jordan overflowing its banks; however, they did not allow this to stop them, and neither must we allow hinderances to stop us.

Expressed by Name

The Scripture says, “And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king” (1 Chronicles 12:31). These individuals were “expressed by name” and wanted everyone to know they had “come to make David king.” They were not ashamed of their mission. They wanted all to know their purpose. These are the type who make a full consecration.

Not of Double Heart

“Of (the tribe of) Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart” (1 Chronicles 12:33). Far too many Christians cannot keep rank, simply because their hearts are divided between the world and the Lord Jesus Christ or else between denominational religion and The Lord Jesus Christ. No matter the danger in battle, these men from Zebulon could keep rank. The “double heart” is also the bane of all Christendom. The heart is divided between Christ and other pursuits. Our hearts must be single, meaning that all its devotion must be to Christ.

Hearty Response

“And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand” (1 Chronicles 12:34). How is it that only six thousand eight hundred of Judah came (1 Chronicles 12:24) and fifty thousand of the tribe of Zebulun came and, as well, thirty-eight thousand of the tribe of Naphtali? The numbers denote accuracy and fidelity to present day spiritual facts. Although David, himself, was of the tribe of Judah, still, Judah would little respond. The tribes of Benjamin, Simeon, and Levi were associated with Judah as well, and the record will show small response. Likewise, these were the tribes who crucified the Son of David, our Lord, so the seedbed of that crucifixion, which would take place about one thousand years later, was already being planted.

Joy in Israel

“Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel” (1 Chronicles 12:40). Now there was “fellowship,” there was “plenty,” and there was “joy” all because Israel was now in the will of God. It should be noted that in the entirety of 1 Chronicles Chapter 12, the seven-and-a-half-year reign in Hebron of David over Judah is not referred to once. It was God’s will for David to be king over all Israel, not just Judah. Likewise, The Lord must be King over all our lives, not just part. Now, David was king over all Israel.

David Captures Jerusalem

Actually, at that time, Jerusalem was named Jebus, and was occupied by the Jebusites, one of the most fierce tribes in all the land of Israel. They had been conquered by Joshua, which was about four hundred years before David (Joshua 11:3). As well, at one point in time, the children of Judah captured the area (Judges 1:8). Yet, in as much as the children of Judah did not, at that time, occupy it but rather, “set the city on fire,” it seems to have been soon repopulated by its old inhabitants, the Jebusites. Through the entirety of his forty-year reign, Saul never captured it either, so we now have the idol-worshipping enemy situated right in the midst of the Promised Land. The taking of this city was the very first thing that David did after becoming king of all of Israel. Here is a great lesson for every modern believer to learn from this episode.

Strongholds

Jebus was a stronghold of the enemy and, as stated, right in the middle of Israel. It could not be allowed to remain. So, David was, no doubt, led by The Lord to take out this stronghold and to do so immediately. Ironically enough, the city, called Jebus, which was actually Jerusalem, would become the capital of all of the entire country of Israel and the place where God would choose to place His Name. Of course, satan knew that The Lord had planned this, so he would occupy it by his most powerful opposition to Israel, the Jebusites. Likewise, satan will attempt to erect a stronghold in the life of the believer and will do so in the area that God wants to use the most. Paul said, “For though we walk in the flesh (refers to the fact that we do not yet have glorified bodies), we do not war after the flesh (after our own ability but, rather, by the power of The Spirit): (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (carnal weapons consist of those which are man devised), but mighty through God (The Cross of Christ [1 Corinthians 1:18]) to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations (philosophic strongholds, every effort man makes outside of The Cross of Christ), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God (all the pride of a human heart), and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (can be done only by the believer looking exclusively to The Cross where all victory is found; The Holy Spirit will then perform the task);” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Strongholds and The Cross of Christ

