2 Samuel 6:1-15
Huisun Abraham Park's video sermon from the New Year Service on January 1, 2020
We must be acknowledged by God in this New Year
This is the very first day of the year, but no matter how hard we have worked and toiled if God does not acknowledge us, it is a curse. Therefore all the saints who have come here must make sure that we are all blessed by God.
King David who walked in the name of the Lord
By God’s grace, King David achieved a splendid civilization by strengthening the national defense; he built merchant cities and set up watchtowers throughout the nation and had a successful agriculture because God’s grace was there. All the surrounding nations envied him and whenever he fought, he always won. This was so because he went in the name of the Lord of the host and there was peace in all the homes. They glorified God through a life centered on the church and God’s glory was upon the temple, priests, elders, and all the families. So, in this New Year, we shall be blessed like Obed-edom, an unknown conductor who played the lyre, and a chief gatekeeper.
The Ark carried on a new cart
God’s Ark was in the house of Abinadab and King David consulted with the world officers to move the Ark back to the city of David. It was a huge event and the choir at that time consisted of 4,000 singers and the heavens and earth trembled at their praise. All the warriors and generals were called in and all the musicians of the world court were brought in and in the midst of the sounds of trumpets, the people were dancing as the Ark was moved to the city of David. They carried the Ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio drove the cart led by oxen (1 Chron 13:1-7). This was a national occasion and a great event for the whole nation and everybody rejoiced.
Uzzah collided with God
As the Ark of God that was being carried on a new cart reached the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen jumped all of a sudden and Uzzah reached out to try and prevent it from falling off the cart (2 Sam 6:6). However, God killed Uzzah instantly for touching the Ark (2 Sam 6:7). The Bible says “the outburst” and “God’s anger” burned against Uzzah (1 Chron 13:9-11). God explained later that Uzzah collided with Him and showed irreverence towards God and challenged Him. God commanded through Moses to never carry the Ark on a cart but only among the Levites on their shoulders (1 Chron 15:2, 15). God decrees His will and He knows His will. King David repented and realized the formal sin was not carrying the Ark on the shoulders and that Uzzah invaded God’s holiness. Only the Levites can become the tribe of the priests or in today’s term, it will be the line of the pastors. Near where God became upset and Uzzah died was the house of Obed-edom. Today, we must see that God’s Ark stayed in the house of Obed-edom for three months. And God was so happy that He blessed his entire household and all his possessions, whether they were coming in or going out. And this news spread throughout the nation, even reaching the King. King David realized that this is the way we get blessed by serving the Ark. So after seeing how Obed-edom was blessed, King David decided to make a second attempt to bring back the Ark to the city of David.
We must believe and serve the Word only
Today, we must believe and serve the Word only like Obed-edom did. Although there were many generals, warriors, priest and elders, God did not lead the Ark to their houses but to Obed-edom’s house. If we believe and serve the Word, then certainly all of you will be the spiritual household of Obed-edom this year. Obed-edom was a man who really served God and God only, and he was a gatekeeper for the Ark (1 Chron 15:18, 24). When David was King, Obed-edom and all of his descendants lived so honorably in the royal palace and served even until King Amaziah’s days. The Bible says that the Ark chose where to go after Uzzah died on the spot and went to Obed-edom’s house. We must understand that if God’s Ark went to Obed-edom’s house, it was not by man’s doing but through God’s grace. So in this New Year, may you all become spiritual Obed-edoms so that God’s Ark will go to your family and stays there! And I bless you in the name of the Lord. We must live like this.
Obed-edom was chosen by God
Obed-edom was chosen from among many people and the Ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months and with his entire household (1 Chron 13:13-14). We need to serve whether we feel good or bad. That means we need to continue to come out to church, attend Bible studies, pray, and continue to give praise to God regardless of our circumstances. Obed-edom’s entire household cared for the Ark of God day by day with thankful hearts, and God saw this and his entire household was blessed for generations to come even though the Ark remained in his house for only three short months. Jesus saw the faith of Zaccheus and said, “I must stay at your house tonight for you too is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:5-10). Jesus found Zaccheus for salvation had come to his house (Luke 19:10). So in this New Year, let us draw closer to our God serving Him only and cherishing the Word only and trying our best to obey His Word. For if we do this, we will be blessed and live a life that is envied by everyone. Please believe this! Faith is like “cash,” faith itself is money; faith is your cash for nothing is impossible to him who believes. Please believe that you are the spiritual Obed-edom.
Conclusion: Throughout this New Year, please believe that you are blessed. Don’t think, “Will it really come true?” Don’t be superstitious like this. Once you are born into this Word, how could you believe like that? Set your mind and just believe! If we just believe, then everything will work, for God’s Word will surely succeed (Isa 55:11). So we must commit everything to God and cast away all of our anxieties and not worry for only God can comfort us (1 Cor 1:4). The blessings that came upon Obed-edom’s house were the blessing of salvation, all possessions, and great reputation which allowed him to spread the Gospel that God is alive. Obed-edom and his entire household were blessed with a life of evangelism. Finally, Obed-edom was blessed with prosperity and success. Therefore, in this New Year, please believe that you are also blessed with these same blessings and you can become the gatekeepers of God’s house (1 Chron 26:5). The man who is blessed by God, God is with him. So straighten your shoulders and stand tall and march courageously toward the heavenly city. I bless you in the name of the Lord.
