Always Consult The Lord First & Listen To Him

Commentary

David was now the newly anointed King of Israel, and he was eager to get the Ark of the Covenant and bring it to Jerusalem with him. This was a well-intentioned idea, and eventually, God did want His earthly throne to rest in Jerusalem, but as we’ll see, things did not go as David had planned.

In this passage, there isn’t any mention of David first consulting the Lord; instead, we see that he consulted his leaders. David is quoted saying “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God...”. If this plan was from the Lord, then surely David would’ve known before consulting his leaders, right?

How many times in our walks with Jesus have we first consulted someone else, a book, the internet, or something other than God? If you’re like me, more times than you care to admit. There’s an urge, as Christ-followers, to assume that we have the wisdom and knowledge to move forward on a plan, to execute without first listening to what God has to say or to just throw God’s commands out the window, to follow what feels right to us. Like those that David gathered together, when something feels right in your heart, it’s very tempting to say “seems right to me” and move forward recklessly.

Commentary

This gathering was large, and everyone was feeling good about what they were doing. Their intentions were good, so good that there was great care taken to set the Ark on a new cart, to ensure safer transport. They were a people who understood that the Ark was holy, but in their carelessness, failed to remember the laws that God had established.

At that time, God’s Holy Spirit did not dwell permanently in the body of a believer; His presence was on the Ark. There were rules to approaching the Ark of God, and though they had taken great care, we’ll soon find out God was not happy with them.

With right intentions, David and those with him put together a large and wonderful gathering with song and dance for the Lord. However, that doesn’t mean that efforts like this are always spiritual. We have to step back and consider why we do something. We see this today with many professing Christians putting on a wonderful display of worship to God on Sunday, but there is a lack of desire to live according to God’s will each day. I think we’ve all been guilty of that from time to time.

We must understand that truly worshipping the Lord is to be focused on Him and doing His will, His way, every day. No amount of people gathered, loud song, or mighty dancing will make God hear our petition — even if our intentions are good. He’s not asking for grand displays; He’s asking that you follow Him with all your heart.

Commentary

In the midst of what seemed like a great plan, being executed with great care, we see God burst out in anger. To those who aren’t aware of God’s rules for handling the Ark, you might not understand why God was so angry and would kill Uzzah for trying to prevent the Ark from falling off the cart. But God, through Moses, had established the laws regarding handling and approaching the Ark, to their ancestors (see Numbers 4).

Instead of following those laws, they placed the Ark on a cart pulled by oxen. God punished them by killing Uzzah for not handling and approaching the Ark as He had commanded. They were reckless and pulled God’s commands down to something below their own ideas.

The Ark had spent some time in the house of Uzzah’s father; you’d imagine he would have known these laws, perhaps he developed a complacency.

Aside from that, we know that God is the one who helps the Levites properly transport the Ark. If God doesn’t want it to fall, He won’t let it fall. God doesn’t need our help.

For us who are following the Lord now, we don’t need the Ark to approach; we’re able to approach our God personally, whenever and wherever, because His Spirit resides in us. However, we want to be a people approaching God and living for Him in ways that honor Him according to His Word and not with carelessness. We want to be placing His thoughts higher than our thoughts, His will over ours.

Commentary

David, like so many do, got angry at God when the Lord brought correction for the “fast and loose” behavior of David and those with him. It’s never God’s fault, ever, because He is perfect. And it’s especially obvious when you’re not doing as He says.

We read that David feared God that day. David was scared of God’s anger and judgment, so he had the Ark diverted to the house of a Levite, Obed-Edom of Gath. This man was clearly a God-fearing man who practiced what God commanded, and therefore God blessed him and his household because of it.

David’s excitement turned to misery, but he learned a lesson that day, one that he would not have had to learn if he had consulted the Lord first and listened to Him. You and I want to be those who are seeking the Lord for His guidance first and not after the fact. It will always end better when God is leading the way, and you are carefully listening and doing as the Lord leads. Living your life distracted and disconnected from the Word of God is a dangerous way to live.

Commentary

We skip ahead to chapter 15 and read that David was now willing to do this the correct way. He had heard that the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and his household greatly (2 Sam. 6:12) and understood that God blesses those who follow Him.

Before, David was careless and failed to consult the Lord, and the Lord corrected him. David took the correction to heart and found the joy in doing things God’s prescribed way.

Like before, David gathered the people of Israel for this very special task; however, this time the intentions were not only right, but their hearts were right as well. They were going to do this God’s way and no longer by their own understanding.

This is something that is very important for us to take to heart. That no matter how wise you think you are or how good your walk is with the Lord, you must always be seeking Him first and walking with a desire to run your race His way and not your way.

God is so gracious to us and overlooks so many of our faults, but we’d do well in trying to prevent carelessness in our attitude toward the Lord and His desires. When you and I follow Him as He instructs, you will always see the success and blessings that He has waiting for you. However, when you don’t, you will not receive those blessings. This is why it is ever so important to call out to Him first and listen to His every word.