2 Samuel 8:9

 2 Samuel 8:9 says, When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,  Verse ten adds, Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:  After Toi, king if Hamath, heard about David defeating all the army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to David with gifts of vessels of silver, gold and brass,  This was in part because Hadadezer had been at war with Toi.  Since God through Jesus's sacrifice of Himself on the cross for our sins has defeated all our enemies as long as we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord and live by faith in Him, we should give to God all that we have.  Verse eleven continues, Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;  David dedicated all these gifts to God, since God was really the One responsible for David’s victory.  I believe that since God is responsible for all our victories as Christians that we should dedicate everything that we have to Him.  Verse twelve concludes,  Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.  David had always dedicated the spoils gained by victory over his enemies to God, and so must we.  I don't believe that there should ever come a time when we think that what God blesses us with is ours to do with as we please.  Everything that we are and have should be dedicated to God.  Verse thirteen states, And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.  David became famous we would say for defeating the Syrians, who had numbered about eighteen thousand men.  We may never become famous for defeating our spiritual enemies today, but we shouldn't be doing it for our glory anyway.  We should always give God the glory for any success we have if we are living by faith in Him.  Verse fourteen adds, And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.  David established garrisons throughout Edom, and the people of Edom became his servants.  When we defeat sin in our life today, we should establish strongholds through the power of the Holy Spirit to make sure that it never again has any power over us.  Verse fifteen continues, And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.  David now ruled over all of Israel, and he executed judgment and justice over the people of Israel under God's guidance.  We need to pray that the rulers over us today execute judgment and justice over us by God's guidance, even if we don't see it happening.  Verse sixteen says, And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;  We are told that Joab was over the host, or army, and that Jehoshaphat was the recorder.  David organized his people to help the kingdom run smoothly, and we should be organized as God's people today so that we all work together to accomplish God's work.  Verse seventeen adds, And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;  Next, we are told who the priests and scribe were.  We may not have much control over the civil authorities today, but we certainly should appoint leaders of the church under God's guidance.  Verse eighteen continues, And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.  Matthew Henry says these were either what he called city train-bands, who were the archers and those who used slings, or they were lifeguards, a standing force to protect David himself.  Though we are told Benaiah was appointed as their leader, we are also told that David’s sons were the chief rulers of them.  Matthew Henry says this kept David’s sons close to him so he could keep an eye on them.  As Christians, we should always be close to God as He keeps His eye on us.

2 Samuel 8:1

2 Samuel 8'1 says, And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.  David began to subdue the enemies of Israel, starting with the Philistines.  He began to take back the land of Israel and some of their enemies land.  If we have surrendered something that God has given us spiritually to the enemy today, if we agree put our faith in Him, He will restore it, as it was really God through David’s faith in Him that was giving David victory.  Verse two adds, And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.  Next, David  defeated the Moabites killing half of them.  He then drew a line down the middle of them and killed those on one side of the line and kept those on the other side as his servants.  Matthew Henry says that two*thirds were destroyed and one third was kept alive but that it was a full measure of mercy.  We must never be short in extending God's mercy to those we meet, even our enemies.  Verse three continues, David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.  David next defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah as he continued to reclaim the land of Israel.  As followers of Christ we may not always recover things taken from us in this lifetime, but our everlasting victory is assured.  Verse four concludes, And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.  Hadadezer  had been well armed, with a thousand chariots and at least seven hundred horsemen, though chapter eighteen, verse four puts the total number at seven thousand and twenty thousand foot soldiers, which David took.  He made the horses lame and the destroyed all but a hundred of the chariots.  Matthew Henry says David destroyed most of the chariots because his faith was in God and not the things of this world. Though Christians may be outnumbered and even outgunned, the victory is already ours daily if we remain faithful to Jesus Christ.  Of course, our everlasting victory can never be taken away from us.  Verse five states, And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.  When the Syrians came to the aid of Hadadezer, David killed twenty-two thousand of them.  We should not be surprised when those who are enemies of God come to the aid of one another, but we must also never forget that the everlasting victory is ours through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse six adds, Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.  David put garrisons in Syria and the Syrians became his servants while also bringing him gifts.  David was successful because God preserved him wherever he went.  As Christians, God has already preserved us as His, so we simply need to live by faith in Him.  Verse seven continues, And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.  David took the shields of gold from the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.  Verse eight concludes, And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.  David also took a lot of brass from the cities of Hadadezer.  These were now his by right of the spoils of war.  Still, we are never to be at war with the world today as Christians for material gains.  We are to do everything for the glory of God and His eternal kingdom instead.

