1 Chronicles 13-15  (Doing the right thing the wrong way)

 

RD V.1-4

 

Here we see that David had a good Desire – He wanted to bring the Ark Back home – to Jerusalem

A) Familiar with the Ark – golden Box – ten commandments – positioned in the Holy of Holies –

 

B) Represented the Glory of God amongst his People

 

C) So you could say that David was wanting to bring the Glory of God back to Israel

1) ALL of us that desire to serve in any degree can relate to David in this.

 

D)It is your experience of the Lord that leads you to want others to desire those things.

1) Word comes alive you want others to hear/ study!

 

E)David wanted the pp of Israel to experience the glory of God – greater way!

     1) Motivation to bring the Ark back

 

We remember that the Ark had been at the house of Abinadab for some 20 years.

A)It was there because the Israelites had made a grave mistake when going to war against the Philistines.

 

B)They thought that if they brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle that IT would give them victory

 

1)Defeated – Ark Captured -

C)Philistines TEMPLE OF DAGON – FISH GOD

 

D)The Philistines sent the ark away and it had dwelt at the house of a man by the name of Abinadab for probably 20yrs

 

So when David assumes the throne – He gets this Desire to bring the Ark Home – His Desire is Good – Motive is great – Bring glory back { Note v.1 again

A)David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader:

 

B)Note worthy, the text does not say that David consulted with the Lord.   Result:

1)A group of godly men with good intentions would soon make a significant mistake because they took counsel with each other, but not with the Lord.

 

C)Here is how I try to approach things – I pray: Look to others for confirmation

1)My wife – Elders

 

D) Sometimes I will throw it out and they will be like Huh ? – Pray ….

1) God confirms or they will share why they think it is a bad idea

 

SO  RIGHT MOTIVE WRONG METHOD

                       RDv.5-8

 

 

David decides to transport the ark on a New Cart 

A)What is the big deal – at least it wasn’t an old cart

 

B) This is the big deal – God gave specific instructions in Numbers 4 and Ex 25 on how the Ark was to be carried

 

C) It was built with slots for these Poles to be put thru it

1) It was only to be carried on the shoulders of the Priest

 

“There it was expressly ordained that the Ark should be carried on the shoulders of the priests, because the cause of God must proceed through the world by the means of consecrated men, rather than by mechanical instrumentality.” (Meyer)

 

So not only is David’s method wrong – [New Cart]  Also  [No priest]

A) Instead – He employs Abinadab’s sons to drive the Cart –

 

B) Interesting names - UZZAH and AHIO

    1) UZZAH = Strong

 

C) He was a strong man..... He was the kind of guy

That you want in positions of leadership because he is strong and can keep things stable

 

D) AHIO = Brotherly- He's the kind of guy you want around because he shakes hands and makes people feel at home.

 

E) He would be a great guy to work with numbers of people because he is disarming

1) Besides all of this – David had 30,000 Choice men marching!

                                   Big Parade

 

This is the way that some people approach ministry today!

A) They want to experience the Glory of God – New Cart – some new program or gimmick to make the Church grow { See His Glory

 

B) Big Parade – Hype

1) Right people in place – Mr. Strong / Mr. Brotherly

                      

C) Problem: That is what the world does – Advertising campaign to launch some project –

1) Right people in place

 

C)The longer I am in ministry the less interested I get in the big production

1) Not interested in the Big Splash - - More interested in the ripple affect

 

D)So often – Big Splash/  but not a big effect

1) What happens when it is over – what affect 2 wks 3months – over -  Plodding – depth!   RD V.9-14

Interesting God exposes the problem when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor.:

A)At a threshing floor the whole stalks of wheat are gathered and the chaff is separated from the wheat.

 

B)There was a lot of chaff in this production, and God would blow away the chaff at Chidon’s threshing floor.

