2 Samuel 6:8–13

And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.

David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.

Who is David angry at? Is he angry at God for His harsh punishment of Uzzah? Is he angry at the sons of Abinadab, who were transporting the ark, for not knowing the law. Is he angry at the scholars who failed to teach them the law?

The text doesn’t say. It’s possible he was just angry. The Hebrew that’s translated as “was angry” (יִּ֣חַר, yay-khar) actually means “was hot.” He doesn’t have to be hot at somebody. His plan to bring the ark home with a flourish of pomp has hit a major snag and he’s hot about it.

And David’s heat is combined with fear of the LORD. Maybe bringing the ark home isn’t such a hot idea after all (pun intended). So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

Only when the LORD blesses Obed-Edom does David feel he has a green light to finish moving the ark to Jerusalem. And notice this little detail.

And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.

This time it’s not on a cart.

Just imagine the scrambling in response to the king’s anger over the death of one of his servants. Dare I say that they had a “come to Jesus” moment?

Surely someone recalled God’s commands about how the ark is supposed to be moved. Maybe they even found the book of the law and looked it up.

But the important part isn’t that they carried the ark properly; it’s that they woke up to the seriousness of the LORD and His commands. Hopefully, they read more than just the section on moving the ark.

That can be worth the cost.

These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday ones are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe click here:  https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, can be downloaded here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.