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1 Chronicles 13 & 15

Trusting in the Ways of God

  • Rich Jones
  • Weekend Messages
  • June 05, 2022

The ark of God had resided at the house of Abinadab for many years. David wanted it to be brought from the house of Abinadab to the city of Jerusalem, a distance of 14 miles. David’s heart and desire to honor God was beautiful.

But when they brought the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, they didn’t move it according to the way prescribed in the law of Moses. Instead of God’s way, they did it their way. That’s when tragedy struck. It’s a life lesson.

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Trusting in the Ways of God
1 Chronicles 13 & 15                                     
June 4-5, 2022

One of the first things David did as king of Israel was to take the city of Jerusalem and establish the kingdom there. It would become the city where God would place his name, a city of His own possession. It would become the most important city on the face of the earth.

The center of the fulfilling of biblical prophecy in the latter days will take place in the city of Jerusalem. The epicenter of biblical prophecy will be the Temple Mount. Those who watch for the signs of the times keep their eyes on Jerusalem.

There is one city of all the cities on the earth where God has placed His name. That city is Jerusalem. So important is that city that the eternal home where those who belong to the Lord will live will be called the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven to abide on a New Earth. There we shall live with God for eternity in the New Jerusalem.

David wanted the ark of God to be brought to the city of Jerusalem. It had been neglected for many years though it represented the very presence of God in their midst. It was a picture of one of the greatest themes in the bible, that God desires to be “Emmanuel,” God with us.

David had a heart after God, he wanted the ark of God in Jerusalem because he desired God to be near. He would make a tabernacle, a tent for the ark to reside. David could go to the tent of meeting and meet with God.

The ark of God had resided at the house of Abinadab for many years. David wanted it to be brought from the house of Abinadab to the city of Jerusalem, a distance of 14 miles. David’s heart and desire to honor God was beautiful.

But when they brought the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, they didn’t move it according to the way prescribed in the law of Moses. Instead of God’s way, they did it their way. That’s when tragedy struck. It’s a life lesson. Should we do things our way or God’s way? It reminds me of the lyrics of the famous song “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.

“And now the end is here, and so I face the final curtain. My friend, I’ll make it clear, I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full, I traveled each and every highway, and more, much more than this, I did it my way… I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way.”      

Proverbs 14:12, There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

I.  The Presence of God is Holy

  • David was excited to have the ark of God in Jerusalem. It represented the glory and presence of God in Israel.
  • What better way to bring the ark of God into Jerusalem than with a glorious parade, David thought.
  • He gathered all the assembly of Israel from the brook of Egypt to the plains of Hermon on the far north. He brought musical instruments.
  • This was going to be a celebration. The ark of God was finally coming to Jerusalem after all these years. It represented the presence of God.
  • The ark of God had been out of place with no tabernacle because many years prior when Eli was priest, the people brought the ark of God into a battle with the Philistines. They thought the ark of God would assure their victory. They thought the ark was the thing that brought victory, as if the thing itself had some kind of power. But there is no power in a thing.

Illus – Things don’t have power to bring good luck. There’s no such thing. There are no such things as lucky charms, even if some lucky charms are ‘magically delicious.’ Some people have a rabbit’s foot for good luck. Where did that come from? It certainly wasn’t good luck for the rabbit.

Interestingly, the idea of a rabbit’s foot bringing good luck originates from a biblical truth which became turned and distorted. The idea was that the death of the rabbit was applied to you when you carried the rabbit’s foot so you could be saved from harm and from death. Does that sound familiar?

  • The ark of God represented the very presence and power of God and God’s presence and power mustn’t be trifled with. God must be honored as holy.
  • Instead of bringing victory to Israel, the ark was captured by the Philistines.
  • The ark of God, the presence of God, brought great trouble to the Philistines, plagues of tumors and mice fell upon them, so they sent it back to Israel. They sent it back on a new cart led by two milch cows.
  • Where did David get the idea of moving the ark of God on a new cart? He got the idea from the Philistines. That’s a problem.
  • That wasn’t the way God wanted it moved. It represented the glory and presence of God. The Law God was clear, it must be carried by poles through the rings of the ark, setting it on the shoulders of priests.

A.  Desire God’s presence — God’s way

  • David had the right desire. His heart was in the right place. He wanted to honor God; he knew the ark should be in Jerusalem. He wanted the presence of the Lord in the center of the nation. David’s heart was right.
  • But he did it the wrong way.
  • David also understood the importance of Jerusalem, of Zion, in the heart of God.

Psalm 132:13-14, For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.”

  • God has always desired to be “Emmanuel” God with us, but sin has separated men from God.

Isaiah 59:1-2, Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.

