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June 10, 2009 The Right Thing, The Wrong Way Kathleen Maples

David was appointed king of Israel just like God said he would be. It was clear the
people had understood for some time that although Saul had been officially king, the
latter part of his reign, David had been the one leading the military (and the people) to
victory.

2Sa 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

He had been reigning in Hebron but he decided to go and purge out Jerusalem and
move there. There had been Jebusites living in Jerusalem, some of whom were driven
out by Joshua as the children of Israel had entered the promised land. Still, they had
never completely driven out the Jebusites, even though the land where Jerusalem was
located had been divided between the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. This was a
stronghold shut in by deep valleys on three sides, a citadel surrounded by strong
walls. David had ruled in Hebron for seven years, now it was time to take down the
stronghold of the enemy in the land. Consider our own lives. We might have been
living for God, or trying to, for a long time, yet there is one remaining area in our lives
not under His control. It is time to let Him have all. He is able to subdue all things unto
Himself (Php_3:21) When we move with determination to trust in God's promise of
victory, we should expect opposition, and mockery from the enemy. After all, we've
lived with this thing for so long, why bother now? We've been this way so long, we
can't change. We don't have what it takes to defeat the stronghold. May I remind you
the Word of God says "Greater is He that lives in us, than he that is in the world"
1Jn_4:4. HE is our victory. He never loses.

2Sa 5:6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of
the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame,
thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

Apparently, Saul's reputation and weakness preceded David. They may have thought
him ineffective because Saul was. Why did they make such a fatal assumption?
According to Josephus, the inhabitants of Jerusalem set their blind and lame upon the
walls of the city to taunt David, because they were confident in the walls to keep David
out. After all, Saul, who is a type of the carnal, self-centered Christian, hadn't been a
problem, neither had Israel under Saul. (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 7, Ch 3, V1)

Saul lived in Gibeah before and during his reign as king over Israel. If you look into
the history of Gibeah, it is a dark, corrupt history. Not long after Joshua died, the
Benjamites in this area had degenerated so quickly they became like Sodom and
Gomorrah. Remember, Benjamin was the beloved son of Jacob, the one he held the
dearest after Joseph disappeared. Yet on his deathbed, Jacob, it would seem,
prophesied, and likened Benjamin unto a ravenous wolf who would devour his prey
and by smooth flattery divide and plunder the spoil. (Gen_49:27) In Judges 19 we find a
horrible story that reveals the depravity of these people, these Benjamites in Gibeah.
They didn't welcome strangers who traveled through their city, they were not
hospitable- which was a violation of God's law. He commanded them to treat the
stranger with kindness because they were strangers in Egypt and He brought them
out. Instead, their city was a dangerous place for travelers. We have the account of a
Levite, who marries a harlot. Levites were to be separate and not marry harlots or
divorced women. (Lev_21:7) He and his concubine are traveling to go to the House of
God in Bethel, and stops on the way in Gibeah, after he refused to stop at Jebus-later
called Jerusalem. It would have been better if he had, but he would not stay in a town
of Gentiles, as Jerusalem was at the time, preferring to go on to a Hebrew city. Keep in
mind also, there might be some bitterness or anger in his heart toward this woman,
for she had left him after she married him, returned to her harlot ways, and he had
gone after her, to her father's house to speak kindly to her, and get her to return. The
father, though glad to see him, may have been uneasy about him leaving with his
daughter, for he tries to persuade them to remain, and delay their departure.

