2 Samuel 5:1-5; 6:1-5; Psalm 150
The week’s text confronts us in the emotional morass that seems to be all around us. With the savagery and now vicious war that we are witnessing on the TV, with the protests and demonstrations by those that seem not to be persuaded by facts, and the unfavorable forecasts for the economic future with continued inflation and rising prices, it seems everyone around us is falling into its grip.
How does this text confront our emotional disquietness? By loud cymbals, horns, tambourines and jubilant dancing! This time of Israel’s history is when David had won the civil war with the House of Saul, and was king over Judah in Jerusalem. The Northern Kingdom still had a son of Saul as their king for 7 years, and after internal conflict all the tribes united under David. As part of the healing of the conflict and war, David seeks to unite the people not under him, but under God by restoring the Ark of the Covenant, after 50 years, to its rightful place in the center of God’s people. God was again the focus of the people of Israel, and this was the cause of jubilation and exaltation.
It is so easy for me to be caught up in the hopeless mindset of our world. From the macro issues of expanding wars to the micro issues of increase in gas prices, hopeless wants to overwhelm us. When we allow this, we lose our focus on God, the loving God that should be at the center of our lives.
David leads the people of God dancing in front of the procession to restore the Ark to its rightful place—to recognizing the presence of God as the central focus of our hearts. When we put God where God belongs in our lives, it causes us to leap for joy and praise the Lord with our entire breath.
“Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
Pastor Greg
