Study 2 Samuel 6 and how David brings the Ark to Jerusalem, revealing God's holiness, glory, and the joy of worship.
David had established his rule over all Israel and captured Jerusalem as his capital. The political and military victories were complete, but something was missing from the heart of the nation. The Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence among His people, remained in obscurity at Kiriath-jearim. David determined to bring the Ark to Jerusalem and restore the worship of the Lord to the center of national life.
David assembled thirty thousand chosen men of Israel for the journey to Baale Judah. The Ark had rested in the house of Abinadab for many years, and David was eager to bring it to his new capital. The procession was filled with music, singing, and dancing. David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. The celebration was joyful and exuberant. The people were excited to welcome the presence of God into their midst.
The journey took a tragic turn when they reached the threshing floor of Nacon. The oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark of God. The anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah for his irreverence, and God struck him down, and he died beside the Ark. David became angry and afraid. He called the place Perez-uzzah and was unwilling to bring the Ark into his city. The Ark remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months, bringing great blessing to his household. David eventually brought the Ark to Jerusalem with joy and celebration, dancing before the Lord with all his might.
The Failed First Attempt
The Gathering of the People
Again David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand (2 Samuel 6:1). David assembled a large company for this significant undertaking. The number of thirty thousand represented the best of Israel's fighting men. The gathering demonstrated the importance David placed on bringing the Ark to Jerusalem.
David and all the people who were with him went from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim (2 Samuel 6:2). The Ark was the earthly throne of God's presence. The Lord of hosts was enthroned above the cherubim on the mercy seat. The Ark contained the tablets of the covenant, Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna (Hebrews 9:4).
The New Cart
So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart (2 Samuel 6:3). The use of a new cart was a significant error. God had commanded that the Ark be carried on poles upon the shoulders of the Levites of the family of Kohath (Numbers 4:15; 7:9). The cart was an innovation borrowed from the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:7-8).
The choice of a cart may have seemed practical and efficient. A new cart represented the best of human ingenuity. Yet the innovation violated God's explicit command. The Ark was not to be transported by mechanical means but was to be carried on the shoulders of consecrated Levites. The error was based on a misunderstanding of God's holiness.
The Joyful Procession
And David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals (2 Samuel 6:5). The celebration was filled with music and dancing. The atmosphere was joyful and engaging. The people were excited about the presence of God coming to Jerusalem.
The problem was that none of it pleased God because it was all done in disobedience to His word. The worship was sincere but not scriptural. David had good intentions but had not inquired of God regarding the proper procedures (1 Chronicles 15:13). The lesson for believers is that worship must be conducted according to God's revealed will.
The Death of Uzzah
And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled (2 Samuel 6:6). The threshing floor was a place where the whole stalks of wheat were gathered and the chaff was separated from the wheat. There was much chaff in this production, and God would blow away the chaff at Nachon's threshing floor.
Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God (2 Samuel 6:7). Uzzah's action violated the explicit command of Numbers 4:15: they shall not touch any holy thing lest they die. Uzzah made a decision in a moment to disregard God's command and do what seemed right to him.
Uzzah's error was based upon a critical failure of thinking. He erred in thinking it did not matter who transported the Ark. He erred in thinking it did not matter how the Ark was transported. He erred in thinking that God could not take care of the Ark Himself. He erred in thinking that the ground of Nachon's threshing floor was less holy than his own hand. His intention to help was right enough, but there was a profound insensibility to the awful sacredness of the Ark.
David's Response
And David became angry because of the LORD's outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day (2 Samuel 6:8). David's anger was based in confusion. He could not understand why his good intentions were not enough. God is concerned with both our intentions and our actions.
David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, How can the ark of the LORD come to me? (2 Samuel 6:9). David knew it was important to bring the Ark into the center of Israel's life. He wanted all Israel to be excited about the presence and glory of God. Because of what happened to Uzzah, David felt he could not do what God wanted him to do.
So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite (2 Samuel 6:10). Obed-Edom was a Levite of the family of Kohath, the family God commanded to transport and care for the Ark (1 Chronicles 26:4).
The Blessing at Obed-Edom's House
The Three Months
The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household (2 Samuel 6:11). The Ark remained in Obed-Edom's house for three months. During this time, God blessed Obed-Edom and all that belonged to him. The blessing demonstrated the Ark's significance and the favor that comes with honoring God's presence.
