Red Light, Green Light

"six paces"

2 Samuel 6:13

A little follow up today.  There was a wonderful detail in the 2 Samuel, chapter 6 story about David deciding to move the ark to Jerusalem.

It's just one line, but it might be the most applicable verse for us, in the whole event.

Remember that David and nation of Israel had decided the time was right to bring the ark of the covenant back to the center of the nation, Jerusalem?  Remember that they plopped it on a cart, which was drawn by oxen, and got started on the journey?  But then the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, and God smote him down for touching it?

After that, David was afraid of the Lord, so he refused to move the ark further, and had it taken into the house of a man named Obed-Edom.  And for three months, the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

And when David saw that Obed-Edom was being blessed, he "went and brought the ark of God to the city of David with gladness."

I like that line.  Gladness sounds so joyful, doesn't it? 

And this time, he brought it as the Lord had instructed them.

And then, this is the important part, verse 13:  "And when those bearing the ark had gone six paces, the Israelites praised God, sacrificing oxen and fatted sheep.  And David danced before the Lord with all his might."

After six paces.  They stopped what they were doing, and they looked around at each other.  God was pleased.  And so they were pleased.

Gives a whole new look to the idea of going to church every Sunday, doesn't it?  Stopping every six days, making sure you're in His will; celebrating, praising Him, and then moving ahead as He has called you, in boldness ~ and in gladness.

~ "God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, 

    because in it He rested from all His work" ~

Genesis 2:3