2 Samuel Chapter 6

2 Samuel 6 records the time when the Ark of the Covenant entered the City of David, as well as David’s heart toward Michal.

The Ark of the Covenant Enters the City of David

Since the ark of the covenant had returned from the Philistines, the ark had remained in Kiriath-jearim, in Abinadab’s house for twenty years (1Sam 7:2).

During this period, the Bible only records one incident when the Ark of the Covenant appeared in a battle (1Sam 14:18).

In those twenty years, the hearts of the Israelites had been wavering – whether they truly wanted to trust and serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

Although David had the heart to bring the Ark to the city of David, the method of transportation did not comply with the requirements of the Mosaic Law (Num 4:4-5, 7:9). When Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God to support it, he was struck and killed by God. (Note: Uzzah was the son of Abinadab, and the ark stayed in his father’s house for 20 years)

Hence, the ark was temporarily placed in the house of Obed-Edom; and the Lord blessed this household.

After David heard about this, he went to welcome the Ark into the city of David.

However, this time, he appointed the Levites to carry the ark on his shoulders (1Chron 15:12-15), while he danced before the Lord (2Sam 6:14).

In this way, the ark was placed in the tabernacle prepared by David (2Sam 6:17) up till the time it was placed in the temple in the time of Solomon (1Kg 8: 1-11, 2Chro 5:2-14)

Reflections: Due to their ignorance, the Philistines had chosen to use a bullock to pull the cart to carry the ark back to Israel. The Lord did not pursue this ignorant behaviour. But for God’s chosen people, His requirements were higher, because the Law of Moses had been given to them. But instead of seeking God and observing the law, they imitated the behaviour of the Gentiles and were punished by God. In the same way, God tells us not to be conformed to the world (Rom12:2), and to be separate from them (2Cor 6:17).

Michal leaves David’s heart

Initially, King Saul had promised that whoever could kill Goliath the Philistine giant would be rewarded with great riches and receive his daughter as wife (1Sam 17:24-25).

Later on, King Saul changed his mind and thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. So he asked David for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines as dowry, but David was able to kill two hundred Philistines. (1Sam 18:17-29). How could Michal resist the handsome and mighty warrior David, who was also good at playing the harp?

It’s a pity that these good times didn’t last long. When Saul decided to kill David, Michal did not share the tribulations with her husband David to live a life of exile. (1Sam 19)

As the saying goes, “True sentiments are seen in hard times.” We saw that after David escaped from Absalom’s pursuit, there was a warrior who was loyal to David – Ittai. Although David told him to follow the new king, Ittai insisted on following David to the end. (2Sam 15) From this point of view, there was really no excuse for Michal not to go with David; the couple should have shared in adversity, instead of enduring alone in times of difficulty. Later, Michal remarried Paltiel the son of Laishas. When David’s rule was stable, he took Michal back. (2Sam 3:12-16)

From this record, we see that Michal could not agree with her husband David’s behaviour in welcoming the ark into the holy city; she even used acrimonious words to ridicule David, accusing him of “uncovering himself” (2Sam 6:20), to mean that David’s every move was unbecoming of a king. David was unwilling to be outdone and declared that God had chosen David instead of Saul’s house. After this conversation, although Michal returned to David’s side, there was no place in David’s heart to accommodate her; and Michal died without child.

Reflections: “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3) This sentence not only refers to the relationship between God and the prophet, but also applies to husband and wife. Michal focused very much on the external appearance, but David looked at the heart. Therefore, for a couple to walk together, they must first have the same values ​​and principles.

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