  • In other words, how can sinners draw near to the holy and righteous God of heaven?
  • God set His tabernacle, and later, His temple at the center of His chosen city with His chosen people to be “God with us.”
  • At the center of the tabernacle, behind a veil as thick as a man’s hand, was the ark of God. On it was the mercy seat, made of pure gold, with angels also made of gold extending their wings in a posture of giving glory to God. Above it was the shekinah glory of God’s presence visible by men.
  • God was Emmanuel, God with them in the midst of Israel with glory and power.
  • But no one could draw near to the presence of God without the shedding of blood. Why? Because sinners are made righteous not by their own doing, but by the blood of the Son of David.

Hebrews 9:19-22, When every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people… And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

  • According to the Law of Moses, the high priest, and only the high priest, could draw near to the ark of God once a year on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle the blood of a bull offered as atonement for the people.
  • All of this was disregarded. They set the ark of God on a new cart and when the cart was almost toppled, Uzzah reached out and touched that which represented the very presence of God with his bare hand. Immediately the parade was over.

B.  God’s presence will bless your life

  • David became greatly afraid of the Lord that day and he was unwilling to bring the ark into the city, so he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom where it remained for three months.
  • Verse 13:14 – The Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all his household and all that belonged to him on account of the ark of God.
  • David knew God’s heart was to bless. He immediately decided he wanted that blessing for all Israel. The ark of God must reside in Jerusalem at the tabernacle, but it will be God’s presence, God’s way.
  • During those three months, David discovered that God’s way was to have the ark of God carried on the shoulders of the Levitical priests.
  • 15:15 – The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

C.  Jesus is the way to the Father

  • From the beginning of creation God had a plan, a way to reconcile sinners to Himself. His Son, His only begotten Son, would die in your place. Your sins would be removed from you and placed on His Son. Your sins were transferred to Jesus on the cross; the cross on which He paid for them in full by the shedding of His own blood.
  • Based on the blood Jesus shed on the cross which God accepted in your behalf, you yourself are accepted by God and are given the right to be called a child of God with the full rights of citizenship in heaven.
  • That’s God’s way and there is no other way for sinners to draw near and have relationship to the holy and righteous God of heaven.

John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

  • Somebody might say, “Well that’s not very nice. That’s not even politically correct; I’ve got my own ideas about eternity. It seems to me that a person ought to be able to figure out their own way to God and God should accept it; that’s much more inclusive.”
  • No, it’s God’s presence, God’s way. The fire of His condemnation and judgment fell on His Son on the cross; you come to God through His Son, or you don’t come at all.
  • No one can lay their bare hand on God’s glory.

II.  The Presence of God is the Joy of Life

  • When David discovered God’s way of bringing the ark of God into Jerusalem, carried on the shoulders of the priests of God, he determined to do it God’s way and with all the honor he could bring.
  • Verse 15:16 – David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, and loud-sounding symbols – – to raise sounds of joy.
  • And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod.
  • The thought of the presence of God in Jerusalem, in the city of David brought David such joy, such delight, that he danced – with all his might.

A.  The joy of the Lord is your strength

  • When sinners are made right with God, that’s a reason to rejoice. But don’t just rejoice when you first come to the Lord, keep on rejoicing, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.
  • Many years later in the history of Israel, when they turned away from God, it brought about the destruction of Jerusalem and Israel being exiled in Babylon for 70 years.
  • When they returned, someone found a copy of the word of God. They assembled all Israel. They opened the book in the sight of all the people and they read from the book, from the word of God, translating to give the sense so they understood the reading.
  • When they heard the word of God, they began to weep. All those years were wasted; they had not lived according to the way of God or the heart of God all those years and look at the trouble. Look at the disaster it brought. It made them weep.

Nehemiah 8:10, Then the priest said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

  • When you discover that the way of God is good and right and that His desire is to bless your life by the relationship that He would bring to you, rejoice in it. That is where your strength comes from. Don’t walk in your own strength; the joy of the Lord is your strength. He is your help.
  • The name Uzzah means “strength,” And it seems obvious that it has significance here. Uzzah reached out in his own strength to give God a hand. But God didn’t need Uzzah’s help.

Illus – I understand because I can be way too helpful myself. When we were in Africa and loading a small plane, I was too helpful to the pilot. When the men of the church were on our way to a Promise Keepers event and the bus broke down, I was way too helpful to the mechanic.

  • We can also be too helpful to God and think He needs our help when He doesn’t. We’re the ones who need God’s help.

Psalm 127:1-2, Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for it is He who gives to His beloved even while he sleeps.