There is much similarity in the events of Judges 19 and Genesis 19. This city, like
Sodom, is full of deviant men, who finding out a stranger is in this old man's house
want to get their hands on him so they can sodomize him. Like Lot, the old man offers
his virgin daughter, (unthinkable!) and the man's concubine to these wicked men, but
insisted they spare the male visitor. Apparently the gang rape of a concubine didn't
matter to the old man, nor the woman's husband. Apparently it was okay to rape
women, even virgin daughters, but spare me, the men said. What total depravity.
When the men of the city persisted in their desire to have the Levite, he cruelly pushes
his wife out the door to the men, leaving her at their mercy. They spend the night
abusing this woman until she is barely able, when released, to crawl back to the place
where her husband is, and dies. The next morning, the Levite walks outside and sees
her lying there, just says "Get up, let's go". Such hardness. Such a lack of compassion.
Then he sees she is dead, so he puts her on his horse and when he gets home, he cuts
her in pieces and sends a piece to each of the other tribes of Israel, with a note,
demanding help in seeking justice. Well, abuse her, just don't kill her. He allowed her
to be raped by a gang of men, horribly abused, until they killed her, then he
dismembers her body and decides to seek justice? Where was his punishment? What
kind of man could do such a thing? How quickly and terribly God's people can
degenerate when they put away His Word from before their eyes and their mind. All
the children of Israel from the other tribes came out in response to his grisly message
and they come as one. He never admits he turned her over to these men, either, to save
his own skin. (Jdg_20:4-5)

Israel sent men into the cities of the tribe of Benjamin, seeking the men who did this
awful thing, but the men of Benjamin would not turn them over. The fact that
Benjamin refused to surrender the criminals and chose to fight against their own
brethren says a lot about their own character or lack of. They refused to turn over the
men who had raped and murdered the Levite's wife, instead they gathered themselves
together to fight against the armies of Israel's other 11 tribes. Israel rose up and went
to God's house and prayed, and asked direction before they went out to fight. They
sought counsel from God as to who should lead in this battle and the Lord chose Judah
to lead. It was a bloody battle, 22,000 Israelites were killed by their Benjamite
brothers. The Israelites cried to the Lord, "should we continue to fight against our
brothers?" and He said, "Yes." Aaron's grandson was the priest at the time. Jdg_20:28
reveals that Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron was the one who ministered before
the ark of the covenant at the time. So you are talking about ONE generation into the
promised land. One generation in they are biting and devouring strangers that come
into their midst. They will fight to the death to keep their way. They came in under
Joshua when Eleazar was priest after Aaron's death. Now it is Phinehas. One
generation later they had deteriorated so badly in this land of promise. They went
into the promised land and rebelled against God's commandment to drive everyone
foreign out. All that was not surrendered to HIM had to go. But they allowed some to
remain and began to be more influenced by the pagan nations around them than by
God. They began to do what was right in their own eyes. They forsook Him and turned
to please self, and be like those around them. They took in idols of their neighbors, and
began to worship what their neighbors did. All it takes is start doing what YOU think
is right. There is a way that seems right to men but the end of that is death. (Pro_16:25)
Time and time again in Judges you see how Israel backslid and got in trouble and had
to cry to God for deliverance. He was merciful to hear their cry for deliverance. He
was merciful to tell them where they went wrong and why they ended up captives to
their enemy. Still, they never seemed to understand it was their own sin that brought
this misery down on their heads. He is our victory and when we allow things in our
lives to remain after He's told us they must go we will become their slave, sooner or
later unless we take heed to His warning to cast it out or away. Gibeah was destroyed
by Israel after these events and the tribe of Benjamin was nearly destroyed.

Later, the city of Gibeah is rebuilt, and this is where Saul lives when he rules Israel.
Gibeah is known for depravity, selfishness, and violence before it is destroyed. Who
would want to rebuild such a place-much less live there? We make ourselves a
transgressor if we rebuild the things God said destroy. (Gal_2:18) This was the place
Saul lived before and after he was anointed king of Israel.

