On Parade

 Exeter Temple Message notes: Sunday18th October 2015

 Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-23

Whether to demonstrate military might, to advertise public events and holidays, or simply to entertain, parades traditionally have been part of community experience, probably as far back as 3000 B.C.

 People mostly welcome parades because they are a diversion from workday life and because often bring the famous and powerful literally within the reach of the ordinary man. As a Salvation Army taking our praise out into the street is still something that is good to do.  When we declare the presence of Jesus out in our community we are attempting to show the person in the street that they can be in touch with the King of kings in a much greater way than the public could ever be with royalty on a walk about. 

 We need to be aware on the one hand of losing the courage to openly express out faith and on the other of letting our public expression of faith and worship become empty show.  Sometimes we worry more about what other people think of it than God himself.

 There are times when God gives us a good review and it is satisfying to know that we have his seal of approval. However David found himself in a situation where God does not give his blessing. David found himself puzzled and disappointed until he eventually he learned how to put things right.

1.         Right Production – Wrong Direction

David’s decision to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem was a good idea and was what the nation needed. The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God’s commitment to His people and theirs to Him. During Saul’s reign this had been forgotten. David felt that bringing the

 Ark to the new capital city of Jerusalem would be a great way of reminding everyone that God was the centre of Israel’s life. There was nothing wrong with the idea but the way he went about it was wrong.

David made the transportation of the Ark to Jerusalem a spectacle involving new equipment to carry the Ark, 30,000 men were hired to escort it along with numerous musicians and singers.

 But then as the cart carrying the Ark came to uneven ground and looked unsteady Uzzah touched the Ark. Uzzah immediately collapsed and died and the show was off.

 Nobody had stopped to ask God about how it was going to get there, who should take it, when it should go and what should happen. And half way along the road the whole project was over.  It is so easy to assume that what matters most is what we like best or what we can do best. We see something that we like doing and bend our goals to fit the activity rather than act in order to fulfil God’s purpose.     

 Sometimes it is difficult to know what is right but in David’s case he ignored the guidelines God had already laid down. Instructions had already been given that the Ark must be carried on poles, not a cart. Members of the tribe of Levi must carry the Ark and it must be accompanied by Levites.  (1 Chron 15: 14-16)

 If David had obeyed what he already knew he would have been half way there. And that is a lesson we need to learn. God will not reveal to us new direction if we don’t follow what He has already said. If we are not acting in line with what He requires, our expertise, the size of the impression we make, the publicity that we attract will be a waste of time.

 2.                  Right Script – Wrong Star.

David had to learn the lesson that all the razzmatazz was in danger of attempting to upstage God who was supposed to be the centre of attention. The sacred Ark of the Covenant was being turned into a tribal totem pole. Everything was expensive but it was also rather vulgar. With God we are not dealing with the village amateur dramatic society when we encounter God but the author of the play. We must not try to upstage Him by using our service to focus attention on ourselves.

3.                  Right Question – Wrong Conclusion

After the disastrous end of David’s project we are told David was afraid of God and asked; “How can I ever bring the ark of God to Jerusalem?” It was the right question and if he’d listened he might have got an answer but instead he answered his own question and leapt to a wrong conclusion and a wrong interpretation of events. David abandoned the idea of taking the Ark to Jerusalem and it was left at Obed-Edoms house to gather dust.

 We too easily abandon what we originally think to be God’s will for us because of one failure. Very often we simply have to correct something. David thought because he’d got it wrong once then that was it.

 Happily he realised his mistake when he said in 1 Chronicles 15:13 “We did not enquire of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” He then went on to bring the Ark back in accordance with the word of the Lord. This time all was well and David danced before the Lord with indescribable joy.

 There are times when our immediate reaction is to abandon rather than adjust, to justify ourselves rather than reform, to nurse injured pride, rather than learn.

 David was not the first person whose offering to God was found to be at first defective and in need of reform. Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God. Abel’s was found to be acceptable, Cain’s, was not. We are not told why. What we are told is Cain’s reaction to the discipline of the Lord. He went out and killed his brother. He let resentment destroy his desire to worship. David on the other hand, had enough humility to try again.

At last David forgot about how good the show was, forgot protocol, threw off constraint and let what was in his heart express itself in enthusiastic dance. This was no longer about David, no longer about his plans, the focus had changed.

 This was a state occasion and there was the pressure for him to act like a king. He had a reputation to protect. Instead we are told that David removed his usual kingly attire and put on the linen robe of a priest. David wasn’t worried about looking like a King, he was busy being a worshiper. David’s dance was an expression of his unashamed devotion.

 When God works in your life as God worked in David’s experience some people will be inspired by what God is doing. Others will be convicted and they will mask their personal conviction by finding something to criticize.in you and attempt to make you feel foolish about your passion, try to demean it as something naïve and childish.  Michal David’s wife despised his passion for God.

Let us not be ashamed that we love Jesus or allow the cynicism of others to crush our spirits. 

Blessings 

Alan and Carol