John 6:28-29, Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

B.  There is pure joy in humility

  • Now that the presence of God is being rightly ushered into Jerusalem, David is rejoicing and dancing before the Lord with all his might… And David was wearing a linen ephod.
  • The high priest wore a grand and glorious ephod of blue, scarlet, and purple, interwoven with gold. On it were fixed 12 stones for each tribe of Israel. On the shoulders were two onyx stones set in gold each engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.
  • A linen ephod, however, was a simple garment worn by priests as they did the humble and mundane tasks of the temple. David wore a linen ephod out of humility and a desire to be in a place of serving and ministering to the Lord.
  • David was the king but wanted no glory for himself. He did it all for the glory of God.
  • When David’s wife, Michal, daughter of Saul, looked out the window and saw David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.
  • She was the wife of the king, and she was angry because David abased himself. It seems clear that she wanted glory, she was the wife of the king, and she was angry because David was dancing before the Lord and wearing a linen ephod.

2 Samuel 6:20, When David returned to bless his house, Michal the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, “Oh how the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!”

2 Sable 6:21-22, So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father… Therefore, I will celebrate before the Lord. I will be more lightly esteemed than this, and I will be humble in my own eyes.”

  • And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. It doesn’t take a marriage counselor to figure out what that means.
  • Such a heart is barren. It’s empty. There’s no fruit in it. In the one whose heart is full of self, there is no joy.
  • The joy of the Lord is your strength. Worship and honor Him and celebrate the relationship that He has given you because He made a point of seeking sinners like you and me to draw us into a relationship to Him!

Trusting in the Ways of God
1 Chronicles 13 & 15                                     
June 4-5, 2022

Now remember that this book was written to Israel after Israel had been destroyed. Jerusalem was destroyed. They have been exiled to Babylon those 70 years and now they've returned, but now the nation is weak and there is no king. He wants to write to them to stir them up in their faith, to let them understand you have every right to be in this land. God gave you this land. There's a rich heritage here. The City of Jerusalem which they found in ruins is the City of God. It is the city in which he has established his name.

He wants them to understand the right that God has placed upon them to be there and to have a king, they have no king. He wants them to recognize the Messiah. The king will be the Son of David. He writes to give them all of this tremendous foundation to bring revival. Particularly want to emphasize the importance of Jerusalem. In fact, Jerusalem is the most important city on the face of the earth, I submit. In fact, so important is Jerusalem that when you look at Scripture and the prophecy of the latter days, I submit that Israel and Jerusalem will be the center of unfolding events of the latter days.

The Temple Mount itself will be the very epicenter of the unfolding of prophetic events. So important is Jerusalem in the heart of God that the eternal dwelling place of believers in Jesus Christ will be the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, abiding upon a new earth. Many I think, do not recognize that the eternal dwelling place of believers is going to be in a new Jerusalem. So important is Jerusalem to the heart of God. The center of Jerusalem was the temple. The center of the temple was the ark of God.

The ark of God was a picture of the very throne room. The whole of the temple was a picture of the throne of heaven, but the Ark was the mercy seat, the place where His glory dwelled. David, when he first became king of Israel, one of the first things he did was to take Jerusalem and establish the capital of the nation there, knowing that this was the heart of God. Then the next thing he wanted to do was he wanted to bring the ark of God to the City of Jerusalem. It had been neglected for many years.

It had not been sought after in the times of Saul. Although it represented the very presence of God in their midst. In fact, it is a picture of one of the greatest themes of the Bible. There are many themes that run through the whole of the Bible. One of the greatest themes in the Bible is that God is Immanuel, God with us. You go from the very beginning, Adam walking with God in the cool of the evening. It's just beautiful picture of relationship walking together in the course of this life. Beautiful. Then of course sin and separation and a great chasm between man and God.

Now, but the heart of God is still the remains. He desires to be Emanuel. It's the theme that runs through the whole of the Bible. The ark of God is a picture of God's presence amongst his people. David had a heart after God. He wanted the ark of God in Jerusalem. He desired God to be near. He wanted to make a tabernacle, a tent for the Ark to reside. Then David would go to that tent. David was a worshiper. David loved the Lord. You can just imagine the times when David would go to the tent of meeting and just dwell in the nearness of God.

Beautiful picture, but the ark of God, before this had resided in the house of a man named Abinadab and been there for many years, David wanted it brought out from the house of Abinadab into Jerusalem, a distance of some let's say 14 miles. David's heart is right. He wants to honor the Lord. When they brought the ark of God from the house of a Abinadab, they didn't move it according to the way prescribed in the Word of God through Moses. Instead of God's way, they did it their way and that's when tragedy struck.

