Today we are reading 2 Samuel 6. In this chapter we read about the Ark of the Covenant being brought to Jerusalem. “And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.” 2 Samuel 6:14-19 ESV By moving the Ark to Jerusalem, David is giving Israel a unified and centralized government and religious practice. Now the people would come to Jerusalem to conduct legal/political matters and also to observe the mandated Jewish feasts. How is combining political and religious powers beneficial? How is it dangerous? We have a guiding comment not found in our constitution which talks about “separation of church and state”. The intent of this phrase was to prevent the government from interfering and restricting religious freedom. Today, however, it is often quoted to silence Christians from expressing their faith in the political realm. May God make you a bold witness to teach His truth everywhere you go. Pastor Tim
