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Testify!

6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
We found it in the field of Jaar.

Ephrathah

"place of fruitfulness" where Benjamin was born (Ge 35:16-19).

same as Bethlehem (house of Bread)

Mic 5:2 - You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, least of the clans of Judah; from you will One go forth to rule in Israel, as has been decreed from all eternity.

1Sa 17:12 - David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem; Jesse, who was old in Saul's day.

Ephrathah also came to be the name of that whole district, which encompassed parts of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim.

Jaar

"forest, thicket." Probably a shortened name for Kiriath-Jearim, where the ark had been.

1Sa 7:1-2 - The ark brought back to Kiriath-Jearim, when the Philistines returned it.

2Sa 6:2 - David went to bring the ark from the house of Abinidab.

1Ch 13:6 - David and Israel went to Kiriath-Jearim to bring up the ark of God.

The ark had been lost to Israel, and great was their mourning at its loss. But word came: The ark was back in the land of Ephrathah! God was back in the land, and those who saw Him on the move were testifying to that fact. Look at the reaction when the word came of God's presence: We found it! We found Him! God does not hide Himself when man comes seeking Him out in humility.

Mt 7:8 - he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door is opened.

Ro 10:14-15

14 How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!"

They went searching for the ark because they had heard it was back. They heard the glad tidings of good things, and hurried to be part of the blessings. If none had been shouting about the good news, none would have come to retrieve the ark. It would have lain neglected.

How shall they hear?

We were bought with a price, and we were bought for a purpose. Our purpose is to preach. What more is preaching than to testify of the Lord our God? What is it to preach, other than to declare the truth of the Gospel, the whole truth? If we will not testify of Him, who will come seeking Him?

Remember Ps 122 - I was glad when the said… Many would be glad to hear that they are welcome in the house of the Lord. All they have heard is the first half of the message: God is mad at sin, God does not like what you've been doing, God is mad at you. This is true, but it's not true enough. Certainly God is mad, but He's made a way of reconciliation. He wants them back, but they've been told too often how unwelcome they'd be.

This is not to suggest that we should forget about preaching against sin. It is to say that we must be certain to preach both sides of the coin. God hates sin. God loves to save the sinner from his sin. But how will the sinner long to be saved, except he be shown his true condition? The one who knows not his danger will not seek refuge.

A Time of Waiting

The ark was seen in Jaar, in Kiriath-Jearim, and there it remained for twenty years, waiting. Then David thought to bring the ark to Jerusalem, and all Jerusalem rejoiced at the news.

2 Sa 6:1-11

1 Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim. 3 And they placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. 4 So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5 Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.

6 But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. 7 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the Lord's outburst against Uzzah, and that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. 9 So David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?" 10 And David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 Thus 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 David's turn to wait, and prepare. For three months the ark remained where God had shown His displeasure. But as he waited, he apparently learned a thing or two regarding his God. His question was not idle curiosity. No. He wanted to know how to bring the ark to Jerusalem, and he spent the time wisely, learning how it was more properly to be done. This time, when the time came to bring the ark into the city, things would be done in a different way.

2 Sa 6:12-15

12 Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God." And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, that when the bearers of the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the trumpet.

David remained glad. How could he but rejoice to see the presence of God coming to his city? But this was not the party that had been the first attempt to bring back the ark. This was a solemn occasion. Joyful, but solemn. God was moving. Oh, by all means, the heart rejoiced to know this! But what was the reaction? Sacrifice. Holy reverence. Fear of the Lord. An incredible care to make certain that the journey was done in the manner of God's own choosing. Things were in order, as God's people arrayed themselves in submission to His direction.

2 Sa 6:17-19

17 So they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed each to his house.

Notice that David was the one who offered the offerings and the blessing. David had the dual role of king and priest. Saul had tried to take the role of priest to meet his crisis, and God judged him severely for his presumption. David, by all appearances did the same thing here, yet God declares him a man after God's own heart. What made the difference? I don't recall ever reading that David was declared a priest. He was declared a king. How then is it acceptable to God that he be fulfilling the priestly role?

I would have to surmise that what changed the picture in David's case was that his heart was so fully devoted to God. Here was a man who, more than any other, had learned to love God with all his heart, his mind, and his soul. His was a sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, because it was a matter of heart, not form. Saul sacrificed out of fear and desperation. David sacrificed out of love and respect. David moved by faith, the faith without which none is acceptable before God. David had already realized the role explicitly given to us, because he had already realized the faith explicitly required of us.

Now the ark was brought into the city, yet the waiting wasn't over. But David had been taught an important lesson about obedience. It is no honor to God when we are so determined and anxious to serve Him that we neglect to learn how it is He wants to be served. To obey is better than sacrifice. David had sacrificed time and money and effort to go after the ark the first time, but he had not gone in obedience to God's ways. Zeal without knowledge. Emotion without understanding. Spirit without Word.

But he had learned. And he passed the lesson on to his son. Ps 127, which we looked at a while back, was written by Solomon. The opening verse: Unless the LORD builds the house… To build God's house in disobedience to God would have been utter disaster. David had learned the importance of obedience. Zeal for God's house still consumed him, but he knew that he would truly be consumed if he allowed that zeal free reign. He knew his son could only succeed in his purpose so long as he was obedient to God's purpose.

Now, the training was paying off. The obedience of David, and the obedience of Solomon had brought a completion of the Temple, the House of the LORD. As they were obedient to God, God was obedient to His own promise that Solomon would indeed build the Temple.