As soon as David is made king at Hebron, and then proceeds to take Jerusalem, and
overcome those who mocked him, he sets up the seat of power in Jerusalem. Isn't it
amazing here, how David took what was the enemy's stronghold, and made it the
dwelling place of the Lord's king over his people? A neighboring king, Hiram, king of
Tyre, who cares deeply for David, sends material and workmen to build him a palace.
Not long after, the Philistines come against David, whose first move is to enquire of the
Lord "Should I go up to them?" and the Lord said yes, I will deliver them into your
hand." Yet again, they came up and again David asked God what to do. This time, the
Lord said don't go up, but wait behind them, and when you hear something moving in
the top of the mulberry trees, you will know I have gone ahead of you to smite them."
Whose battle is it? It's the LORD'S! When His people come to Him with their questions,
instead of each other, when we go to HIM and depend only on HIM for direction and
guidance, He will not fail us.

David knew things weren't right under Saul. One of the things he was responsible to
do as king, according to the command of God was to make a copy of the Scriptures,
and keep it in his heart. (Deu_17:18-19). Still, David makes a tragic decision and it was
tragic because this time, he didn't enquire of God-he enquired of the people. (1Ch_13:1-
2)

1Ch 13:3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the
days of Saul.
1Ch 13:4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the
eyes of all the people.

2Sa 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2Sa 6:2 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.

In order to understand why this decision was tragic, let us carefully consider how
David went about doing the right thing the wrong way. His first failure was a failure
to pray before he acted and get direction from God. It's important to stand still until
you know you have heard from God and understand His direction. There is a great
need for this in the church today and in all our lives. Let God be God, let God make the
decisions concerning our lives, but sadly, people will not pray and seek God like they
must for this to happen. Instead, they will do what they think is right, perhaps hunt a
few Scriptures in an attempt to justify their decision, and still call Him Lord.

The Ark of God was another name for the Ark of the covenant or Testimony. It was an
oblong box, made of acacia wood, taken from the wilderness, and covered inside and
out with pure gold. There was 4 rings on each corner of the Ark, pure gold, into which
2 poles made of shittim wood and covered with gold would be inserted. The poles were
to remain in the 4 gold rings, not to be removed. This was how the Ark was to moved-it
was to be carried-and only by Levites descended from Kohath, the second son of Levi,
an ancestor of Moses and Aaron. To spare flesh the burden of carrying the Ark and put
the Ark of God on a cart pulled by animals and guided by men was an offense to God.
Flesh doesn't lead God. It doesn't move God. When I say flesh, I mean the carnal,
human strength, appetites and reasoning of people. This is why Jesus looked at Peter
and said "Get behind Me, Satan, you are an offense unto Me, for you are only
interested in the things of man not of God." (Mat_16:23) It's an offense to God. This Ark
represented the power and Testimony and presence of God. Consider this:

1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with
our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Inside the Ark was the Testimony, the 2 tablets on which God wrote the 10
commandments for Moses to give the people. There was also a container of manna,
which was to be a reminder of God's provision to His people. The rod of Aaron that
God made bloom was also inside as a reminder God chose those who would minister to
Him, not men. He is able to take a dead, dry rod, and renew the life in it and cause it to
be fruitful. Aaron's rod didn't only blossom, it produced almonds from the blossoms.
What a wonderful thought. If you feel dead and dry, just remember what He did with
Aaron's rod in the wilderness in the midst of a rebellion. (Num_17:8)

The Ark of God had a cover that went on top and on it was the mercy seat. On each end
of the mercy seat were two gold cherubim, facing each other, heads bowed, wings
spread, tips touching. This was where God met with the priest to commune with him,
to speak to the people. The priest was to take the Word of God to the people. Because he
had been in the presence of God, there was a power with his word-an anointing. The
priest had to wash his hands and feet and wear special, set-apart-only-for-that-
purpose linen clothing. The garments were holy, sanctified. They were to be made of
pure linen, for nothing that would make the priest sweat could be worn in the presence
of God. He would not tolerate sweat in his presence. (Eze_44:18) Sweat is the result of
the work of flesh, it's a stink in His nostrils, and He has no use for flesh or its vain
striving. Consider the human side of this for a moment. When someone is sweating,
does this not cause an offensive odor? This is meaningful. Like sweat produced
through someone's activity, or effort, causes an offensive odor, so does it also cause an
offensive odor to God when flesh (self) tries to dare enter His presence on the merit of
its own labor or works.