It becomes a life lesson, God's way or our way. God's way or our way. It's a life lesson that we need to take hold of today. It reminds me of a song, the lyrics of a song written by Frank Sinatra, anybody remember Frank Sinatra. You're officially old I just wanted to mention it.

I read about Frank Sinatra in history books so I know all about Frank Sinatra.

He wrote a song that I think captures the point of this thing. His song is called My Way. I promise I will not sing this song. Oh, you want me to sing this song?

I will quote the lyrics and now the end is near.

I face the final curtain.

My friend, I'll make it clear.

I'll state my case of which I'm certain.

I've lived the life that's full.

I traveled each and every highway,

But more, much more than this, I did it my way.

I planned each charted course,

each careful step along the byway,

but more, much more than this. I did it my way.

That's the theme, God's way or my way, God's way or my way. Well, God has some things to say about that. Proverbs 14:12. There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death, Isaiah 55:7. Now the whole of the chapter's amazing but listen to this verse seven. Let the wicked forsake his way, let the wicked forsake his way and let the unrighteous man forsake his thoughts and let him return to the Lord. Yes, because God's way is higher than our ways. It's better than our ways. God's way or my way? That's the question.

I.  The Presence of God is Holy

Then he says, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts and your thoughts. It's about that question, God's way or my way. It's also about the presence of God. How is it possible that the very presence of God can dwell with sinners? That's the question of the day. Let's read chapter 13. We're also going to look at 15, but let's just start with reading 1 Chronicles 13. We begin in verse one, then David consulted what captains of thousands and hundreds even every leader.

David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you and if it is from the Lord our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsman who remain in the land of Israel. Also, to priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasturelands, that they may meet with us. Let us bring back the ark of God to us for we did not seek it in the days of Saul." Saul was not the man with the same heart. He didn't seek the things of God. It had been neglected for many years. All the assembly said that they would do so for the thing was right in the eyes of other people.

David assembled all Israel together from the Shihor of Egypt, even to the entrance of Hamath. In other words from the farthest point south to the farthest point north, he gathered a massive crowd together to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. David and all Israel then went up to Baalah, that is Kiriath Jearim which belongs to Judah to bring up from there the ark of God. You notice how he describes it. The Ark, who is enthroned between the cherubim. The angels with the wings extended as a show of glory. That's what it represented.

That is where his name is called. David understood the glory, the presence of God seen in the ark of God. They carried the ark of God on a new cart. Now I suggest to you that this is where the story turns in not a good way. They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio drove the cart. These are the sons of Abinadab.

David and all Israel were celebrating a massive crowd and they are celebrating with all their might with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and symbols with trumpets. Then when they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the Ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. The anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah. He struck him down because he put his hand on the Ark and he died there before God. David became angry because of the Lord's outburst against Uzzah and he called that place Perez Uzzah or the outbreak of Uzzah to this day.

David was afraid of God that day. He said, ''How can I bring the ark of God home to me?'' David did not take the Ark with him to the City of David but took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. Would you notice this next verse. Thus, the ark of God remain with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months and the Lord blessed the family of Obed-Edom with all that he had. The presence of God blessed, the favor of God blessed.

Now we're going to look at 15 also, but I want us to start here in this chapter and take hold of some really important life lessons for us, starting with this. This is about the presence of God and the glory of God in the midst of Israel and with people. The presence of God is holy must never be misunderstood. David's excited to have the ark of God, knowing it represented the glory and the presence of God in Israel. What better way to bring the ark of God into Jerusalem than with a glorious parade. He gathered all Israel from the Brook of Egypt, to the farthest north, musical instrument, singers, celebration.

The ark of God's finally coming into Jerusalem because the ark of God had been out of place with no tabernacle for many years. Why? Well, it's an important part of the history. Back when Eli was priest, the people of Israel thought to bring the ark of God into a battle with the Philistines. They thought the ark of God, being with the army, would assure their victory. They thought the ark, the thing itself, would bring the victory. As if the thing itself had some kind of power, but there is no power in a thing. See, this is important, things don't have power to bring about good luck.

For example, things don't have power to bring about good luck. I submit to you there's no such thing as good luck. There's no such thing as lucky charms. Even if some lucky charms are magically delicious.

Had that, of course. Some people have a rabbit's foot for good luck. Where did that come from? Certainly wasn't very good luck for the rabbit, but it's an interesting thing. A rabbit's foot. Interesting, because I submit to you that the origin of the idea of a rabbit's foot bringing good luck actually comes from a biblical concept that has been twisted and distorted.

It's disturbing to see the things of God being twisted in such a way. Here's my point. The rabbit is dead. Would you agree with me? Let me just be bold. The rabbit's dead.

