For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; Isaiah 28:10.
When it came to the ark, King David had spent some time in doing it the wrong way. He needed to know the right way and do it accordingly. So this time he took every precaution to ensure that this second attempt to bring the ark of convenant to Jerusalem did not end in another disaster. No doubt much soul-searching and proper research preceded his next effort, but one thing is certain- he was determined not to rely on any unsanctioned and unreliable methods to get the job done at this time.
David was not overly impatient to proceed after experiencing and learning the hard way. He waited three months to get the right way and before making any attempt. Great blessings had come to the live of Obed-Edom and his house as a result of the Ark of convenant that had been left there, it was only after hearing this good news that David overcame his fear of dealing with the ark. This time, the ark was successfully brought to Jerusalem in parade form amid great rejoicing and fanfare
And it was told King David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 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 6:12-15)
But what was the difference between the second attempt and the first? The Right Way
First of all, the ark was transported in the prescribed manner – on the shoulders of the Levites as Moses had commanded.
David decreed, “None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him forever” (1 Chron. 15:2).
Doing things the right way shows acknowledgement of God’s prescribed order instead of what was practical – was one of the ingredients that led to Davis success this time. No Philistine cow and cart method was allowed to corrupt the orderly procession to the holy city. When things are done in the right way, we experience peace in all areas.
And yet our emphasis should not be on the methods alone. The real secret to David success was that finally he was truly acknowledging God from his heart- his ways and his word was in alignment to God alone.
Although there was a lot of fanfare surrounding the first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem, missing was the acknowledgment that God’s will and pleasure must come first. He was much concerned with obedience and doing things the right way than with fanfare- even when we mistake that fanfare for worship.
True Worship
The difference between the successful attempt and the first failed attempt was real worship. This was absent in the first failed attempt.
Once the ark had been lifted to the shoulders of the Levites and they had walked six paces, David stopped the procession and ordered the sacrifice of an ox and a fatted calf. At his point, he could discern there is no going to be another incidence as a result of God’s wrath. At the slightest opportunity, he delayed the journey and took time to acknowledge God in an unmistakable way- with burnt offering, a blood sacrifice.
Whether the at every six paces, the proceedings stopped to offer animals as sacrifice or whether the proceedings continued and sacrifices were offered as they continued the journey to the holy land. It is important to note that they followed God’s plan and purpose without delay. This pattern at which sacrifices was offered to God as they bring the ark shows that worship is truly not just an event but a journey.
Worship was a missing element in David first attempt, but it played a significant role in the success of the second. At this point David could have easily rejoiced in singing one of our current songs.
Worship expressed through obedience and sacrifice is what we are talking about here. Taking the wrong routes can kill. That can be seen in the first attempt. Hoe then do a man honour God the right way, it is certainly through engaging in the true worship. In addition, David demonstrated an enthusiasm and a commitment that he previously did not do. David had always be known as a psalmist of Israel but at this point of his life, he laid aside his royal garments and danced before the Lord with all his might. He danced for ten miles all the way to Jerusalem.
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