He said no flesh would glory in His presence. (1Co_1:29) Consider carefully what He is
saying. The word for flesh in the Hebrew means human nature, carnal passions, or
minds. (G4561) By saying no flesh shall glory (boast, or rejoice) in His presence, He's
also revealing only that which is spiritual is acceptable. Flesh can't please God, it can't
save itself, it can't accomplish anything acceptable with God, nor can it help God. Even
our worship must be in Spirit and in Truth. It's a work of the Spirit of God. When men
try to work it up this is not acceptable with God. He will withdraw from this. If He is
moving, the presence of His Spirit causes flesh to fear, will produce an awareness of
our need, a brokenness as we are made aware of our failures by being in the Presence
of Perfection. There will stir in us a great desire to know and be like Him. He can show
us how we fall short, to break our dependence on self, yet lift us up out of despair that
realization will bring, and show us the only way is total dependence on HIM to do the
work as we just trust and yield. There is conviction, desire, revelation, and confession
and repentance-not necessarily in that order. These are the things His Spirit works in
us to produce. People react to His presence differently. Some cry, some tremble, some
shout, some sit quietly, awed by Him, some raise their hands, some bow their heads.
Some get up and move around, unable to be still. But there is a reverence and respect
for His Presence. When men insist on being in charge and try do the Spirit's job, He
will withdraw. As we will see in these Scriptures, it's a dangerous thing for man to try
to help God in this way. He does not need human strength to help Him do anything.

At the time David went up to retrieve the Ark of God, he had been ruling Israel for
nearly 10 years-7 from Hebron and almost three years from Jerusalem. There had
been many battles, and much activity and building and repairing. Much preparation
for the king's palace had been going on. He had taken more wives, which was also
contrary to Scripture. (Deu_17:17). How can you have more than one wife and not have
a divided heart? How can you have more than one God and not have a divided heart?
It appears they went after the Ark of God with divided, unprepared hearts, and it led
to tragedy. This is why idolatry is such an offense to God. He does not want a piece of
our lives, or our hearts, but He wants it all. He deserves nothing less because in giving
Him everything, there will be an enlargement in us and His love can flow through us
to others. Giving God everything NEVER produces a selfish person-just the opposite.
Perhaps David's example of having several wives is what caused Solomon later on to
begin to accumulate wives. His father was successful with God, and had more than one
wife, could he not also? Yet he was overcome by this one thing. How careful we need to
be what example we set before our children. God help us all!!

2Sa 6:3 And they set 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, drave the new
cart.

We need to consider this man Abinadab and his sons, first. He's in Gibeah. He has
three sons, and they have been around the Ark for 20 years. They have grown
accustomed to the presence of the Ark-which symbolizes the presence and power and
Word of God to the people. They have grown familiar with the Ark. The Ark was in
Gibeah during Saul's reign, but it doesn't seem to have mattered to Saul. 1Ch_13:3
reveals they never consulted the Ark (God) during the days of Saul's reign as king, nor
did Saul listen to and obey Samuel, either. 1Sa_7:1 tells us Abinadab had a son not
mentioned above, called Eleazar and he was the one sanctified to keep the Ark. That
word 'keep' means to protect, attend to, guard, preserve, and carefully watch over. It
implies that this is done with great reverence.

Numbers 4 reveals the order of God for moving this sacred Ark of the covenant in
detail. Only sanctified, chosen Levites could handle the ark, and they must use the
golden poles through the rings to carry it. They could not just reach up and touch the
Ark itself. It was to be carefully covered before it was moved, with the covering of
badgers' skins that were set apart for this purpose, and then covered with a blue cloth.
They were forbidden to look under the cloth at the Ark. It could only be covered by a
sanctified Levite, of Aaron's lineage, chosen to do this. Even the sons of Kohath were
forbidden to look on the Holy things from the Holy of Holies when the tabernacle was
taken down and moved-although once covered, they were to carry them. They had to
be at least 30 years old, as well. (Num_4:23) These men were chosen by God not man.
The Ark was to be covered, when it was moved, not to be made a spectacle.