 

C)Here is what happened

1)Cart stumbles – Ark is going to fall – Uzzah reaches out to keep it from falling –

 

D)He is struck dead – That seems – Harsh

 

E) Raiders of the Lost Ark – Nazi’s look inside the Ark – Flesh melts

1) Totally fictional – but that was the overall senses

 

F)Don’t mess with the ArkNumbers 4:15 Don’t touch any holy thing lest you die!

 

C)PT.  The Holiness of God is something that is to be respected –

 

D) Uzzah made a decision in a moment to disregard God’s command and do what seemed right to him.

 

1) Uzzah was assuming that God needed his help in protecting His glory ! { God doesn’t

 

V.12 David was afraid of God that day:

A)He did not need to be afraid of God, but afraid of his own sin.

 

B)There was no problem with God or with the ark itself (as the blessing on the house of Obed-Edom demonstrated).

 

C)The problem was with the lack of knowledge and obedience on the part of David and those who helped him plan the entrance of the ark into Jerusalem.

 

The whole account reinforces the principle that God is interested in the process as well as in the outcome. A)It would never do for David or Israel to have the attitude,

“As long as we get the ark to Jerusalem, it doesn’t matter how we do it.”

 

B)How they did it really did matter, and how we do things today (especially in serving God) also matters.

 

C)Uzzah Dies / David gets mad –Afraid to move forward -

1)For 3 months – the ark sits at the home of Obed Edom – while David wonders what went wrong !

 

D)At this point there is an interruption in the story and the Lord is going to show David He is still with Him  

 

                           CH.14 Rd v. 1-2

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. 2 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

A)This shows David’s influence and importance. Neighboring kings honor him with the finest craftsmen and wood to build him a palace.

 

2 Sam 5:11Actually says they came and built David and house – talking Palace here

 

B)Sign of the blessing of God

 

V.3“Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters.”

A) Note: God is NOT approving or condoning polygamy.

 

B)Just because God is recording the act does not mean that he is approving it anymore than a News reporter – is approving of a murder when they report it. 

         

C)This was in direct disobedience to Deuteronomy 17:17: Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away.

 

D)2 Samuel 5:13 tells us that David also took more concubines when he lived in Jerusalem.

1) Source of so much trouble in David’s life – his children

V.4-7 list the names

Rd V.8  Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Then the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim.

 

A)David’s success brought new challenges from the outside.

 

B)As God worked mightily in David’s life, the devil also got to work and brought opposition against David.

 

C)Whenever you are anointed you can expect attack. When the enemy senses an anointing upon your life he gets his forces gathered.

1)The greater the anointing the greater his attack.

 

D)There are meetings going on in demonic realms to plan attacks against the anointed of God.

1)If you are anointed in ANY sphere, the enemy will launch an all out attack.

 

E) EX – Children’s ministry unraveled – Chaos

1) Because you are called and anointed by God –

        ENEMY ATTACKS

 

10 And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" The LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand."

A)Here we see what is a source of David’s great strength He inquired of the Lord

 

B)He is learning – He didn’t consult with the elders this time

 

11 So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water." Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.   12 And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

13 Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley.

 

C)The Philistines don’t give up easily.

1)Just because you have experienced victory one time does NOT mean that  the enemy will quit.

 

D)Watch what David does  RD V.14-15

14 Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines."

 

I LOVE THIS!!!!

A)David had just had victory. The Philistines had been wiped out but they regrouped came back again.

B) My tendency is to say: Why do I need to pray again? 1)It’s the same enemy, the same situation, the same battle, in the same place.

 

C)It’s obvious - DO the same thing. David was wiser than that!

1)The Lord said: “NO David, I want you to do it differently this time”.

 

D)That is because the Lord does NOT want us to put our faith in program.  ROUTINE -

 

E)The Lord wants us to be in tune with Him and dependant upon Him in every situation   

1) HUGE!!!!!!

 

Now The sign of God’s work was a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.

A)If the Lord told that to YOU, would you say: “The rustling of the mulberry trees?

 

How do I know that that isn’t just the wind.... just a natural event.”