Let me say it again, there is only one way that a believer can live this life, can order his behavior correctly and have victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil and can pull down the strongholds that are in our lives, which hinder us greatly in our walk with God. That is by placing one’s faith exclusively in Christ and what Christ has done for us at The Cross. Then, The Holy Spirit can go to work in our lives and work mightily, doing great things and making us what we ought to be. It is what Jesus did at The Cross that gives The Holy Spirit the legal right to do all that He does within our hearts and lives. In fact, it is The Cross that makes it possible for Him to come into our hearts at conversion to abide forever (John 14:16-17). As well, the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). The Cross of Christ is where satan was defeated alone, along with his henchmen of darkness, including fallen angels and demon spirits. Paul also said, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh (speaks of spiritual life [i.e., ‘separation from God’], which sin does), hath he quickened together with him (refers to being made spiritually alive, which is done through being ‘born again’), having forgiven you all trespasses (The Cross made it possible for all manner of sins to be forgiven and taken away); Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us (pertains to the law of Moses, which was God’s standard of righteousness that man could not reach), which was contrary to us (law is against us simply because we are unable to keep its precepts, no matter how hard we try), and took it out of the way (refers to the penalty of the law being satisfied and thereby removed), nailing it to his cross (the law, with its decrees, was abolished in Christ’s death as if crucified with Him);”

Triumph

“And having spoiled principalities and powers (satan and all of his henchmen were defeated at The Cross by Christ atoning for all sin; sin was the legal right satan had to hold man in captivity; with all sin atoned, he has no more legal right to hold men in bondage), he (Christ) made a shew of them openly (what Jesus did at The Cross was in the face of the whole universe), triumphing over them in it (the triumph is complete, and it was all done for us, meaning we can walk in power and perpetual victory due to The Cross)” (Colossians 2:13-15). This is God’s way of pulling down strongholds within our lives and, in fact, His only way. It is The Cross! The Cross! The Cross! (1 Corinthians 1:18). While there are many other things, such as fasting, which are definitely Scriptural and most definitely can be beneficial, still, the only way that one is going to have victory over sin is by placing one’s faith exclusively in Christ and The Cross. This, then, gives The Holy Spirit liberty and latitude to work within our hearts and lives. Let me say it again, The Cross and what Jesus there did is our source of victory. In fact, it is the solution and the answer for man’s dilemma and the only solution and the only answer.

The Taunt of Satan

As soon as he became king, at the behest of The Holy Spirit, David immediately marshalled his forces in order to take down the stronghold of the Jebusites, which was right in the midst of Israel. When he came against the city, the Jebusites on the wall said to him, “…Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither” (2 Samuel 5:6). Actually, this passage means that the Jebusites taunted David by saying to him, “We are so strong, and you are so weak, our blind and lame soldiers can keep you out of the city.” Has satan ever taunted you telling you that you will have no victory, that his stronghold in your life will remain, whatever it is? I’m positive that he has. In effect, satan will tell you any lie that he can get you to believe, and to be sure, satan is a formidable foe. He is far far stronger than our own personal strength. If we come against him in any other way than by faith in Christ and The Cross, he will defeat us every time. It was at The Cross, as we have previously stated, that satan was totally and completely defeated, and that’s why he fights The Cross as he does. Let the reader understand, there is no victory outside of The Cross, there is no overcoming power outside of The Cross, and there is no other way outside of The Cross. No matter how good other ways may look and no matter how much they may be touted by preachers, etc., it is The Cross alone where all victory is found. Of course, when we speak of The Cross, we are not speaking of the wooden beam on which Jesus died but, rather, what Our Lord there accomplished. What did He accomplish?

He atoned for all sin, past, present, and future, at least for all those who will believe (John 3:16)
Due to the fact that sin is the legal means that satan has to hold man captive, this means that satan has no more legal right to hold anyone captive, providing they place their faith in Christ and The Cross (Colossians 2:14-15)
As well, Jesus broke the grip of sin, meaning that sin nature is no longer to rule in the heart and life of the believer. Actually, the entirety of the sixth chapter of Romans is given over to telling the believer how the grip of sin is broken and that we can walk free from the domination of sin. While the Bible does not teach sinless perfection, it most definitely does teach that sin is not to have dominion over us as believers (Romans 6:14)

Hatred for That Which Causes Believers to be Spiritually Blind and Lame

The Scripture tells us, “And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain…” (2 Samuel 5:8). In essence, David is saying, in the spiritual sense, that he “hated” anything that would cause Israel to be spiritually “lame” or “blind.” That’s why he said, “…Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” This is not meant by David to be a sarcastic statement regarding the handicapped but, rather, it is said in the spiritual sense. No believer needs to be spiritually blind or lame but, regrettably, due to not understanding The Cross of Christ, most presently are.