Num 4:17 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 4:18 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
Num 4:19 But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto
the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his
service and to his burden:
Num 4:20 But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

Eleazar and the priests would be chargeable with the death of the Kohathites, if they failed to give
them proper cautions and directions; or permitted them to gaze with irreverence or curiosity upon the
holy things, which they might carry, but not see. (TSK)

This is why it is so important the man in the pulpit know God and the Word of God.
They will be held accountable. It's so important the people pray for the leadership.
Consider what happens when God's divine order is disregarded, in Num 16. Korah,
had a tragic end for trying to step out of his prescribed position. Aaron lost two sons
(Lev_10:2) who stepped out of God's divine order. The Levites were allowed to carry the
holy things but could not gaze on them. Only the one priest, sanctified and chosen to
minister once a year in the Holy of Holies could do this. These are fearful examples
that should have been carefully considered by David before attempting to move the
Ark. The Ark was not to be put on a cart, new or otherwise. It was to be carried by
sanctified Levites-no other Israelite could do this. They must be descendants of Aaron.
It was to be carried by chosen men, via the golden poles.
There was a lot of pomp and circumstance and worship and music and praising the
Lord going on as they brought out the Ark. The message had gone out through the
land like an advertisement, the Ark was coming home. But remember, It was to be
covered with badgers' skin, concealed. This warns me I'm not to make a spectacle of
the Word of God nor His testimony. His presence is to be respected, not made a
mockery of or taken for granted. All over England right now, there are "Conferences"
being held which proclaim "Come see the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit! The lame
walk, the blind see, the dead are raised." And in their advertisements, you see a man
singing, "It's MY night, it's MY night, He's pouring it down". There are glitzy outfits,
flashy musicians, some sensually dressed, and all of this is flesh glorying illegally, and
their mouths are writing checks God won't make good. We are not to make a spectacle
of the holy things of God. Indeed, the only one allowed to see the holy things of God in
the most Holy Place, was one who had no inheritance in this land, who was completely
set apart for God-the high priest, whose sole purpose in life was to minister to God
then minister God to the people. There is no higher calling. Oh, how we need Divinely
given understanding. The New Testament reveals we are all given this opportunity.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light:

This call is out to all but few are chosen because few are willing to separate themselves
completely to and for God from the things of this world. Few are willing to devote their
whole entire being to and for God and His pleasure, His work-which is God's life
poured out through us for the sake of others. When they put the Ark on a new cart,
they were saying, we have the Word of God, and the Presence of God, but we are
bringing it in a fresh new way-our way. They were handling His Testimony, His
Word, their way. They had some respect, they put it on a new cart, not one previously
used, stained, or in poor condition. Still, it was the wrong thing to do. They 'drave' the
cart, and that means to lead, or guide the Word of God, the Presence of God, the Power
of God. It's not to be so. He is to lead us. Not one time did the Spirit of God in the cloud
in the wilderness allow Himself to be led by man. Not one time in all of Scripture did
He allow this-nor will He allow it now. They had this Ark in a city that represented
selfishness, rebellion, and wickedness. They were taking it out their way.

1Ch 13:5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering
of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.
1Ch 13:6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which
belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between
the cherubims, whose name is called on it.

Careful examination of some of these foreign sounding names of these places identify
links to idolatry. In Jer_2:18 God asked His rebellious children by the mouth of
Jeremiah "What are you doing going Egypt's ways, drinking their water, forsaking
Me the true fountain of life?" This reveals a worldliness in the people-doing things the
way the world does, drinking in to sustain flesh, that which is of the world, not living
or operating under the direction of God who said to make no provision for the flesh
(Rom_13:14). This doesn't sound as if these people had come from their secret closet of
prayer, they hadn't been in the Word of God, seeking direction, nor are they
depending on HIS strength and power to get the job done. No, they'd been doing their
own thing, in the name of the Lord, building, working, and being religious. David
makes a suggestion, let's go get the Ark, and they are like, sure, good idea! Let's do it!
What preparation was made was carnal not spiritual.

