2 Samuel 6

            The notes in The Lutheran Study Bible pointed out something important about the transportation of the ark from the house of Abinadab to the Jerusalem:  the Israelites transported the ark on an ox-drawn cart—just like the Philistines had.  The ark had rings and poles by which it was supposed to be carried by the Levites.  By the time of this incident, Israel has clearly forgotten how to handle their own sacred vessels.  The fact that David had a tent prepared in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:17) raises some hard question about whether this was the tabernacle or not.  (The commentators in The Lutheran Study Bible think not.)  So, perhaps the Lord’s patience is already a little frayed, helping to explain the death of Uzzah.  Certainly there’s a lesson here about paying attention to the Word of God.  Don’t want to run afoul of the Lord?  Remember what He said!

            A second note is David’s self-abandonment in his joy over the ark of the Lord.  It seems to me that David saw himself as dancing before the Lord while Michal thought he should be more concerned about men.  But that’s exactly what’s right with David (at least for a while yet).  He sees himself first of all standing before God and his standing before God determines his actions before men.  That’s a good lesson for us, too.  Your identity and your calling come first from God.  Too often we let our identity before men determine our relationship with God.

            Finally, I don’t know if this foreshadows trouble for David or not, but I do wonder why he offered sacrifices and not a priest.  When Saul did that, it was less than commendable.  Why does David get away with it?  (Other kings will do the same thing, notably Solomon, David’s son.)  The three great offices of the Old Testament are distinct:  prophets speak God’s words to the contemporary age; priests make sacrifices and instruct in God’s Word, and kings rule.  David seems to be taking over an office that didn’t belong to him.  He wasn’t even a Levite, much less a priest!  Lessons?  Perhaps simply to recognize the limits of one’s own vocation.  As a citizen, it’s not my right to determine that a law doesn’t apply to me; as an employee, it’s not my prerogative to complain about a new direction that management is taking us; as a child (hypothetically), it’s not my place to tell my parents what they need to do to raise me.  As a king, it’s not David’s place to offer sacrifices, although in this instance he is not criticized for it.