Joy

Use these materials to go deeper into this message on your own, or with your small group.
Series Overview
SOAP Bible Study Method
Weekly Material

9:00 Service | 10:30 Service | Sermon Audio

Good morning Chapel family. Have you ever met someone who’s truly joyful?

I’m not talking about someone who’s happy because it’s Friday, or because their vacation starts tomorrow, or because they just got engaged. That stuff is great, but it’s all very situationally dependent. I’m talking about something deeper.

I recently met a joyful person at a funeral. His wife had just died, so he wasn’t happy about that. But underneath the surface grief, there was something solid and unshaken by the loss. It was joy. I met another joyful person in a parking lot after a men’s group recently. He was having painful problems with his kids, and he was honest about the pain, but there was something rugged and hopeful that was deeper than the pain. It was joy. Do you have people like that in your life? I’m not saying they’re always smiling and laughing—not at all. But there’s an inner contentment and warmth and optimism that’s deeper than their circumstances. And sometimes that inner joy bubbles out of them in singing or worship…or even dancing. Joyful people know how to celebrate.

I hope you know some people like that. But even more, I hope you’re becoming a person like that. Lewis Smedes, the Christian author, said, “To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence.” He’s right—God’s will is for you to be a joyful person.

So how’s the joy level in your life? On a scale of 1-10, how joyful are you right now?

We’re continuing our series on the life of David, and today we’re going to be in 2 Samuel chapter six. Let me catch you up with what’s happened up to this point. David was anointed as the next king of Israel when he was a teenager, but unfortunately King Saul became so jealous of his popularity that David had to flee for his life—and for about five years he lived as a fugitive out in the desert. But finally, that season of David’s life is over. King Saul has died. David has been crowned the King of Israel. He makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel. He has the full support of the people, and the nation is strong. But David realizes there’s something missing…and so he makes an important decision. And this whole scene teaches us so much about joy.

Let me set this up by reading the first two verses—2 Samuel 6, verses 1 and 2: 1 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. So at the very beginning of his reign, David decides to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. That brings up so many questions.

First of all, What was the Ark of the Covenant? Yes, it’s the same ark as the one in Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Indiana Jones movies. The Ark of the Covenant was a box—a chest. It wasn’t very big—about 4 feet long, about 2½ feet deep; 2½ feet high. It was made out of wood, but the whole thing was overlaid with gold. On top, there was a slab of solid gold called the Mercy Seat. On top of that gold slab, there were two golden angels with their wings touching in the middle. This is an artist’s rendering of what it might have looked like.

Okay, so what was the purpose? This is so important: the Ark was the place where God promised to show up. And you say, “Wait a minute—I thought God was everywhere!” And he is—God is

omnipresent. But there was a special way—a more personal way—that God would manifest his presence at the ark. In Exodus 25:22, God says, “There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you.” So for several centuries, the Ark was the central item in the Jewish Tabernacle. But over the years, something happened. The Ark fell into disuse. And so, long before David became king, and even before Saul had become king, the Ark had been kept in an obscure village, in the home of an obscure man named Abinadab. There’s a long story about how it got there, which we don’t have time for now.

But here’s the point: as David is establishing his reign, he decides to go get the Ark and bring it to Jerusalem, because he wants everyone to know that he answers to a higher King, called the Lord, Yahweh. He’s making that public statement. But there’s also a very personal reason that David wants the Ark. In Psalm 66:11, David wrote, “In your presence is fullness of joy.” See, David understood, probably more than most people, that life can by really hard. And he knew that if he based his joy on circumstances, or on everybody liking him, he would be miserable. He knew the only source of true joy was the presence of God.

Which sounds great, but how does that actually work? How does being in God’s presence actually lead to joy? That’s the question we’re going to explore today.

Let’s break this into three parts. Point number one: Problem. When David goes to get the Ark, he encounters an unexpected problem—keep reading in verse 3…3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

How does that strike you? If you’re like most people, this seems incredibly harsh. And that’s exactly how David responds—look at verse 8: 8 Then David was angry because the LORD’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David is enraged, because this guy who seemed to just be trying to do the right thing is lying there, dead. What’s going on here? Why would God do that?

Well, God had given very specific rules for handling the Ark of the Covenant. First of all, it was supposed to be covered when it was transported from one place to another. Secondly, it was supposed to be carried using poles that were passed through the rings on the side of the Ark. Third, it was supposed to be carried not just by anyone, but by Levites—people from the priestly tribe. And one last rule: it was never to be touched! So: covered, carried, by Levites, and not to be touched. How many of those rules did they follow? Zero. It wasn’t covered, they put it on a cart instead of carrying it, it wasn’t Levites guiding it, and it was touched. All four rules were broken. And this poor guy Uzzah tries to stop it from falling, and he’s struck dead.