The Capital

The Scripture says, “So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward” (2 Samuel 5:9). Actually, the stronghold of satan, right in the midst of Israel, would now become the stronghold of Zion. In fact, David would make this city his headquarters and actually the capital of Israel, Jerusalem. This means that The Lord can take that thing in your life with which satan has endeavored to destroy you and turn it into your strongest point, actually making it a stronghold of the grace of God. This means that our Heavenly David must dwell in this place or else satan will. Some of you reading these words do so with sorrow. You have battled something in your life for years, seemingly unable to get victory. You have wept, you have cried, and you have had hands laid on you, but, still, the problem remains. The answer is The Cross and only The Cross. It’s not so much what you do as it is what you believe. Place your faith exclusively in Christ and what Christ has done for you at The Cross, and maintain your faith in The Cross exclusively, not allowing it to be moved elsewhere, and you are now on the road to victory. Now, don’t misunderstand, satan will do everything within his power to try to get you to move your faith. As well, in your beginning stages, you will fail. It’s not a case of if I fail, but it’s a case of when I fail. However, get up, ask The Lord to forgive you, and start back out on this road of victory. Because you’re on the right road, victory will ultimately be yours. Don’t feel that satan is going to give up easily. He won’t. In fact, he very well may double his efforts against you. In other words, the temptation may be worse than ever, at least at the outset, trying to get you discouraged and then quit. Many have quit. They say, “Well, there must be something wrong with me. I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work.” Or they will say, “This may work for others, but it doesn’t seem to work for me.” Just because your faith is now right, don’t think that satan is going to strike his tent and leave. He isn’t. However, if you won’t quit, I can assure you, The Lord won’t quit, and, ultimately, you will find victory for what you have long sought. It may take only a short time, or it may take much longer, but be assured that you are on the right road, and victory has been promised you, that is, if you won’t quit.

David Defeats the Philistines

Unfortunately, the Jebusites, as fierce as they were, were not the only enemies. Now, we have the Philistines. There’s a great lesson here to be learned. The Scripture says, “But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold” (2 Samuel 5:17). As we’ve been telling you, satan doesn’t give up easily or quickly. Some Christians get it in their heads that we’re teaching that, once your faith is properly in The Cross, satan will never bother you anymore. In other words, the temptation is over, difficulties are over, and it’s nothing now but smooth sailing, downhill, with the wind at your back. I’m sorry, but that is not to be, at least until the trump sounds. However, with your faith properly placed in The Cross, victory can be yours every time. The Scripture says concerning the Philistines, “And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand” (2 Samuel 5:19). So, David did, and so David won the victory. But the Scripture says, “And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim” (2 Samuel 5:22). As we have been saying, the enemy will always come again, so David inquired of The Lord again. But The Lord, this time, told him differently. He said to David, “…Thou shalt not go up” (2 Samuel 5:23). Before, He had told David, “Go up.” And now he said, “You shall not go up.” Oftentimes, we get it in our minds that whatever The Lord did to bless us previously, He’ll work the same way again. We get into trouble because we do not inquire of The Lord. We should inquire of Him concerning everything, be it little or large. We must never take The Lord for granted. Many a Christian have erred in this regard. As well, we must never think in our minds that because He did something a certain way before, He will continue to do the same thing. He wants us to follow Him and nothing else. Yes, The Lord, through David, most definitely was going to defeat the Philistines, but The Lord wanted it done differently this particular time. He told the “sweet singer of Israel” that when he took his army to a certain place, and “...when he heard the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,...” then he would go after the Philistines. That’s what he did, and the victory was his (2 Samuel 5:24). The sound of a “going” meant the sound of a mighty army on the march, which struck terror into the Philistines and caused them to be confused and panic stricken. It is said that the sound was the noise of horses’ hooves. The Philistines would have reasoned that some other mighty army was appearing suddenly behind them to help David. This was God’s way of bringing the victory. How easy are his ways, how difficult are our ways. David smote the Philistines in both cases, but had he not followed The Lord, there would have been no victory. Now, we come to the time of the very opposite, in other words, when David did not inquire of The Lord due to his pride.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