When God's word was obeyed and His holiness was respected, blessing followed. God wanted the Ark to be a blessing for Israel, not a curse. The curse did not come from God's heart but from man's disobedience. The blessing on Obed-Edom's household demonstrated that the Ark brought blessing when it was properly honored.
The Report to David
Now it was told King David, saying, The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God (2 Samuel 6:12). The news of God's blessing reached David. The report was an encouragement to David. He understood that God's presence brought blessing when handled according to His word.
David found the answer to his question: How can the ark of the LORD come to me? He answered the question with the thought later expressed in Isaiah 8:20: To the law and to the testimony! David found the answer in God's word. He learned that proper worship required obedience to God's revealed will.
The Successful Second Attempt
The Corrected Method
So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness (2 Samuel 6:12). David prepared for a second attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. This time, he followed the prescribed method of transport, requiring the Levites to carry the Ark on their shoulders using poles (1 Chronicles 15:2, 15).
And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep (2 Samuel 6:13). The sacrifice was offered as soon as the removal of the Ark had been successfully begun. David offered sacrifices of thanksgiving and prayer. The work was begun with solemn sacrifice. Seven bullocks and seven rams were offered at this time (1 Chronicles 15:26).
David's Dance
Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14). David danced with all his might, whole-person devotion to God. The phrase echoes Deuteronomy 6:5: Love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your strength. David embodied the Shema, demonstrating maximum cognitive, emotional, and physical investment in worship.
The linen ephod was a priestly garment worn by David. David laid aside his royal robes to wear a priestly garment. He demonstrated humility and reverence before God. David was willing to be counted as a servant of God rather than as a mere king. His dance was not undignified but was an expression of overflowing joy.
The Celebration
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). The second procession combined exact obedience with undiluted joy. David's whole-bodied dance demonstrated that strict reverence and overflowing gladness are complementary, not contradictory.
When they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place within the tent which David had pitched for it, David sacrificed burnt offerings and communion offerings before the LORD (2 Samuel 6:17). The Ark was placed in a tent prepared by David. The sacrifices were offered to consecrate the Ark's new location.
The Distribution of Food
And when David had finished sacrificing burnt offerings and communion offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts (2 Samuel 6:18). David blessed the people as their king and priest. The blessing was a proclamation of God's favor on the nation.
And he distributed among all the people, the entire multitude of Israel, to every man and every woman, one loaf of bread, one piece of meat, and one raisin cake. Then all the people returned to their homes (2 Samuel 6:19). David shared the provisions of the sacrifices with the people. The distribution demonstrated David's generosity and the communal nature of the worship.
The Response of Michal
Michal's Contempt
And as the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal, daughter of Saul, looked down from her window, and when she saw King David jumping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart (2 Samuel 6:16). Michal watched from a distance, not participating in the celebration. Throughout Scripture, spectatorship without worship often breeds cynicism.
When David went home to bless his own house, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him and said, How well the king of Israel has honored himself today, exposing himself to the view of the slave girls of his followers, as a commoner might expose himself! (2 Samuel 6:20). Michal's sarcasm revealed her heart. She valued royal image over Yahweh's glory. Her contempt was rooted in pride, dynastic loyalty, unresolved bitterness, and spiritual blindness.
David's Defense
But David replied to Michal, I was dancing before the LORD. As the LORD lives, who chose me over your father and all his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people, Israel, not only will I make merry before the LORD (2 Samuel 6:21). David defended his actions by pointing to his election by God. His worship was directed to the Lord, not to the slave girls.
David declared, I will demean myself even more. I will be lowly in your eyes, but in the eyes of the slave girls you spoke of I will be somebody (2 Samuel 6:22). David was willing to be counted as a fool for the Lord. He was not concerned with human prestige but with glorifying God. His response demonstrated his commitment to worshiping God with all his might.
The Consequence
Saul's daughter Michal was childless to the day she died (2 Samuel 6:23). Michal's barrenness was not incidental punishment but narrative closure. The Saulide line ended, while the Davidic line, culminating in Christ, continued. The contrast between Michal's contempt and David's joy illustrated the eternal principle: The LORD looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
Lessons from 2 Samuel 6
The Holiness of God
The death of Uzzah demonstrated the absolute holiness of God. The Ark was not a mere religious artifact but a representation of God's covenant presence. Uzzah's well-intentioned action was still irreverent. The lesson for believers is that God must be approached with reverence and obedience. The writer of Hebrews writes: Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28-29).