 

B) God often uses that which seems very natural as the sign - -  { Not spectacular – takes faith}

1) But God knew the sound Squadrons of Angels …

 

16 So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. 17 Then the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

A)David’s fame is spreading, his fortune is increasing, but he is still restless

 

B)WHY? He is hungering and desiring for a greater manifestation of God’s glory.

1)He is thinking about the Ark of the Covenant

 

C)For that is where the glory of the Lord was tangibly manifested.

1) GLORY = Kabowd = Weight or substance

 

D)Fame and fortune did NOT satisfy David

 

I can relate to this in one sense { Not that famous

Lunch thing

A)I am Getting asked to speak more – May thru October – things I am praying about –

 

B)Fun sometimes exciting – but you know what – I desire the most is to see God’s glory manifested more in my life and in the life of this Church –

1)  In our staff –

 

C) Hunger for the Kabod – Burning on my heart!

 

Listen Fame and fortune did NOT satisfy David

A)His palace didn’t..... Neither will your house

 

B)His fame did not.... Neither will your promotion at work

1)You are longing for the glory of God.

D) So Ch.15 – David returns back to the ark

 

David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, "No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever."

A)Obvious – David looked to the Word

 

B)David had gotten into the Word and discovered God’s way of doing things.

 

C)David’s previous failure was not meant to FRUSTRATE him.

1)It was meant to MOTIVATE him to search the Scriptures.

 

D) Failure motivates us to think things through and to search the Word of God again.

1)David was motivated. He spent three months studying the Word.

 

E) He discovers what went wrong!!!!

 

Desire needs to be combined with God’s word !

A)How does this desire match up with God’s word

 

B) Method correspond with God’s word.

 

C) Ministry: Not Strive – Allow God to open the doors – PRAY

D)Home groups – Sure up the things that were lacking – 1)Husbands wives serving separately – Marriage counseling is down –

2)Spouses serving as a unit – great

 

RD VERSES 3-4; 12-15

A)Note this before they carried the ark – they consecrated themselves { Sanctified themselves

 

B) Ministry Criteria – Sanctified

1) Musicians – hearts in the right place

 

C) Rather have a less talented guy who’s heart is right than – amazing – Heart is not Sanctified.

 

D) People we bring in here are solid.

1) People on this stage – not in Sin!

 

E) Lacking in the Church today.

1) study on Consecration – before ministry / before battle / before any type of service.

 

16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman Jeremy Camp – Buff worship leader – Big Guns the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Burt Bacharach Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;

VERSES 18-22 More names of l the people that were involved in singing the songs

 

Note v.22  Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful;

 

Sound company – Got lazy

 

RDVERSES 25-28

 

25 So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with joy.

Always Joy in doing God’s work – God’s way!

 

26 And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams.

God helped them – Doing God’s work – God’s way

He helps – His Strength – Empowerment - 

 

27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

 

So David took off his Royal Robes & was dressed only in a Linen Ephod which was like a Night Shirt

A)David made himself like everyone else so that the focus would be on God as KING – not David

B) V.27b Music Master – Worship leader or minister of Music  pastor of Worship – The Music Master

 

28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.

 

 

C)What a radical worship service this was.

 

NOTE: Worship should be joyful.

 

I don't know how church music became somber and depressing.

 

People are beaten down all week. Church should be a place of joy

 

 

NOTE: Worship should be skillful

A)Chenaniah was in charge because he was skilful. Practice is a must for those who will LEAD in worship

 

B)Because it is for the church does NOT mean that it should be sloppy

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Worship should be emotional {Soulful

A)David was exuberant. We were created with the capacity to emote.

 

B)There is nothing wrong with expressing emotion during praise UNLESS you are doing it in a way that draws attention to self.

 

C) IN the midst of this great procession – there was One person missing out –

1)One person being Critical / One person despising –

 

29 And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.

 

Result 2 Samuel 6 She was Barren - tell us

 

D) Spiritual Bareness