April 7

2 Samuel 5:6-8; 1 Chronicles 11:4, 5; 2 Samuel 5:9, 10; 1 Chronicles 11:6-9; 2 Samuel 5:11, 12; 1 Chronicles 14:1, 2; 2 Samuel 6:1-5; 1 Chronicles 13:1-8; 2 Samuel 6:6-11; 1 Chronicles 13:9-14; 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 1 Chronicles 14:8-17; 2 Samuel 22:1-51; Psalms 18

David takes the City of David -- Jerusalem.  This is an important moment.  Does David realize the significance?  Does he know revered Jerusalem would become through the ages?  He issues a reward to the person who leads the attack on the Jebusites to take Jerusalem.  The Jebusites are overconfident in their position and Jerusalem's ability to turn away the invaders.  Often I think we are overconfident in our position and our ability to defend it.  A personal relationship with God trumps a defensible position every time.  And David has a unique relationship with God.

Joab answers David's challenge to lead the attack -- this is the same Joab that killed Abner.  At news of this "murder," David cursed Joab, saying, "May his [Abner's] blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house!  May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food."  [2 Sam. 3:29]

So David couldn't be real excited about Joab earning the right to be the commander of his army.  It's not recorded, but I wonder what David thought.  Did he regret his rash promise of a reward?  Did he wonder exactly what God was up to and what it was God almost seems to put people in difficult and trying relationships?  Of all the people, why Joab, the murderer?

Then there is the account of two individual's interaction with the Ark of the Covenant.  David has called for the long-neglected Ark to be brought to Jerusalem.  Seems like a good idea.  He's trying to do the right thing.  Show honor to the Ark and God.  While the Ark is being transported by cart (rather than carrying it like they're suppose to), Uzzah reaches out to steady it and dies at the touch.  Out of fear, the Ark is left at the House of Obed-Edom, the Gittite for three months and the Lord blesses his "household and everything he had." [1 Chron. 13:13, 14]  

Interesting, a Gittite was a citizen of the Philistine city of Gath.  Goliath was a Gittite.  So was Obed-Edom a Philistine?  What's the difference between the two men's interaction with God's Ark?  Both were caring for it?  But one lived and was bless and one died.  How do we honor the Lord?  Do we take Him into our home and hearts?  Or just trot Him around in a cart?