Ahio and Uzzah (whose names mean brotherly and strength in that order) were
walking alongside the cart on which the Ark was being carried, Ahio in front. Imagine
this scene. David and all the people of Israel are playing instruments, making a lot of
noise. Scripture says David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord. That
word for play, when I looked it up (H7832) means to laugh or make merry, to rejoice.
But their worship was in the flesh. They were out of divine order, doing the right thing
the wrong way.

2Sa 6:6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the
ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
2Sa 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for
his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Nachon means prepared. A threshing floor is a place where the wheat and chaff are
separated. To do this, they would lay the stalks of grain or wheat on the threshing
floor, which was made of stone, and let the oxen walk over it. This would break the
head of the wheat or grain off the stalk and after the oxen tread down the grain stalks,
they would use large three pronged forks to toss the grain in the air. Because of the
need for wind, they would build the threshing floors on a high place, like a hill. These
were valuable to the enemy, as well, and counted as a prize to take territory from
God's people that contained a threshing floor. When they would toss the stalks in the
air with the fork, the wind blowing would cause the stalk to fall one way, because it
was light and had no substance, while that wheat or grain, being heavier, with
substance, would fall into a heap by itself. Uzzah's name means strength. When the
shaking started at the threshing floor, Uzzah reached out his hand in human strength
to help hold God up. It is not a coincidence the shaking started when they reached the
threshing floor. One way or another, God will separate that which has the substance
of His Word and His Spirit from that which does not. This was when God revealed His
displeasure and anger. He does not need our help, just our obedience. God struck
Uzzah dead for his error. This word means also fault, or irreverence. Remember,
Uzzah had lived with the Ark for 20 years but he was not the one sanctified to keep it.
God's Spirit is able to move unseen among His people and minister to them. When men
operate in self, without spiritual discernment or preparation, trying to run things, it
will lead to disaster. This is what David was doing here and his heart was in the right
place but it led to tragedy. You can't place all the blame on David, but he was
responsible as the leadership.

David got angry and confused here. He began to fret over what had happened to
Uzzah, and also was afraid of the Lord that day. They turned aside into the the home
of Obededom, an inhabitant of Gath. He was a Levite, and a Gittite, and according to
Smith's Bible Dictionary this Gath was likely Gath-rimmon in Manasseh which was
assigned to the Kohathites (Jos_21:25). After David heard how the Lord was blessing
Obededom and his household, he went back and brought the ark up. Because they
were able to successfully move the ark of God this time, I believe they did it in God's
divine order. I believe David went and searched the Scriptures to find his error,
because he had a heart for God and His truth. I believe he prayed and sought God on
this. Still, David should have known better. There was recent precedent for this. He
had warnings in recent events, and tragedies had recently occurred before this over
mishandling the Ark of God.

In 1 Sam 5 and 6, when the Philistines captured the Ark and Eli and his sons were
slain, God plagued the Philistines with sores and tumors and some died, until they
sent the Ark back. They too, in ignorance put the Ark on a cart being pulled by two
milk cows-but these had never been under the yoke before. They bleated for their
calves, unwilling to be separated from their nursing calves. (1Sa_6:10-20) The
Philistines knew this, and shut their calves up at home, and said to themselves if these
milk cows who are not familiar with the yoke, who don't want to be separated from
their nursing, hungry calves, take this Ark back to where it belongs, then we will know
it was God who has been plaguing us for taking His Ark to ourselves and putting it in
our idol's temple. But if the cows return (as would be natural) then we will know it
was not God who did all this evil to us and it's just bad luck we've had. Think of it-
pagan Philistines who didn't know God knew enough to know God could take His own
Ark back to His people. They didn't try to lead it back. They instinctively wanted to
send an offering back with it-in itself an admission of repentance. The sinners
instinctively realize God doesn't need their help or anything from them. It's us
religious folks that think we have to help God. Amazing.