You're going to carry the foot of a dead animal in your pocket, and this is supposed to bring you good luck. How is the foot of a dead rabbit going to bring you good luck? Here's how. Clearly the rabbit endured misfortune and death. If you take the misfortune and the death of the rabbit and put it on your pocket, then the misfortune that you would've deserved fell upon the rabbit and the death that you deserved fell upon the rabbit. You take that misfortune and that death, and you put it in your pocket so that it doesn't apply to you, because it's applied to the rabbit.

Now you're saved from death and misfortune. Does this sound familiar? This is the very gospel of Jesus Christ because the blood of the Son of the living God died that day. When his death is applied to your life, that misfortune, that death, which you deserve, fell upon him so that you are saved from death. You see how it is a distortion of the very things of God. The ark of God represented the very presence and power of God and God's power and presence mustn't be trifled with. God must be honored as holy.

Instead of bringing victory to Israel, the ark was captured by the Philistines as we read, when we were studying that. Then they brought the ark of God and set it up in the house of Dagon, one of the gods of the Philistines, but the presence of God, the ark of God brought great trouble to the Philistines. Plagues of tumors and mice fell upon them, and they didn't want anything to do with this thing. So they sent it back to Israel, but when they sent it back, they sent it back on a new cart, led by two milch cows or milking cows.

Where did David get the idea of moving the ark of God in a new cart? He got it from the Philippines. Anytime you take the world's idea about how to do God's things and bring it in, there's going to be a distortion. There's going to be a problem. This isn't the way God wanted to move. It represented the glory and presence of God. The Word of God through Moses was clear and must be carried on the shoulders of men and the shoulders of priests and Levites. Using a pole, brought through the rings of gold that were set on the ark that no one would touch it and it would also be covered.

A.  Desire God’s presence -- God’s way

It's God's presence. It must be God's way. That's the point. Desire God's presence, God's way. David had the right idea. He had the right desire. He wanted to honor God. He knew the ark ought to be in Jerusalem. He wanted the presence of God in the center of the nation, but he did it the wrong way. He understood even the importance of Jerusalem in the heart of God. Psalm 132: 13-14, for the Lord has chosen Zion. That's the hill in which the temple sits. He has desired it for his habitation. This is my resting place forever. Here I will dwell. I have desired it.

In fact so much is this true that Jesus, when he comes at the end of the age as the Redeemer of Israel and the Messiah long-awaited. Then he comes at the end of the age, sets foot in the Mount of Olives. He will enter Jerusalem to rule and reign the nations of the world from that place, from that city. So important is the heart of God. It's still the heart of God today. Those who have discernment watch for the signs of the times by watching for what happens in Israel today, particularly Jerusalem, God has always desired to be Immanuel.

He's always desired to be God with us, but sin has separated. Sin has made a great chasm between man and God. We know God's the keys, but the Scriptures also says it Isaiah 59:1-2, behold the Lord's hand is not so short that he cannot save, nor are his ears so dull that I cannot hear, but your inequities have made a separation between you and your God. In other words, it's a great dilemma of man, how can sins draw near to the Holy and Righteous God of heaven. Now we know we're sinners, and we know that God is holy and righteous.

How is it possible that sinners can draw near to a Holy, Righteous God? God sent His tabernacle and later His temple at the center of His chosen city with His chosen people to be God with us, to be Immanuel. God there in the center of the people was separated. At the center of the tabernacle behind a veil as thick as a man's hand was the ark of God. Behind a veil, a separation. Behind the veil. It was near, but it was behind a veil. On that was the mercy seat made of pure gold. A picture of the very throne room of God called the mercy seat.

With angels also made of gold, extending their wings as a posture of giving glory to God. Above it was the Shekina glory, a cloud thick, visible by men. He was Immanuel, God with him in the midst of Israel, but there was a wall. No one could draw near to the presence of God without the shedding of blood. Why? Because sinners are made righteous, not by their own doing. Sinners are made righteous by the one who would be called the Son of David. Sinners come into the presence of God through the blood of that one, whom God sent to be the Redeemer and the Savior of the world.

For, without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Now, this is what the Scripture says. We know this is the truth, but the Scripture says it very clearly. Hebrews 9:19-22, when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to the people, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people. Now, this is an amazing scene. Imagine, with me, he spoke to them, the Word of God that God gave. Then after speaking the Word of God, he took the blood of calves and goats and with water and a branch of hyssop.