Scripture says, “Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand” (2 Samuel 6:1). 1 Chronicles 13:1 says, “David consulted…with every leader.” Before fighting the Philistines, David “enquired of the LORD.” Now, before performing the work of God, David would not inquire of The Lord but, rather, of men. Why? His not doing so would cause tremendous problems. David’s motives were right. He felt in his heart that the ark of God must be in its rightful place in Jerusalem in the tabernacle, so he made great and grandiose plans to bring it into Jerusalem and planned to do so with great fanfare and celebration. However, he did not consult The Word of God as to how the ark was to be brought into the city. The Scripture says, “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” (2 Samuel 6:2). For approximately seventy years, the Ark of God has been without a home. Actually, it had been at the “house of Abinadab.” There is some indication, according to the Psalms, that it was little attended to, possibly even sitting out in a field according to Psalms 132:6. Regrettably, the modern church treats the presence of God, of which the Ark was type, in pretty much the same fashion. To be frank, in most churches, His presences simply isn’t wanted or desired. Some seventy years before, the Ark of God had been taken by the Philistines (1 Samuel 5:1-12). Due to the judgment of God upon the Philistines for having the ark, they sent it back to Israel (1 Samuel 6:1-21). It was taken to the house of Abinadab, where it remained for some twenty years (1 Samuel 7:1-2). As well, it remined there for the entirety of the reign of Saul, which was some forty years, now making a total of sixty years. Upon Saul’s death, David became the King of Judah, but not all of Israel, which lasted for seven and a half years. Now, after becoming King of Israel, it took about two and half years to get things in order before he would bring the Ark of God into Jerusalem, totaling seventy years.

The New Cart

“And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah…” (2 Samuel 6:3). David should have known better than to try to transport the Ark of God in the same manner as had the Philistines. The law of Moses said that the priests must carry the Ark upon their shoulders. The priests were types of Christ. However, Israel borrowed the way of the Philistines and set the Ark, contrary to The Word of God, on a “new cart.” Unfortunately, “new carts” abound presently. The ways of the world must never be adopted by the church. While it’s perfectly satisfactory for the world to copy our ways, it is most destructive for the people of God to embrace the ways of the world. The Way of The Lord is The Cross of Christ, and that is the entirety of His way. In fact, the entirety of the story of the Bible is “Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” The Scripture says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Any other way is a way devised by man. Even if that way is devised by Godly men, as was David, it will not work. Let me make this statement, man, even the godliest, cannot devise anything out of our own ability and mental capacities, which God can accept. If it is to be accepted by The Lord, it must be conceived by The Holy Spirit, given birth by The Holy Spirit, guided and directed by The Holy Spirit, and completed by The Holy Spirit. While The Lord will use men and women to do this, He originates everything and not man. That is probably the hardest lesson for the church to grasp and understand. It keeps building its “new carts” one after the other, which only tends to bring spiritual death. Unfortunately, “new carts” abound.

Worship?

The Scripture says, “And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals” (2 Samuel 6:5). “New carts” are always accompanied by great religious activity. However, all of this is a work of the flesh. Had David inquired of The Lord and consulted the Bible (Numbers 4:15), success and not disaster would have resulted. However, David consulted man (1 Chronicles 13), imitated the Philistines, and organized a great public function in which David and his plans largely obscured God and His glory. Consequently, the day ended in anger and fear, and most of all, it ended in death. All of this was the planning of the “flesh.” If the church looks to anything other than The Cross, plans anything other than The Cross, or practices anything other than The Cross, the end result will be the same as it was so long ago, death. It does not matter how grandiose the religious activity or the claims of religious men. Sadly, let us say it again, the modern church is full of “new carts.”