2 Samuel 7:18

2 Samuel 7:18 says, Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?   David went in and sat before God and questioned Him, as we may at times do as Christiaans.  Still, if we do have questions it is best to go to God for the answers.  David asked who was he and who was his house that God had brought him before Him.  Like David, we need to acknowledge that we have never done anything to deserve God's calling us into His family and making a way for it to be possible for us to get there.  Verse nineteen adds, And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?  David then said that even beyond what God had done for him so far, He promised much more.  God has done much for us in this lifetime if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, but He promises so much more.  David also asked God if people usually dealt this way with each other  and the answer was no.  We are called to a higher standard in dealing with people as Christians than the way people of the world normally deal with each other.  Verse twenty continues, And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.  David asked God what more he could say to Him, because God knew His servant David.  There is still nothing that we can say to God to justify ourselves, because He already knows everything about us.  Verse twenty-one states, For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.  David said that it was according to God's word and after God's heart that He had done these things for David.  Whatever we may be called to do as Christiaans, it will always be according to God's word and because of His love for us.  Verse twenty-two adds, Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  David then proclaimed God to be the only God according to what they had heard Him say.  We must acknowledge this same fact today.  We must come to God by faith in His Word and not by our own ability to prove His existence, and we must acknowledge that He is the only God that exists.  Verse twenty-three continues, And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?   David then took the question from just himself to the nation of Israel,. What had they done to receive God's call to be His people and their deliverance from Egypt where they had been redeemed,  and the answer was nothing.  We could ask the same thing today as to what we have done to deserve God's deliverance into His family and out of our bandage to sin, and the answer is still nothing.  Verse twenty-four says, For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.  Just as David said God had called Israel to be His people forever through a covenant relationship with them, He calls us to be His people forever through establishing a covenant relationship by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-five adds, And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. Though David had proposed building a house for God, he said let it be according to God's word.  If our plans do not align with God's plans, we need to submit to His will.  Verse twenty-six continues, And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.  David said that whatever the people of Israel and he himself did should magnify God, and so must all our actions as followers of Christ today.  David asked that God let his house be established forever and through Jesus Christ it was.   When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we establish an everlasting relationship with God.  Verse twenty-seven states, For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.  David said that because God had said He would build His house, David felt that he could come to God in prayer.  God has already built His house in heaven, and He calls us to come and share it, but it is all for His glory.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:  As God's word was true then, it is still true today.  Verse twenty-nine continues, Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. Just as David asked of God, if we today are Christians then our relationship with God is everlasting.

2 Samuel 7:5

2 Samuel 7:5 says, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Nathan was told by God to deliver a message to David.  The message was a question as to whether David would build God a house.  This was God's question delivered through His prophet.  If we decide to do something for God today, we should first make sure that it is something that He wants us to do, and by praying sincerely the Holy Spirit should give us the answer, but it is always good to have our fellow believers praying for us as well.  Verse six adds, Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.  God said that since He had delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt, He had never lived in a house, but had walked in a tent and a tabernacle, leading the people along the way.  He had been in the midst of the people and not confined to one place.  Though it is nice to have a good meeting place as Christians, I don't believe that we should ever see this as the only place where we will find God and can worship Him.  He expects us to be out among the people.  Of course, this doesn't mean we aren't to gather together, but that the emphasis shouldn't be on the building we gather in.  Verse seven continues, In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?  God told Nathan to ask David if in all the years when He had commanded the people of Israel to feed His people if He had ever asked them to build Him a house of cedar.  We do know that God's command to us today is to share the gospel and help the less fortunate, and I believe that we can sometimes put too much emphasis on church buildings.  Verse eight states, Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:  God told Nathan to remind David that he had been a shepherd when God called him to be king.  David had given nothing to God to deserve this honor, and we today can give nothing to God but our self, and then God will call us to our position of service in the church.  Verse nine adds,  And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.  God said that He had cut off all af David’s enemies and made his name great among people.  As Christians, whatever we accomplish should be done under the authority and by the power of God.  Verse ten continues,  Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,  God then said that He was going to plant the people of Israel in a place that He chose where the would be cutoff from all their enemies.  What we need to understand is that in this would that place will never exist and that we are just traveling through on our way to Heaven, where it does.  No matter how beautiful a church building may be, it will one day be left behind.  Verse eleven says, And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.  God told David through Nathan that He had said he would make David, and his descendants, a house of God.  It was the people and not the building that was important, and it still is.  Verse twelve adds,And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.  God said that after David was dead that He would establish His kingdom through David’s descendants.  We knew this culminated with Jesus Christ, Who is the only One Who is capable of establishing an everlasting place in God's kingdom for us.  The physical temple is long gone, but the spiritual one never will be.  Verse thirteen continues, He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.  God told David one of his descendants would build His house and establish His kingdom and that it would last forever.  Though Solomon would build a temple, it was Jesus Christ Who established God's everlasting kingdom.  The earthly Temple was never meant to last, and neither are church buildings today.  Verse fourteen states, I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:  This is referring to God chastising the earthly descendants of David if they sin against Him.  If God is not chastising us at times today, either we have reached a state of perfection or we are so far away from God that we do not recognize His chastisement.  Verse fifteen adds, But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.  God then said He would never depart from David’s descendants as He had from Saul because of Saul's disobedience.  If we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, God will never leave us.  Verse sixteen continues, And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.  This was fulfilled when Jesus Christ, One of David's descendants came to live, die and be resurrected to establish God's kingdom forever, and it still had nothing to do with a physical building.  Verse seventeen concludes. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. Nathan delivered God's message to David.  God had said that David himself would not build the Temple, but that one of his descendants would.  Again, though Solomon built the earthly Temple, this was a reference to Jesus Christ Who would build the everlasting spiritual temple.  We are still to be more concerned with the spiritual kingdom than with the earthly temple.