He dipped the branch into the blood, and he started to sprinkle it, walk through the people. You can imagine as he's walking their clearing out for him, as he's walking through the people, sprinkling blood on all the people. Can you imagine being in the crowd? There's a point he's sprinkling the blood and, in the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of ministry with that blood. According to the law, one may almost say all things are cleansed with blood, for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

According to the law, the high priest, and only the high priest could draw near to the ark of God once a year on the day of atonement. The day of atoning for sins so that he could sprinkle the blood of a bull offered as atonement for the people because only a high priest bringing with him blood could enter the presence of God. All of this was disregarded. They set the ark of God in a new cart. Then when the cart almost toppled, Uzzah reached out and touched it. Touched that which represented the very presence of God with his bare hand.

Immediately the parade was over but I submit to you that all of it is a picture of Jesus Christ. It is a picture of a great truth how sinners can be brought into the presence of the living God. Well, the truth it's a picture of this that Jesus is the way. He is the way to the Father. From the beginning of creation, God had a plan. God had a plan, a way to reconcile sinners to Himself. His Son His only begotten Son would die in your place. Your sins would be removed from you and placed on His Son. Your sins were transferred to Jesus on the cross so that when Jesus died, He died in your place.

He died as penalty for the shedding of His own blood paid for the sins of the world and He paid for them in full. Based on the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, God accepted that blood in your behalf, therefore you yourself are accepted by God, and you are given the right to be called a child of God. You have the full rights of citizenship in heaven because of what God did for you that day through Jesus Christ His Son.

Can you give the praise to the Lord? That's God's way that's God's plan and there is no other way. There is no other way for sinners to draw near and have a relationship to the Holy Righteous God of heaven. There is no other way. Jesus said John 14:6, I am the way, I am the truth. I am the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. Acts 4:12, There is salvation and no one else for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Now, someone out there would hear this and say, well, that's not very nice.

That's not even politically correct. I've got my own ideas about eternity seems to me that a person ought to be able to figure out their own way to God and God should accept it. That would be much more inclusive. No, it's God's presence. God's way. The fire of his condemnation and judgment fell on His Son on the cross. You come to God through the blood of Jesus or you don't come at all. No one can lay their bare hand on God's glory. You come through the blood of Jesus or you don't come at all. Then we see this in the story and it's a tremendous lesson.

B.  God’s presence will bless your life

The presence of God is the joy of life. David hurt that the house of Obed-Edom had been blessed. Everything was blessed. Everyone in his house was blessed. So David wanted that blessing. He wanted the presence of God and the blessing of God in the city, in that place. During that three months, he had the priest look, read, research, how ought the ark of God be moved. They discovered no, the heart of God was made clear through Moses. It must be carried on the shoulders of men on priests and Levites with poles set through the rings of gold.

That no man would touch it, but it must be brought on the shoulders of men. Chapter 15:16, David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives, the singers with instruments of music and harps and loud sounding symbols. It says to raise sounds of joy. Now I love David had a right. Now that we understand the right way to bring forth the presence of God into Jerusalem, we're going to do it the right way on the shoulders of priests but the celebration part was right. We're going to rejoice.

C.  Jesus is the way to the Father

He's got singers and he's got instruments and trumpets and loud-sounding symbols to raise sounds of joy. In other words, it was loud, which is to say, worship ought to be loud. There it is. It's right in the Bible my friends it's scriptural. Turn it up we're going to worship with joy in the house of the Lord. Anybody want to agree with me? Come on now. Let's agree with the Lord.

David was dancing, right? He's just rejoicing. He's dancing before the Lord with all his might and he's wearing a linen ephod. Now more on that later. The thought of the presence of God in Jerusalem, in the City of David, brought David such joy such delight. He's overwhelmed with joy and he's dancing with all of his might because it reveals the great truth. The joy of the Lord is your strength. See when sinners are made right with God, that's a reason to rejoice right there.

When sinners are given the righteousness of God as a gift there's a reason to rejoice right there. I submit don't just rejoice at the first. I remember when I first came to the Lord I was overjoyed. It was like, this was a big-- it was a dramatic moment in my life and I was excited. I was filled with joy. I think many people would probably add their own testimony. Many people understand when they first made a decision for Christ, oh, there was joy. It was an exciting thing. Anybody just raise your hand. Anybody agree with me?

II.  The Presence of God is the Joy of Life

Oh, the joy of the Lord was amazing. I submit that don't just rejoice at the first. I think that there ought to be abiding joy in the life of believers. I think so many people, too many believers walk around as if they have sour grape for breakfast. God wants joy. Jesus says, "My joy, I give to you. Not like the world gives." My joy, a deep-seated joy in the soul because the joy of the Lord is your strength. Now here's what happened in illustration. Many years later in the history of Israel, when they turned away from God, this brought about the destruction of Jerusalem and Israel being exiled into Babylon those 70 years.