Death

“And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it” (2 Samuel 6:6). Let us quickly state, there always comes a “threshingfloor” that’s where the grain is separated from the husks, that’s where the flesh is separated from the Spirit. When they crossed the threshing floor, the “new cart” hit a rough exterior, and it must have looked like, for a moment, that the ark may fall, so Uzza stretched out his hand to keep it from falling, and the Scripture says, “…God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:7). Some may think that God was cruel for doing such a thing. Uzza, in their thinking, was only trying to help. Actually, he had been placed in charge by David, but yet, due to the fact that the Ark of God had been at the house of Abinadab for some twenty years, and Uzza was the son of Abinadab, he should have known better than what he did. Let the reader understand, The Lord means what He says and says what He means. If we deviate from The Word of God, no matter how sincere we might be, we will suffer loss. Again, the reason the modern church is loading itself up with “new carts” is simply because it is leaving The Word of God. Anything we do that is contrary to The Word is going to bring sorrow and trouble. While The Lord will deal with us, speak to us, and move upon us to try to get us to the right way, ultimately, if we do not return to The Word, our defection will bring heartache. There is always a form of spiritual death attached to neglect of The Word. As we have stated, Uzza had had many years to learn about the Ark of God. But the record indicates, I think, by its silence, that the house of Aminadab little cared for this which was in their possession.

How Shall the Ark of The Lord Come to Me?

When David heard what happened, The Scripture says he was “displeased” (2 Samuel 6:8). No matter that David was a “man after God’s own heart”, still, he was as accountable to The Word as anyone else. Had David consulted The Bible, he would have known how the Ark of The Lord should come to him. The day now ended in fear, great trouble, and worse yet, death. I tell people many times, I have no personal preference as to what The Bible says. I only want to know what it says, to understand what it says, and to do my very best to carry out what it says. In fact, The Word of God is the only revealed truth in the world today and, in fact, ever has been. I didn’t say it was the only thing that is true, but rather, it is the only “Truth.”

The House of Obededom

So, David then, not knowing what to do, “...carried the Ark of God aside into the house of Obededom, the Gettite” (2 Samuel 6:10). What had been a curse to Uzza now would be a blessing to Obededom. The Scripture continues by saying, “And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom…three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household” (2 Samuel 6:11). It seems, from the account given in the Scriptures, that David, at that time, did not know what to do with the Ark. Why he chose the house of Obededom, we are not told. Perhaps, and no doubt, it was very nearby where the tragedy of the death of Uzza had just taken place. Did not David think that if Obededom did not conduct himself correctly toward the Ark that he would die as well? I don’t know what was in the mind of David, but the implication is that he was afraid to even go near the Ark at that particular time and rightly so. Whatever David’s motives, The Lord put it in the heart of David to leave the Ark at the house of Obededom. While the Scripture doesn’t give us much information, the truth must have been that Obededom looked in the Word of God to find out how the Ark had to be treated and conducted himself accordingly. Whatever he did was pleasing to The Lord, for The Bible says, “and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.” That means that not only was the immediate household of Obededom blessed but as well, all of his sons and daughters, all of his relatives, and more than likely, anybody who stopped by. It was told David, as stated, some three months later, “The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:12). Upon hearing that, “David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness” (2 Samuel 6:12). Evidently, he did it right this time. Incidentally, the name “Obededom” is mentioned 20 times in the Word of God. In fact, Obededom and his family would accompany the Ark to Jerusalem with David and would become “…doorkeepers for the ark” (1 Chronicles 15:24).

