celebration (2) the practice of celebration

8/14/2019 CELEBRATION (2) The Practice of Celebration

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BCM Conference 200814 October 2008 AM

The practice of celebration

2 Sam 6

1 Chron 13-Psalm 24 (3,4)

The Ark returns to Jerusalem.

6 David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. 2 He and all his men set outfrom Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the

LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new

cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab,

were guiding the new cart

with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it.

5

David and the wholehouse of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songsand with harps, lyres,

tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.6 When they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God,

because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORDs anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore

God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.8 Then David was angry because the LORDs wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place

is called Perez Uzzah.9 David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me? 10 He

was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the

house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for

three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.12Now King David was told, The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has,

because of the ark of God. So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-

Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six

steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all

his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound

of trumpets.16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window.

And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.17 They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and

David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offeringsbefore the LORD. 18 After he had finished sacrificing

the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. 19 Thenhe gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites,

both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and

said, How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his

servants as any vulgar fellow would.21 David said to Michal, It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from

his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORDs people IsraelI will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I

will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave

girls you spoke of, I will be held in honour.23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.


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We often learn the most important lessons by our mistakes. That wascertainly the case when David planned the return of the Ark to Jerusalemamidst great celebrations.

A less child-friendly story this: David learns a lesson in reverence andcelebrates with an enthusiasm which is completely misunderstood by hiswife, Michal.

Once again the celebration centres on a physical object the sacred Ark ofthe Covenant but this time there is much enthusiastic playing ofinstruments, dancing and general exuberance.

In his study of the life of David, the Australian writerJohn Hercus pictures

David writing Psalm 24 against the background of this story andexamining what he has written in the light of hisown imperfections.

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?Who may stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not lift up his soul to an idolor swear by what is false.

It is very likely that this Psalm was composed for that occasion and itprovides insights into the spiritual aspects of The Practice of Celebration.

This is David provoked by the original disastrous attempt to bring backthe Ark coming to terms with his own sinfulness as he composes a Psalmfor the accompaniment of the Ark to Jerusalem.

It is the story of that return a story full of pointers to the real

holiness of God and the absolute necessity to obey His rules for lifeand worship.

It is the story of the tragic death of Uzzah and the cynical reception

Michal gave David when the Ark finally entered the city.

It is the story of David coming to terms with the holiness of God and

a misunderstanding of true worship and celebration.

1. Enthusiasm, however well intentioned is not enough 2 Sam 6:1-72. Recognising holiness is a hard but necessary lesson 2 Sam6:8 + 21


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3. The observance of Gods Word is the only way to real celebration 1Chron 15

Enthusiasm, however well intentioned, is notenough

That is one of the regular features of celebration enthusiasm. Yet it canget in the way of that celebration which is first and foremost worship.All the best human accompaniments were there:

3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.

Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cartwith the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking

in front of it.5

David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD,with songsand with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

1 Chron 13 tells us about the deliberations of all involved in bringing theArk to Jerusalem.

13 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God,

let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the

priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasture-lands, to come and join us. 3 Let us bring the

ark of our God back to us, for we did not enquire of it during the reign of Saul. 4 The whole assembly agreedto do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

5 So David assembled all the Israelites, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of

God from Kiriath Jearim. 6 David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to

bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubimthe ark that is called

by the Name.

This was no sudden decision made by David but the result of a fullconsultation with the people. There was no doubt in their minds that itwas the right thing to do. What they failed to do was to give consideration

to the MANNER of its bringing.

Had they consulted it they would have known that the Law containedinstruction for the transportation of the sacred Ark. But they did notconsult even though they refer to the will of the LORD our God in v. 2.In stead of Levites holding the Arkby poles that pass through rings onthe box so that it can be carriedwithout any human contact, they

placed it on a new cart! And theArk started its journey on a hill! Youwould have thought they mighthave considered that. Although I


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know precious little about ox drawn carts I do realise that going downhillwith such is actually quite difficult.

In terms of the technology available to them at the time they chose thebest and the most reliable means of transport a new ox cart. How oftenhave we also looked to enhance the activities of the Church with the latestgadget or eye-catching wonder and forgotten, as they did, the rules forhandling holy things? I speak as an advocate of Powerpoint presentations

and computers. I know about such things.