When they returned, they're going through trying to rebuild, restore. When they go through, someone finds a copy of the Word of God. When they read it, they recognize this must be read to the people. They gathered all Israel together, the remnant who remained and they opened the book and the side of the people. They read from the book the Word of God says, "translating to give the sense so they understood the reading." Now I love that comment translating to give the sense, so they understood it.

See, when you read the Word of God is so important to knowing the heart of God behind it. What is God speaking through his heart to you? They translated it. They wanted them to know this, but when they heard it and they heard the Word of God, their response was to weep. They started crying because it dawned on them. It occurred to them all those years wasted. We had not lived according to the way of God. Now, look at the disaster that's come upon our people. What a waste, what a tragedy. What an epic tragedy. They began to weep.

A.  The joy of the Lord is your strength

Well, when the priest saw the people weeping, they responded, "No, this is not a day to weep friends. This is not a day weep. This is a day rejoice," Nehemiah 8:10. Then the priest said to them, "No, go eat a fat drink of the sweet, send portions to whom has nothing prepared. This is a day that's holy to the Lord. Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength. A great truth revealed because that happens today. Some people, they look back on their lives and they realize how much of life they have wasted.

Many of you know my story, this happened to my father. I grew up with an alcoholic, angry, difficult, cantankerous, old cuss. Then at 75 years old, he wanted to talk. So we sat early morning and he said, "I see now that I've wasted almost all of my life." Now that's a tragedy. If you're 75 years old and then you look back and realize you've wasted almost all of those 75 years, that is a tragedy but, "I see it now. I've wasted almost all of my life. I don't know how much I got left. Would you help me?"

I said, "Oh, I would love to help you." He had moved far away, separated himself from everyone who loved him. I moved him back, set him up in the same apartment complex where my mom was also staying. He had separated from her and of course and treated her very poorly, but I brought him back, same apartment complex. She was so gracious. She befriended him and then we brought him to church and I'll never forget. The second day, second time he had been to church, I gave an invitation for those who would receive Jesus Christ.

As I scanned through the crowd, there he was in the back. He stood on his feet and he did this. Absolutely amazing.

Because he had a strong constitution and when he did something, he did something, boldness. I saw. I l looked. All I could say was, "Come here." He started coming down the central aisle and I wasn't expecting this. It was just a moment where all I could do was just break out in joy, break out in celebration. I just started singing. I'll tell you today, what I sang, I Exalt Thee. I just started singing I Exalt Thee. The church started joining me as we worshiped, rejoicing. I said to people, "This is my father." I prayed with him. I lead him in the sinner's prayer.

A few weeks later, I got to baptize him with my own hands. Now that's something to rejoice about. Should we weep over the 75 years that's been wasted or should we rejoice that God is doing a new work now? That's the forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead and to rise up to that, which God has called me to now. That's the rejoicing of the Lord because the joy of the Lord is your strength. Don't walk in your own strength. The joy of the Lord is your strength. He is your help. You know the name Uzzah means strength.

It's no coincidence. I think it's obvious. It has significance here. Uzzah reached out in his own strength to give God a hand as if God needed help. God doesn't need our help. We're the ones who need His help. Psalm 127:1-2, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain." If the Lord doesn't guard the city, all of your efforts will come to nothing. Then he adds this tremendous point. "It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors."

I'm so glad he added this insight because it's the mantra of the age. It's the American mindset to pull oneself up by his own bootstraps. My strength, my vigor. It's vain, he says. That's quite vain to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors. Do you not know it is He God gives to His beloved, even while he sleeps. It's the Lord. In Jesus' day in John 6:28-29, They came to Him and they said, "What should we do that we may work the works of God. We want to work the works. What can we do that we might work the works of God?"

B.  There is pure joy in humility

He said, "This is the work of God, believe." Believe, just believe. Simply believe in His name. God is the strength of your life. Then there's this, and we'll close with this, there is pure joy in humility. This is what David understood. Now that the presence of God is being rightly ushered into Jerusalem, he's rejoicing, he's dancing with all his might and he is wearing a linen ephod. Now an ephod is like an outer vest that that one would wear over his clothes, but he's wearing a linen ephod. This is a simple linen ephod worn by a servant to a priest.

It is just a lowly servant's garb. Now the high priest on the other hand wore a glorious and grand ephod, a blue and scarlet in purple interwoven with threads of gold. On it were fixed 12 stones for each of the tribes of Israel. On the shoulders were two onyx stones set in gold each engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. Now that is a grand and glorious ephod. David wore no such thing, simple garment of a servant out of humility and a desire of serving ministering to the Lord. David was the king. He wanted no glory.