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

The great processional that would go into Jerusalem with the Ark of God in its midst would now be designed by The Holy Spirit. David seemingly wrote Psalm 68 to commemorate this great event. There were 862 priests and Levites plus others consecrated to bear the Ark and to offer sacrifices. Three choirs accompanied the Ark. The first choir was led by the Levites. The second choir was made up of maiden singers (Psalm 68:25). The third choir was made up of men singers. All three choirs are referred to in Psalm 68:25. The men’s choir seemingly went before the musicians, who were following the maidens playing the timbrels among or in between the men singers and the musicians.

The Sacrifices

Concerning this, the Scripture says, “And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings” (2 Samuel 6:13). This means that about every 18 feet, David offered up sacrifices, proclaiming the fact that Israel’s foundation was, in essence, the shed blood of The Lamb. Some might think that this was extravagant. However, when we speak of Calvary, of which the sacrifices were representative, there can be no extravagance. When the Ark reached the tabernacle that had been created for it on the temple mount, the Scripture says again, “…and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD” (2 Samuel 6:17). The Cross of Christ, of which the Old Testament Sacrifices were types, presents itself as the foundation of the church. As it was the foundation of Israel, it is, as well, the foundation of the church. When we attempt to substitute something else in its place, spiritual catastrophe is always the result. Regrettably and sadly, The Cross is preached so little in modern churches that the majority of the church-going public in America and Canada thinks of The Cross only in a sentimental way. Let it be understood, The Cross of Christ alone stands between mankind and eternal hell. As well, The Cross of Christ alone stands between the church and apostasy. The Lord has commissioned us to preach, teach, and proclaim the message of The Cross in every capacity that is available to us. This we must do, and this we are doing. Please understand, if and when you walk through that gate of pearl into the portals of Glory, it will be because of what Jesus Christ did at The Cross and your faith in that finished work. Also, please understand, that every single victory of every child of God, irrespective as to what it might be, is all because of what Jesus Christ did at The Cross. So, the Cross of Christ is not only for salvation, but it, as well, is for sanctification. Unless the preacher is preaching The Cross, he isn’t preaching the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17). David offered sacrifices upon the bringing of the Ark into Jerusalem because The Holy Spirit demanded that he do so. Please understand, without the sacrifices, all the other ceremony was of no consequence. Israel’s protection was the shed blood of The Lamb. Israel’s salvation was the shed blood of The Lamb. Israel’s victory and prosperity were the shed blood of The Lamb, of which all the sacrifices were types.

David’s Reaction

Now that the Ark of The Lord was being brought into the city Scripturally the way it should have been, there was great joy that accompanied the procession. The Scripture says of David, “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod” (2 Samuel 6:14). Now, it was not mere religious ceremony, but rather “in The Spirit” because it says, “before the LORD.” Religious ceremony producing religious activity has no spiritual merit whatsoever. However, activity produced by “The Spirit” is the blessing of the church. The “linen ephod” was probably a garment like that worn by little children and not priestly garments, which David had no right to wear. The Scripture then says, “So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet” (2 Samuel 6:15). We are looking here at Holy Spirit revival. This is the strength of Israel, not its mighty army or wealth but “the ark of the LORD,” which represented the presence of God. There could be nothing greater than that.

The Reaction of David’s Wife, Saul’s Daughter

“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” (2 Samuel 6:16). This verse tells us that the “flesh” can never approve of the things of the “Spirit.” Speaking of David’s wife, she is referred to here by The Holy Spirit as, “Saul's daughter.” David did not do himself well by demanding that she come again to be his wife (2 Samuel 3:14-16). The Scripture further says, “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! 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.” Then, the Scripture says, “Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death” (2 Samuel 6:20-23). All that happened in the realm of The Holy Spirit was repulsive to “the daughter of Saul.” Likewise, the moving of The Holy Spirit is always repulsive to some in the church in which there seems to be an abundance of “the flesh.” The “flesh”, be it ever be so dignified, cannot bring forth fruit unto God. Such was the pride of the “flesh” in this young lady.

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I will not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand;

All else is sinking sand.

David Chapter 5

David Anointed King