Unit 1: God’s People Offer Praise

David Danced Before The Ark | Bible Background • 2 SAMUEL 6 Printed Text • 2 SAMUEL 6:1–5, 14–19 | Devotional Reading • ECCLESIASTES 3:1–9

AIM FOR CHANGE
By the end of this lesson, we will EXPLORE why and how Moses and Miriam praised God; REFLECT on the actions of God that are celebrated through music, dance, and words; and CELEBRATE God’s faithfulness with joy.

IN FOCUS

Pastor Michael heard some people in his church complaining about the new musicians who wanted to change the service to a more contemporary style. However, he hadn’t realized how upset people had become until an after-church meeting got out of control. A discussion on music became more and more heated as people from the two factions argued with each other.

“What are you people doing to our church’s music?”

“We want to do something that’s more relevant to people today. Is that a problem?”

“I’ve been playing the organ here for 25 years; you can’t just walk in and change it!”

“If we want our church to grow, then we have to play new music. We can’t keep doing what we’ve always done.”

“I can’t stand these new songs with all those repetitive choruses!”

“Have you ever read Psalm 136?”

Horrified, Pastor Michael stood up and dismissed the meeting. Afterward, he escaped into his study, near tears. “Lord, what have I been doing wrong?” he prayed. “Why is there so much division in my own church? What have we all been missing?” He continued to pray frantically until he took calming breaths and truly focused himself on God. He knew from personal experience when he started by looking at God, everything became clearer.

Even among Christians, selfishness can lead to conflict and disunity. When we focus on God instead of self we can worship in peace. How do you focus on God?

FOCAL VERSES

KJV 2 Samuel 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.