David could have been in front of the parade in all of his royal robes and garb and the crown and all of this. He could have been leading the parade as though, "I am the great king and behind me is the ark." David wanted no such thing as this. He put on the ephod of a simple servant of a priest. When David's first wife, Michal, she was the daughter of Saul, the first king. Saul had promised his daughter to whomever would defeat the Philistine. She was his first wife. When Michal looked out the window and saw David out there leaping and dancing, she despised him.

Would you read it with me? It's in chapter 15, starting in verse 27. "Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark and the singers in the Chenaniah, who is the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore an ephod of linen. Thus, all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord was shouting with the sound of the horn, trumpets, loud-sounding cymbals, harps, and lyres. It happened that when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to The City of David, that Michal daughter of Saul, looked out the window and saw King David leaping and making merry and she despised him in her heart."

In fact, it says that she confronted him. This is in 2 Samuel 6:20. David returned after this to bless his own house. Well, Michal, the daughter of Saul, she came out to meet David and she's going to tell him what. She comes out there and she said, "Oh." Now you got to say this part dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, how the King of Israel distinguished himself today. You uncovered yourself in the eyes of the servants, made like one of the foolish ones, shamelessly and uncovers himself."

Let me interpret that in the modern way of saying it, "You got to be ashamed of yourself. You got to be ashamed of the way you acted today. You call yourself the King of Israel. You ought to be ashamed." 2 Samuel 6. David said to Michal, " It was before the Lord. I did it before the Lord who chose me above your father, by the way.

Therefore I will celebrate the Lord. I will be more lightly esteemed than this and I will be humble in my own eyes." It says that "Michal, the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death." Doesn't take a marriage counselor to figure out what that means. David understood something. There is joy in humility. There's joy in the humility for it's in the recognizing that God is the one. God is the one who has poured His presence upon us by His favor. God is the one who's the strength of my life. God is the one who's redeemed.

God is the one who has saved. God is the one. It's the joy of the Lord that's my strength and there's joy in the humility. Worship and honor Him and celebrate the relationship that He has given you because He made a point of seeking sinners like you and me. God is the one who's poured His name, His favor on your life. There is joy in the humility for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Let's pray, Father, thank you so much for revealing to us, the heart that you have after us.

You've always wanted to be Immanuel, God with us, and you made a way for sinners to be reconciled to the Holy Righteous Father by sending your Son to die in our behalf, taking our sins upon Himself, a way has been made. You did it. You did it all. God, we honor you and thank you. You're the one to receive glory and honor. God, we humble ourselves before you. There's joy in the humility. We humble ourselves. You're the one. You're the one who's done amazing things. You are the one who's made your name known. You are the one who's reached out to sinners and give them life.

You're the one who's poured favor. You're the one who's brought us to yourself. You're the one who has established life in your name in people like us. There is joy in the humility. Church how many would say to the Lord today, "I humble myself before you, Lord?" There's joy in the humility. Church, how many would say-- would you just say that to the Lord by just raising your hand to the Lord. I humble myself before you today. You are worthy. I humble myself before you. You're the one. You're the one who's done great things and the joy of the Lord is my strength.

You're the one I humble myself. Thank you, God. Thank you for loving us so much that you do that for us. You're the one. We honor you for it now in Jesus's powerful name and everyone said-

Chapter 13

5 So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the Lord who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 7 And they [d]carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly overturned it. 10 But the anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him because he had put out his hand toward the ark; and he died there before God. 11 Then David became angry because [e]of the Lord’s outburst against Uzza; and he called that place [f]Perez-uzza as it is to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months; and the Lord blessed the family of Obed-edom and all that he had.

Chapter 14

1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons, and carpenters, to build a house for him. 2 And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted, for the sake of His people Israel.

3 Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children [g]born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard about it and went out against them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and carried out a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. 10 David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You hand them over to me?” Then the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will hand them over to you.” 11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David [h]defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place [i]Baal-perazim. 12 They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.

13 The Philistines carried out yet another raid in the valley. 14 David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around [j]behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs. 15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 16 David did just as God had commanded him, and they defeated the army of the Philistines from [k]Gibeon even as far as Gezer. 17 Then the fame of David spread in all the lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him on all the nations.

Chapter 15

1 Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve Him forever.” 3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place which he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his relatives; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his relatives; 9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his relatives; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.

11 Then David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab; 12 and he said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; consecrate yourselves, you and your relatives, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Because you did not carry it at the first, the Lord our God made an outburst against us, since we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on them, just as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.

16 Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives as the singers, with musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, playing to raise sounds of joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18 and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, [l]Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; 20 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with harps tuned to [m]alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to lead with [n]lyres tuned to the sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark.

25 So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains of thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26 Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore an ephod of linen. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres.

29 When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.

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