The Joy & Terror of the Lord’s Presence

2 Samuel #07: an exposition of 2 Samuel 6:1-23. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 17, 2013.

Intro:

I’m sure many would scratch their heads in wonder at the fuss made over moving a small wooden box.  It was quite a gathering.  There was a band, there were priests and even the king all gathered in this obscure little village about 9 miles west/northwest of Jerusalem.  It would seem a classic case of overkill until you realize that little wooden box was the symbol of the presence of the living God!  Once you understand that and then watch the events that unfold in 2 Samuel chapter 6 you understand this is a revelation of the God of Israel.

David now reigns over a united kingdom in a new capital city.  David desires to move the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath-jeriam, where it has been in storage for years, to the new capital city where it will take its rightful place in the center of Israel’s national life.  What might be considered a routine task (moving a piece of furniture) proves to be anything but routine.  As we follow the story we learn somethings about worship and the joyful, terrifying presence of the living God.

Text: 2 Samuel 6:1-23

There are 3 things I want to point out as we work through this chapter.

  1. The Centrality of God’s Presence with His People.  (6:1-2)
  2. The Terror of God’s Presence.  (6:3-11)
  3. The Joy of the Lord’s Presence.  (6:12-23)

Conclusion:

There are those who are concerned with services and externals and procedures and mechanics and meetings and decency and order but who really can’t understand anything of the joy of the Lord.  There are those who go crazy over sports who cannot muster anything but professional detachment over the Lord Jesus.  Exuberant praise and tears of repentance are strangers to them.

Worship ought to be filled with joyful trembling in the presence of the Living God.

The worship of God is to be central to all that we are and do.

This entry was posted in 2 Samuel, Sermon Podcast, Sermon Series and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.