And that might seem harsh, but the rules about the Ark weren’t arbitrary; they were meant to communicate something. And it’s something we need to know if we’re going to find joy in the presence of the Lord. See, all those rules were meant to communicate that God is holy and perfect, and therefore, you can’t approach him casually or flippantly. There is a separation or a chasm between God and people. You remember: the Ark was supposed to be kept…where? In the tabernacle, in that inner room called the Most Holy Place. To get to it, you would have to go through

an altar, and you would have to sacrifice something on that altar. In other words, it cost something to get to the presence of God. There had to be a cost, because we fall short of God’s perfect standard. We have to see that.

Max Lucado says when he was a kid, his mother would tell him his room wasn’t clean. So he would take his mom’s hand and bring her down to his brother’s room. Because his brother’s room was always a disaster. And he would say, “Look mom, my room really is clean.” And he said, “It never worked. Because mom would walk me down the hall to her room. And when it came to clean rooms, my mom was righteous. Her closet was just right. Her bed was just right. Her bathroom was just right. Compared to hers, my room was, well, just wrong. She would show me her room and say, ‘This is what I mean by clean.’” And that’s what God does. He points to himself, and he says, “This is what I mean by righteous.”

So every time an Israelite thought about the Ark, and where it was supposed to be kept, and how it was supposed to be handled, they would be reminded of the perfect standard of God. They would be reminded of that chasm between a perfect God and sinful man. Uzzah didn’t get that. And I believe that God wanted to wake up King David, and get his attention, because this was just too important to miss. Listen: if you have a shrunken-down view of God’s holiness, that’s not the kind of God who can give you true joy.

Let’s keep going—verse 9: 9 David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. (Lucky guy, right? Here—you take it!). But did you hear what David says? “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” And he says that out of fear, but I think David is beginning to understand the chasm between a holy God and sinful man. Which is a good realization.

Now: if that’s the only thing you know about God—that he’s holy and perfect and untouchable—that’s not going to lead to joy. Some of you grew up in a religious context where it was all about God’s holiness and judgment and anger against sin. And you probably didn’t find much joy in that, because you lived in fear of God striking you dead like Uzzah. So this can’t be the only thing you know, but you have to start here: God is holy; I’m not. That’s a problem.

Thankfully, there’s point number two: Provision. Look at verse 11: 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household. 12 Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

Did you notice—no more ox cart; this time it’s being carried by priests, according to God’s instructions, we can assume that the other rules were followed as well. So there’s a reverence and respect for God’s holiness, unlike the first time. But there’s something even more important here. What does it say David did after the first six steps? He sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. The first time there was no sacrifice at all, but now there is. Why? Because David now sees that God is so holy that if you want to be in his presence, there has to be sacrifice. And God has made a way—he’s made provision, through sacrifice.

And you know what? That has not changed. The God that we serve today is the same God. So if you want to come into his presence, you still need sacrifice. But here’s the great news: the provision he made back then—those animal sacrifices—was leading to a much greater provision. Because King

David had a descendant, named Jesus, and he didn’t offer sacrifices; he offered himself. Hebrews 9:12 says He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. Do you know what “once for all” means? It means no more sacrifice is needed! God was fully and eternally satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ. And if you believe that, you have full access to the presence of God. Amen? There’s no barrier anymore, because Jesus broke down the barrier when he went to the cross.

I was thinking about this story, and where we find ourselves in this story. You know what I realized? I’ll speak for myself: I’m a lot like Uzzah. He had all the best intentions, right? But he didn’t realize he was dishonoring God. I’m sure I do that all the time. I am highly imperfect, in more ways than I even know. So what happened to Uzzah? He was struck down. Dead. Uh-oh. So if I’m like him, what does that say about me? I get to live, because Jesus was struck down in my place.

If you know anything about my devotional habits, I always try to write in my journal a one-sentence prayer to apply what I’ve learned in the passage—that’s how I carry the truth of that Scripture with me throughout the day. So a few months ago I happened to come to this passage in my devotions, and I want to read you the little prayer I wrote—I was feeling kind of poetic. I actually took a picture of the page in my journal, and it’s kind of sloppy, so I’ll read it. This was my prayer:

Lord, like Uzzah I’ve dishonored you and stand guilty in your sight; but Christ was struck down in my place, so I’ll worship with all my might.