The Importance of Obedience
David's first attempt failed because of disobedience to God's word. His second attempt succeeded because of obedience. Good intentions are not enough. God requires obedience to His revealed will. The lesson for believers is the importance of following God's instructions. The apostle Paul writes: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).
The Joy of Worship
David danced before the Lord with all his might. His worship was exuberant and wholehearted. The lesson for believers is the importance of joyful worship. The psalmist writes: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing (Psalm 100:1-2). David's example encourages believers to worship God with joy and abandon.
The Danger of Contempt
Michal despised David for his worship. Her contempt was rooted in pride and spiritual blindness. The lesson for believers is to avoid contempt for those who worship God with enthusiasm. The apostle Paul writes: Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way (Romans 14:13).
Connections to Scripture
The Law of Moses
The transport of the Ark was governed by the law of Moses. Numbers 4:15 commanded that only the Levites of Kohath could carry the Ark and that they must not touch it. The law was not a suggestion but a divine ordinance. The lesson for believers is the importance of obeying God's commands.
The Presence of God
The Ark symbolized the presence of God among His people. The Lord of hosts dwelt between the cherubim. The Ark was the place where God met with His people (Exodus 25:22). The lesson for believers is the importance of God's presence in their lives.
The Typology of Christ
The Ark points forward to Jesus Christ. The Ark contained the tablets of the law. Christ fulfilled the law. The mercy seat covered the Ark. Christ is our mercy seat, the propitiation for our sins. The writer of Hebrews writes: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood (Romans 3:25).
Conclusion
The sixth chapter of 2 Samuel records a pivotal moment in the history of Israel. David attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem with great joy and celebration. The death of Uzzah brought fear and disappointment. The Ark was placed in the house of Obed-edom for three months. David successfully brought the Ark to Jerusalem with joy and dancing. Michal despised David for his worship.
David's example of worshiping with all his might teaches believers to express their devotion to God without reservation. He was willing to be counted as a fool for the Lord. He was not concerned with human prestige but with glorifying God. The lesson for believers is to worship God with joy and abandon. The presence of God should inspire exuberant praise.
The contrast between David and Michal illustrates the difference between true worship and spiritual pride. David's joy was rooted in his relationship with God. Michal's contempt was rooted in pride and spiritual blindness. The lesson for believers is to avoid contempt for enthusiastic worship. The example of David encourages believers to honor God's presence, to obey His commands, and to worship Him with all their might.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did God strike Uzzah dead for touching the Ark of the Covenant?
God struck Uzzah dead because he violated the explicit command of Numbers 4:15, which stated that no one was to touch any holy thing lest they die. Uzzah's action demonstrated irreverence toward God's holiness. The Ark was not a mere religious artifact but the earthly throne of God's presence. Uzzah's well-intentioned action was still disobedience to God's command. The lesson is that God must be approached with reverence and obedience.
2. Why did David become angry and afraid after Uzzah's death?
David became angry because he could not understand why his good intentions were not enough. He was confused and frustrated by God's judgment. David became afraid because he realized the holiness of God and his own unworthiness. He questioned how the Ark could come to him. David's fear led him to leave the Ark at Obed-Edom's house until he learned the proper way to transport it.
3. Why did the Ark bring blessing to Obed-Edom's household?
The Ark brought blessing to Obed-Edom's household because it was properly honored and handled according to God's word. Obed-Edom was a Levite of the family of Kohath, the family God commanded to transport and care for the Ark. The blessing demonstrated that God's presence brings blessing when it is properly honored. The curse did not come from God's heart but from man's disobedience.
4. Why did David dance before the Lord with all his might?
David danced before the Lord with all his might as an expression of overflowing joy and whole-person devotion to God. The act echoed Deuteronomy 6:5: Love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your strength. David embodied the Shema, demonstrating maximum cognitive, emotional, and physical investment in worship. His dance was not undignified but was an expression of worship and humility before God.
5. Why did Michal despise David for his worship?
Michal despised David because she valued royal image over Yahweh's glory. Her contempt was rooted in pride, dynastic loyalty, unresolved bitterness, and spiritual blindness. She saw David's dance as undignified for a king. David's response was that he was willing to be counted as a fool for the Lord. Michal's barrenness was a consequence of her contempt for David's worship.
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