Now I will admit to you that I believe that the modern world does posesome challenges to the Church. How do we use TV and the Internet toproclaim the Gospel? Should pastors and other workers have broadband?Can we apply the latest in media studies to the presentation of the gospel?

Yes! Maybe! Yes! but hold on just a minute because Davids A planinvolved the ox-cart and he didnt have a Plan B just then. Im sure hewas 100% enthusiastic about this project. It has to be a good thing. But he

didnt consider God Himself in the matter.God, who has set out the rules for worship, and the way in which thoseartefacts which were then part of worship are handled, demands that Hisnature, His holiness be respected. We may celebrate as loud as we wish and seemingly for the best of reasons but if we neglect HIM whose verynature we celebrate then there is disaster. The Law set out the mannerin which the Ark was to be carried on poles supported by Levites but nottouched by them.

It is not enough that it seemed right to all the people.

The story of the death of Uzzah always seems shocking. It is a hard lessonto present to children because even adults feel, as did David, a sense ofoutrage at such a punishment for merely reaching out to steady the sacredbox!David found coming to terms with this lesson difficult.

8 Then David was angry because the LORDs wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place

is called Perez Uzzah.


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We sense the awkwardness of the moment. The celebrations suddenlycome to an end the musicians gradually stop their enthusiastic playing.Uzzah is dead.

Sometimes celebrations are interrupted.

We think of the narrative in Job where Jobs children are partying and amessenger brings the awful tidings of tragedy.

This raises questions like those so eloquently stated in Psalm 24

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?Who may stand in his holy place?4

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not lift up his soul to an idolor swear by what is false.

Who is fit for worship and for celebration? Good intentions and organisedmusic are not enough God demands purity of hand and heart. In New

Testament terms this is worshipping in Spirit and in truth.Celebration in a Christian context may involve enthusiasm butenthusiasm is NOT enough! We have to consider what God wants. Ourcelebration MUST reflect His character and His rules.

The first part of this story about David and the Ark teaches us that.

You cant just rush into celebration any more than you can rush intoworship. Ask yourself What does God expect? and pause for a momentto see whether it is to get on the latest ox-wagon or is there a betterway?

When we communicate with children we may well be tempted to adapt thelatest technique or process that the world recommends. We have to beup-to-date of course but at heart we are concerned with a message thatcan be communicated at the simplest level story-telling. Children are sowilling to suspend their understanding of reality to be entertained orpleased. We may unwittingly use that to try and convey the Gospel by adramatic presentation. We have to be so careful when dealing with theyoung to make it clear what is REAL and what is FANTASY.

In this particular instance we might be tempted to downplay the story of

Uzzah because we think that children will not understand the idea of a holy altogether other God, who will not allow us to play by any rules except


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His own. Why shouldnt children be asked to think about holiness? Is it sohard for them?

I suggest that these are things you should carefully consider. In particular,

how do we speak about the nature of God?

My instinct would be to major on His love but perhaps that is too easilymisunderstood. Can children understand the idea of holiness? Can theyunderstand justice? When confronted with a difficult story like that ofUzzah will they be able to understand that God is special and that youcant make up the rules yourself when dealing with Him?

Even adults find this concept challenging. How much does it matter that

we convey to them the idea of a God who is altogether different fromthemselves and yet wholly accessible in Jesus?

We use the Old Testament so often in telling the story. Can we do thatwithout grappling with these difficult issues?

David had to learn to treat God with RESPECT! Perhaps that is somethingthat modern children can relate to.

Recognising holiness is a hard but necessary lesson2 Sam 6:8-12 + 20-23

9 David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me? 10 He

was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the

house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for

three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.12Now King David was told, The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has,

because of the ark of God. So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-

Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and




will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave

girls you spoke of, I will be held in honour.23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

There were two ways in which David learned this hard but necessarylesson; through the death of Uzzah and through the attitude of his wifeMichal.


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1. Anger and fear leads to a re-think

His immediate reaction was anger. I think we agree that that is natural it

is the human reaction to Gods judgement worked out in our presence. InDavids case that anger left an indelible mark on the countryside itresulted in the naming of that place Perez-Uzzah which the author sayswas there when he wrote.

Scars do remain from our experiences of Gods judgement. This was notsomething to celebrate but it was something to commemorate andthe two, though related, are not the same.