2 Samuel 7:1

2 Samuel 7:1 says, And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;  At this point, God had given David rest from all his enemies and if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He has already given us victory over all our enemies, so we should be at peace in the world.  Verse two adds, That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.  David spoke to Nathan the prophet about the fact that he was living in a hose made of cedar while the Ark of God was kept in a tent made of cloth.  We should be careful that we don't spend all that God blesses us with on our own comfort while ignoring the work of God.  Verse three continues, And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.  Nathan told David to go and do all that he felt led to do and that the LORD was with him.  Still, we aren't really told that he consulted God about this.  If feel that we should do something for God leads today, we simply need to do it, but we must first pray about it and make sure we are doing what God wants.  Verse four states, And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,  Though as stated, we aren't told that  Nathan consulted God before, that night God's word came to him.  If we are open to his word,God will never leave us confused about what He would have us to do.  God had a long message for David, and he delivered it through the prophet Nathan so David there would be no confusion on David’s part.  God will never leave us confused about what He wants us to do if we are listening to Him prayfully.

 

2 Samuel 6:12

2 Samuel 6:12 says, And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.  Though David had at first not brought the Ark into Jerusalem but had left it with Obededom, eventually he was told that the LORD had blessed Obededom and all his house because of the Ark, so he brought it on to Jerusalem.  We can either fear or ignore the gospel and never enjoy the salvation it brings , or we can welcome it into our heart and receive its blessings.  Verse thirteen adds, And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.  After those carrying the Ark had only gone six paces, David offered a sacrifice to God.  This time, instead of carrying the Ark in a cart as they had been doing before, it was carried on their shoulders as God had prescribed.  We must present the gospel as God intends for it to be presented under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and should never present it with anything less than reverence for God.  Verse fourteen continues, And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.  We are told that David dance before the LORD while wearing a linen ephod.  We find that these early people of God often worshipped with music and even dancing, so if we don't sing and even dance or move in worshipping God, we certainly shouldn't look down on those who do, if it is done to honor God and not just for show.  Verse fifteen concludes, So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.  This continues to tell us that not only David, but all the people of Israel brought the Ark to Jerusalem with shouting and the playing of trumpets.  We need to get excited about worshipping God again today.  Verse sixteen states, 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.  When Michal saw David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him. Some people today may despise us if we get excited about worshipping God because of their own attitude about worship.  Verse seventeen adds, 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.  The Ark was placed in a tabernacle that David had made for it, and burnt and sacrifice offerings were offered to God.  Our worship services today should be an offering to God for our thankfulness for His gift of salvation,  and if we bring nothing else, we should present our life to Him as a living sacrifice.   Verse eighteen continues, 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.  After the sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of God.  When we worship today, and really even in our everyday life no matter what we are doing, we should do it in the name of God if we are indeed followers of Christ.  Verse nineteen concludes, 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.  David fed the people before they left for their own homes.  When we gather together to worship God today, we should go home spiritually filled.  Verse twenty says, Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!   As David returned to bless his household, he was met by Michal who made her displeasure with him known.  Matthew Henry says it was her pride that made her express her displeasure with David,.  He had removed his royal robes and danced as a common man among the people, and Michal thought he thereby degraded his position.  We should never allow other people's opinion cause us to not sincerely worship God as He moves us to do, nor should we judge other people's sincere worship because we find it undignified.  Verse twenty-one adds, And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.  David told Michal that God had anointed him king before her father, and he said he would therefore worship Him. We need to remember that we are saved by the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross, and we should never allow anyone to control our sincere worship of God.  Verse twenty-two continues, And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.  David said that he would be even more vile, or look on himself as but a sinner before God, if he was led to in worshipping God. We should never look down on others because of how they worship God as long as they are sincere in their worship of God, nor should we be worried about how others view our worshipping God.  We can become too prideful in the way we choose to worship and feel that those who worship differently should be looked down on.  Verse twenty-three concludes, Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. Because of her anger at David for his worshipping God as he did, Michal never had any children.  We may miss blessings from God because we are putting down others who are joyously worshipping God.