I carried that prayer around with me the rest of the day, and as I let it sink in, I could feel the joy rising in my soul. I get to walk with this holy, perfect God—he calls me his son!—because of Christ’s sacrifice. And that is a deeply joyful thing. And when you’re a joyful person, sometimes that joy spills over and becomes outward celebration. Which leads to the last point:

Party. Let’s keep going—verse 14: 14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. Do you see what’s happening? David finally understands both the holiness of God and the mercy of God. You have to have both, because if you only have one, you’re going to have an incomplete picture of who God is. But when you have both his holiness and his mercy, there is something so exhilarating about that combination. It brings joy.

So David dances. He strips down to only a linen ephod—which, by the way, is not indecent. In fact, that’s exactly what priests would wear when they were serving in the temple. So David is covered, but here’s the thing: he’s not wearing his kingly robes. He’s not wearing his crown. He is so humbled and so grateful to God, all he wants to do is worship. Wouldn’t you love to know what this dance looked like? All we know is that he dances before the Lord with all his might—he’s all in—and he really doesn’t care if anyone is watching.

Actually, there is someone watching—verse 16: 16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. (Hold that thought and keep reading…)

17 They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. 18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each

person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

So they bring the Ark into the tabernacle, they make more sacrifices; David blesses the people, and just like Oprah, he sends everybody home with a gift. You get a raisin cake, and you get a raisin cake, and you get a raisin cake! It’s a scene of celebration and great joy, because the presence of God has come to dwell with his people.

But not everyone is happy. Remember who Michal is? David’s first wife, who was taken from him when he was fleeing from Saul, but now he has her back. And instead of joining in the celebration, she watches through the window. She sees her husband dancing with abandon, and she despises him. Verse 20: 20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21 David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Ouch. Michal is in no mood to celebrate. She’s embarrassed and humiliated that David isn’t carrying himself in a very kingly way. To her, David is acting so undignified. But David’s not hearing it. He basically says, “You haven’t seen anything yet. If you think that was undignified, just stick around.”

You know what I’ve realized? In this passage, there are two people who miss out on the joy. There’s Uzzah, who misses out because he takes God too lightly. Right? He’s very careless and cavalier with how he treats the Ark. Some of you are missing the joy because you take God too lightly. And then there’s Michal, who takes herself too seriously. She’s highly concerned with how her husband looks, and what people think. Some of you are missing joy because you take yourself way too seriously.

I have a confession to make: I’m a pretty bad dancer. Those of you who’ve seen me at weddings are going, “Yes, you are.” It’s true! I don’t know if it’s my Scandinavian heritage, or my personality, or some traumatic childhood experience. But I’m challenged on the dance floor. The first time I realized this weakness was in college. I was at a fraternity formal. And my girlfriend, who is now my wife, was my date for the evening. So we were on the dance floor for a slow dance. I do okay at slow dances. But then it switched to a fast dance. At that time, I didn’t yet realize my dancing disability, so I just went for it. And Norma Jean, who’s a very good dancer, tolerated it for a while. And then she stopped, and she said these words to me—I can still quote them verbatim. She said, “Are you being serious?” And I was so offended, and so angry, I walked off the dance floor. And sulked.

You know why? Because I was taking myself way too seriously. I couldn’t laugh at myself; I couldn’t relax and enjoy the moment. I took myself way too seriously. Which always prevents joy.

And God is working on me. There are still times when I catch myself being more concerned with what people think than what God thinks. Can you relate to that? And those times when I am most self-conscious, and most image-conscious—those are the times when my joy is at its lowest. I’m in no mood to worship, and I’m in no mood to dance, because I’m too wrapped up in myself! Ever been there? Those are the times when I look out the window, and I see those people who are expressing their joy, and I despise them in my heart, just like Michal did. What a sad way to live.

But I’m growing! In fact, now, I actually love dancing at weddings. I’m still pretty bad, and I still occasionally embarrass my wife. The difference is, I don’t care anymore. And when I’m worshiping God, whether it’s in church, or in the privacy of my living room, I realize that there’s something so important about responding to God with all of who we are. So when I’m at home, I regularly fall to my knees, and spread out my arms. Here in church, when we’re singing of the greatness of God and the love of God, there are times that I can’t help but express that physically, with arms outspread or raised in worship. I’ll probably hold back on the dancing for now, but you never know.

The David we see at the end of this passage is different than the David at the beginning of the passage. At the beginning, he was already a wise and godly person. But something was missing. He needed to get a bigger vision of God’s awesome holiness and God’s tender mercy. So God gave him this experience. And it humbled him, and lifted him, and unleashed him walk in joy and celebration, and that joy would spill over into his kingship, and the way he wrote the Psalms. God changed his heart. Would you let God do the same thing in you?