2 Samuel 4-6
Retrievers
of the Lonely Ark

When your world is doing the Watusi remember 46:5. One word from the God who spoke the world into being, melts it. This is the God who dwells in the midst of His people.

In the end of this chapter the author warns of dangers the wise and righteous should avoid, and advocates behaviors to adopt. Diligence, the ability to keep focused at a worthy task until it is done (because one values it as the will of God), is a precious possession. It is something every righteous person who seeks the will of God should possess. The diligent rule, the lazy drool (as in desire and have nothing). The lazy want to be in positions of power, influence and privilege, but aren't willing to put in the effort necessary to reach those goals. Before returning to diligence, the author inserts two tasks appropriate to rulers: the first is that of encouraging others (good to do), the second is being cautious in friendship, not making alliances with the wicked hypocrites (good to avoid). The sluggard will start a project (catch something to eat) but doesn't roast it so it becomes something worthwhile (See outline about the Saga of the Sorry Sluggard on Truthbase.net). The diligent values what he has, and keeps it in a useful state, so it can be used for worthy objectives. The righteous person, diligently pursuing the will of God, is on the path to life, rulership, and dominion. It's all good, no death.

Hearing of Abner's death caused puppet king Ishbosheth fear, and serving him a liability. Two captains of his troops assassinate him and bring the head to David hoping to be rewarded for eliminating David's rival. Mephibosheth will reappear in chapter 9.

David justly pays them back for killing an innocent man, whom he calls “righteous,” by removing them from the earth. David is intent on God placing him on the throne and on not doing anything that would politically alienate the ten tribes.

With Ishbosheth removed from the picture, the ten tribes acknowledge David as king, saying they knew all along that God chose him to protect and shepherd them. So why did they chose Ishbosheth? David is anointed (third time's a charm) and will rule for a total of 40 years.

David captures Jerusalem, also referred to as Zion and the city of David. He becomes greater and greater because God is with him. 1 Chronicles 11, written after the exile, gives a little more detail, highlighting the role of Joab:

1Chron 11:6 David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general!" So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander. 7 David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David. 8 He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; Joab restored the rest of the city. 9 David's power steadily grew, for the LORD who commands armies was with him.”

Hiram, the king of Tyre sends David trees and carpenters to build him a nice cedar house as a means of acknowledging and honoring David (please don't attack me). David understands that God has raised him up, not to benefit himself, but for the sake of the people of Israel. Civilizations advance when they have leaders who serve the people (rather than themselves), a rare and vanishing breed. See “Let's Play Civilization”. Some date Hiram's kingship of Tyre during the last nine years of David's rule, creating debate over whether these chapters are chronological or topical.

This is a great passage for understanding that the will of God is not determined by circumstances. Faced with identical circumstances (Philistines attack, spread out in the Valley of Rephaim) David inquires of the Lord for His will both times, and gets two different means of obtaining victory. Remember Satan can open (trap) doors. See Will of God on Truthbase.net.

David goes to get the ark from where the Philistines had returned it in 1Samuel 6. God had given explicit instructions about carrying the ark using the poles, and not touching it, under penalty of death (Ex 25:14; Num 4:15). God didn't say to use carts. When the oxen passed the threshing floor, where there was probably scattered grain, they might have stopped for a snack, causing the cart to lurch, and the ark to slide. Well intentioned, Uzzah reaches out and steadies the ark, violating the rule against touching it (unauthorized intrusion into the presence of God), and gets struck dead by God (cursed). David leaves the ark in anger and fear, but three months later comes to get it again, when he hears of how Yahweh was blessing the people where the ark resided. Enthusiasm and religious ritual are no substitute for obedience (as Saul demonstrated). The law put a big emphasis on worship being controlled by the word of God (emotion under the control of reason informed by revelation). Michal erred in the other direction.

According to the parallel account in 1Chron 15, David consults God's instructions for ark transport, and it is successfully carried (by the priests) to Jerusalem with great joy and celebration. After moving six steps without anyone getting killed, sacrifices are offered (by the priests) and everyone celebrates. It should be obvious that David didn't personally carry the ark, nor offer the sacrifices, since both acts would be violations of the law (remember why Saul lost the kingdom). 1Chron 16 tells us that on this occasion, David first gave a song of thanks to Asaph, which is also recorded in Psalms 96 and 105. David danced with all his might wearing just a flimsy ephod, which causes “Saul's daughter” (cx “David's wife”) Michal to despise his flashy dancing. David blesses everyone with dates and raisins (fertility motif) and all depart to their homes to continue the blessing celebration.

When David returns to “bless” his house, he is greeted with sarcastic “cursing” from Saul's daughter, berating him for exposing himself while dancing. She cared more about what others thought than what God thought, and effectually rebelled against her lord and the God who blessed and exalted him. Rather than demonstrating leadership on the home front by taking the initiative to restore the relationship, and bring Michal's thinking into a Biblical perspective so there would be unity, David fires back in kind, and rips the relationship further. Consequently Michal gets cursed by being barren for the rest of her life. There are bunches of resources on Truthbase.net for preparing, repairing and building marriage relationships. Start with mastering the Feast or Famine outline and the roles paradigm (underresources), and then apply the seven relationship principles, then you can live happily ever after.