2 Samuel 6:1

2 Samuel 6:1 says, Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.  David gathered thirty thousand chosen men of Israel for a purpose as we shall see. Verse two adds, 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.  David had gathered them to go and return the Ark of God to Jerusalem.  As Matthew Henry points out, though the Ark had once been a very visible, important part of God's leadership of Israel, after its return to Israel it had only been mentioned one time.  As Christians, the gospel is the most important message we have, and we should never leave it out of our message to the world today.  Verse three continues, 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.  There was great respect shown in transporting the Ark.  Ir was placed in a new cart, one that had been used before nor contaminated by anything.  We need to deliver the gospel just as undiluted to the world today.  Still, this was not the way God had ordained that the Ark be carried since it was to be borne on the shoulders and not in a cart.  He also points out that even though the Philistines had not been punished for returning the Ark to Israel in a cart, that David should have known God's law concerning its transport, and the Philistines did not.  When we share the gospel, we to make sure that we are sharing it as God intends, which is to bring people to salvation and nothing more or less.  Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drove the cart.  The Ark had been housed with them since its return to Israel so now they were taking charge of its transportation.  Still it shouldn't have been hidden away all these years, just as we as Christians are not to hide away the gospel today.  Verse four concludes, 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.  We are just told again of the removal of the Ark from Abinadab's house and its accompaniment by his sons, with Ahio going ahead of the Ark.  Verse five states, 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.  The people of Isreal played music on the way to Jerusalem with the Ark, and I believe that music is still an important part of our worship services today.  Matthew Henry says some people think this is when David wrote the sixty-eigth Psalm.  Verse six adds, And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.  On their journey, when the ark shook, Uzzah put his hand on it to steady it. He had been around the Ark for a long time, and it may be that it had lost some of the holiness that it represented to him.  We can never allow the Gospel to become so ordinary to us that we allow it to lose its holiness.  Verse seven continues, And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.  We are told that God was angry with Uzzah and struck him dead there by the Ark.  We might view what Uzzah was doing as a good thing, but what he did violated God's law.  If we violate God's law, we should expect there to be consequences, even if we have everlasting salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ.  We therefore should make sure that we never pervert the Gospel by making it just an ordinary thing and not God's plan for salvation.  Verse seven declares, And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.  David was displeased with God.  Nothing is said about him going to God for help in understanding why Uzzah had been struck down,  but only that he was angry with God.  If something that we consider bad happens as we are presenting the gospel, we need to first make sure that we are presenting it in accordance with God's law and then we should go to God and ask Him what we have done wrong.  We will never be justified in getting angry with God.  Verse nine continues, And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?  Instead of asking God for guidance, David became afraid of God and asked how the Ark would ever come to him.  Even if things go wrong when we are attempting to worship God, we should never become afraid of Him, but should simply go to Him in prayer for understanding instead.  Verse ten declares, So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.  David would not bring the Ark of the LORD to himself in Jerusalem, but sent it to the house of Obededom instead.  We must never allow the fear of God to cause us to turn aside from the Gospel.  David still had not sought God's guidance in this matter, which we should always do if we have questions or fears about our journey with Christ today.  Verse eleven continues, And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.  The Ark remained in the house of Obededom for three months and God blessed him.  If we abide in God's word today he will bless us spiritually if not materially.