2 Samuel – Chapter 6

And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart…2 Samuel 6:3 – Pretend that you tell me to come over to your house, but you specifically tell me to ride my bike to get there. I show up to your house, but I drove my car instead. I shouldn’t be surprised that you are upset for while yes I did come to your house like you told me to, I didn’t follow your directions on how. Such is what’s happening here in our chapter. God wanted the ark in the midst of His people in His tabernacle and that’s what David was seeking to do. God though made it clear that when transporting the ark it was to be carried by Levites, not carried on a new cart like they did here. Yes, a seemingly simple break from the directions, just like me driving my car over is a simple break of the directions from riding my bike over, but regardless they still chose to not follow God’s commands and they felt the result of that. We to may be confused why God isn’t blessing us like we expected He would. Maybe we’re going to church, praying, and doing all those other things God commands us to do. Yet are we following God’s commands on how to do the things He commanded? We may be going to church, but are we going with unreconciled relationships still in our life? God commands us to get those right first then come to the altar. We maybe going to work and school, but are we going with a mindset of loving our neighbors and enemies? While we may be doing the things the Lord commands, we may be doing them on a “new cart,” doing them in the way we want to do them, not how God commands us to. Let’s not only do what the Lord wants us to do but also how He wants us to do it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3025

2 Samuel 6 Daily DEVO And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 2 Samuel 6:20 – Don’t judge someone else’s way of worshiping God as wrong or lesser than your’s. We see Michal observing how David chose to worship and give praise to God and she despised it and made her feelings well known to David. We too can despise how other people worship and hold it over them. We have to understand each person has an unique relationship to God and is able to worship Him their unique way. Maybe they’re a carpenter and they choose to use their skill to create things that bring glory to God. Maybe they love to share stories and choose to use that passion to share God’s story. Worship is more than just songs on Sunday, it’s a lifestyle. We can come together and find common grounds on things of worship like where we meet on Sunday and what songs we sing, but if worship is more than just church services and it connects with the entire life of each individual in the church, then worship is free to be expressed in a variety of ways. For today’s lesson though, be sure to not discount someone’s worship as less than your’s because it’s different. While your worship might be large, what they’re giving to God might be all they have. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 437

And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:6-7 – As a commentary I read shared, “Coming close to God’s will isn’t enough even with the right motives.” You’re not alone in your thinking if when you read this passage you were shocked at God’s response to Uzzah’s action of trying to catch the ark from falling. What we must remember is God is very clear in His word to us. In Numbers 4:15 we see God state plainly if anyone touches the ark they will die. What Uzzah’s motives were in that moment and what he thoughts on the ark were have been debated by scholars for years, but what we do know is God isn’t playing around with His Word to us. Today, God’s will for you and His Word to you is to share the gospel with the people around you. There’s no confusion attached with that command. If then we just think about sharing, if then we just share when it’s comfortable, if then we just share when the time is good for us, that is simply “coming close” to God’s will and not a full, radical obedience to it. Know God isn’t honored by a coming-close-to-it obedience. What brings Him pleasure and glory is when those who say they follow Him actually follow Him fully. How then have you been “coming close” to fully following God but haven’t committed entirely? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1865