The two cows came straight back to Bethshemesh, which means 'house of the sun', a
town on the northern border of Judah. It stopped in the field of a man named Joshua,
whose name means 'savior, deliverer' where there was a great stone. This is not a
coincidence. A Savior who is our Rock, our solid foundation, returning to His people-
and they are unprepared. God had returned His Testimony, His presence to His
people, without the help of man. It was His power alone that brought the Ark back.
The people of Israel hadn't sent a search and rescue party to get back the Ark. Their
armies hadn't gone up against the Philistines to take the Ark back by force. There were
no people leading the cows back. It was all God-no one could take the credit for this.
These cows cried for their calves the whole way. Could it be there was a cry in the
heart of God for His people? He knew He was returning to His people but they were
unprepared to greet Him. They hadn't been taught and warned and the result would
once again be tragic.

The people there were reaping their harvest of wheat and were happy to see the Ark
being returned. However, they had not been taught to fear and respect the holy things
of God, and in their excitement made a fatal error. They knew enough to send for
Levites who took down the ark and the container which held the gold jewels and gold
mice the Philistines had put with it as an offering to try to appease God. They killed the
cows and cut up the wood of the cart and offered the cows for a burnt offering to the
Lord. Then, men of Bethshemesh, out of curiosity, dared to look into the ark of God,
upon the holy things of God. They were killed. 50,070 people were slain by the Lord
that day.

1Sa 6:20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD
God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

In Psalm 15, David said, Lord, who shall dwell in Your Holy Hill?? He that walks
uprightly, works righteousness, speaks truth in his heart, without backbiting, nor
doing evil to his neighbor, nor disgracing his neighbor. Psa 24 also adds he that has
clean hands and a pure heart whose not devoted to vain things nor lies. The priest who
entered the holy of holies had to first sacrifice for his own sin, and they tied a rope
around his waist which would be used to pull him out if he dropped dead, because to
enter the presence of God without a sacrifice and repentance of sin was deadly. It's a
serious thing. It's not that God just wants to strike down people for being less than
perfect it is HE is holy and pure and a consuming fire. He cannot change what He is,
and sin and flesh cannot stand in His presence. Just as radiation in a nuclear reactor's
core will poison human beings exposed to it, without a protective suit, sin in us
exposed to God's holy presence is lethal. There has to be a covering, and praise God for
the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, who is our Covering!

1Ti 6:16 Who alone has immortality [in the sense of exemption from every kind of death]
and lives in unapproachable light, Whom no man has ever seen or can see. Unto Him be
honor and everlasting power and dominion. Amen (so be it).

He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, He lives in light which is inaccessible to
man-we cannot stand in His presence literally, for He is a consuming fire. (Heb_12:29)
We can see Him represented in Jesus Christ in the pages of this Holy Bible. We can
pray and be granted a vision, or personal revelation, understanding of who He is,
(Pro_29:18) without which the people perish. We need an ever increasing revelation of
who He is-which only comes as the Holy Spirit reveals Him to us and in us. (Gal_1:16)
Why can we not stand before Him? Because only that which is pure can stand before
Him. He cannot be anything other than He is.

Something else that stood out to me in all this. When David and the others were
moving the Ark, only Uzzah was killed, though all were out of order. Only Uzzah dared
try to touch God without reverence. In the very next chapter, David desires to build a
house for God and God sends him word "I've never asked for anyone to build Me a
House. I am going to build you a house." Can you imagine David's astonishment. He
was so awed, he went and sat before the Lord, and just said "Who am I that you would
do such for me?" There were mistakes made, but Israel didn't run out on David. God
didn't forsake David. God still had good plans for David and for His people. He is
merciful, and He is good.

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