You Can’t Keep God in a Box
1 Samuel 4 & 2 Samuel 6
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The Biblical record of the ark reminds us of some important truths about God that may be forgotten in our day and age.
1. God will not be Used (1 Samuel 4)
God is not a Genie in a Bottle
God’s Power is not for our Purposes
2. God will not be Trivialized (2 Samuel 6)
We trivialize God when we:
- •Disobey the commands of God
Q: Where did they get the idea to move the ark on a cart?
A: The Philistines
“Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. And take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off and let it go its way” (1 Samuel 6:7–8, ESV)
We disobey God when we choose what makes sense to us instead of what God has clearly Commanded
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 16:25)
In these moments, we are declaring that we are Smarter than God
- Disregard the holiness of God (2 Samuel 6:6-7)
Uzzah assumed that his Hand was less polluted than the Earth
If we are not careful, we can begin to expect and even demand God’s Mercy and only be amazed at His Justice
3. True Freedom and Joy come from an appreciation of God’s grace and an obedient walk with Him (2 Samuel 6:12-23)
Notice David’s two-fold response:
- Complete Obedience
“and said to them, 'You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.' So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 15:12–15)
Faithfulness in the “Little Things” matters to God!
The importance of obedience is not to be found in our understanding of the greatness of the Command; but in the greatness of the Command Giver
- Joyful Worship (14-23)
Michal’s eyes were on Other People
David’s eyes were on the Lord
The tragedy of religion is that it too often tends to Produce more Michals than Davids
Worship includes Gratitude
“Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” (2 Samuel 7:18)
Two Possible Responses to a Holy God:
- A Bowed Head
- A Turned Back