AS he reflected on these happenings his emotion changed from anger tofear.

9 David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?

We sense his frustration and we understand his fear. Such reactions tothe judgements of God are necessary if we are to learn what Godsholiness really means in practice. Godly fear is a clear unambiguousrecognition that God is holy that His standards are absolute.

Initially David just shunted the Ark into someone elses back yard. Then itwas reported to him that the custodian received great blessing.

David learns that the presence of God (in this case and at that timeinvested in the sacred Ark) is a force always for GOOD, and a source ofmuch blessing. We dont know how it manifested itself to Obed-Edom, butit affected him and his family. The report reached David and after threemonths he made a successful arrangement for bringing the Ark to

Jerusalem with much joy.

Balancing the anger/fear and the lessons of Gods abiding goodness leadsDavid to a place where he can plan a proper celebration.

3. The reaction of Michal reinforces this lesson (vv 16 + 20-23)

Its a sad story, the story of Michal. Not shocking like that of Uzzah butsad because of its effects on her. She does not understand the kingsexcesses.

16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window.

And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.


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20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and




will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slavegirls you spoke of, I will be held in honour.

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

In this record she speaks sarcastically of Davids behaviour. She haddespised him in her heart. There is a resonance here with the Lordsparable about the elder brother of the prodigal. Michal is out ofsympathy with this celebration in the same way as the elder brotherregards the party and the fattened calf: she distances herselffrom theking.

Notice Davids imperative of celebration:

I WILL celebrate before the Lord.

The way of reverence in celebration is open to misunderstanding andcriticism. Michal has another parallel in Judas especially at thatcelebration at Bethany where he complains about the wastefulness ofMarys devotion. That is a small step from betrayal.

In Davids case this attitude on the part of his wife caused a lasting rift inthe relationship.

Reverence costs!

Celebration, David is saying, is not about the dignity of the worshipper but about the dignity of God.

It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when heappointed me ruler over the LORDs people IsraelI will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will become even

more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I

will be held in honour.

He reminds her pointedly that he is chosen by God to replace her father,Saul.

The observance of Gods Word is the only way toreal celebration 1 Chron 15


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The narrative in 2 Samuel does not tell us what was different about thesecond attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem but it does highlight thesacrifices v13.It is left to the Chronicler to tell us how the practice of celebration was

changed.

15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark ofGod and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, No-one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because

the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him for ever.3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.. .

.11 Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and

Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow

Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have

prepared for it.13

It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our Godbroke out in anger against us. We did not enquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way. 14 So

the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 15

And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in

accordance with the word of the LORD.16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs,

accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals..

Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of

the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26 Because God had helped the

Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 27Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were

the singers, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. 28

So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams horns and

trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

Now we know :

V2 Only Levites may carry the Ark

V13 We didnt enquire of the LORD

V15 The Ark was to be carried with its poles on the Levite shoulders

Also as the Chronicler shows, a whole framework of worship andcelebration was established as a result of the Uzzah incident and we willsee that in practice in our next study in Nehemiah.

How are we to apply these lessons to our own situation especially havingregard to the Grace of God whereby the old rituals are fulfilled in Jesus?

We could respond by ignoring these lessons or we could argue thatthings are so different now that such practices are outmoded and nolonger necessary.


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True there is no physical Ark but instead the Lords Supper but if we didargue in that way we would fail to understand what is meant by theHOLINESS of God who is UNCHANGING.

We could ask ourselves Is it possible we are missing great blessingbecause we are not as reverent in our attitude?

There was nothing dreary about the ceremonial of I Chron 15:25-28. Weare back to PSALM 24:

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?Who may stand in his holy place?

4

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not lift up his soul to an idolor swear by what is false.

5He will receive blessing from the LORD

and vindication from God his Saviour.6Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

The recognition of Gods holiness is the way to real blessing. It requires ofus a deeper insight into the nature of our God, and His requirements of us.

Sometimes the difficulties we face are traceable to our failure to recognisewhat is holy.

Bear in mind Pauls warnings to the Corinthians about failing to discern thebody and blood of Christ in the Lords Supper.

But, more significantly:

His ways are not restrictive.

True reverence does not preclude true praise and truly majesticworship. It does not lead to a sombre, serious form of worship butto a truly exuberant praise.

celebration (2) the practice of celebration

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