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One-sentence summary: David prepares a place for the Lord and brings the ark to the city of David, and he dances before the Lord with all the people and appoints Levites to minister to the Lord continually.
David consults with the captains and leaders in Israel and says that if it God's will, to let them contact all the people and priests of Israel to bring the ark of God back, and the people agree. So, he gathers all Israel together, and they go up to Judah to bring up the ark "where His (the Lord's) name is proclaimed." Two men drive the cart, and David and all Israel "play music before God with all their might" with all sorts of instruments. On the way, the oxen stumble, and one of the men puts out his hand to hold the ark, and the anger of the Lord is aroused against the man, and He kills him. And David becomes angry because of the Lord's outrage against the man, and it says he becomes afraid of God that day. So he does not move the ark to the city of David yet but puts it in the house of Obed-Edom for three months, and the Lord blesses the house and all the man has.
The king of Tyre sends messengers and cedar trees to David to build him a house, and by this David knows that the Lord has established him and exalted his kingdom for His people Israel. He takes more wives and has more children. When the Philistines hear he has been made king, they go to look for him, and David hears and asks the Lord if he should attack, and the Lord says yes, and he defeats them, and David says it is like a "breakthrough of water." And they burn their gods with fire. The Philistines raid again, and the Lord gives David a battle plan (this is the same story previously told.) The drive them bac,k and David's fame goes out to all lands, and the Lord brings the fear of him on all nations.
David builds houses for himself in the city of David and prepares a place for the ark and pitches a tent for it. He says only the Levites are allowed to carry it. He gathers all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the ark to the place he has prepared. He assembles the sons of Aaron and the Levites. So the priests and the Levites sanctify themselves to bring up the ark, and the Levites bring it on its poles to its place. Then, David tells the Levite leaders to appoint men as worshippers. So they bring the ark up from Obed-Edom's house, and they offer sacrifices. David and all the Levites are robed in royal linen, and David also wears an ephod. And they rejoice and worship with music. As the ark is being brought to the city of David, Michal looks through a window and sees David worshipping and playing music, and she "[despises] him in her heart."
They set the ark in the midst of the tabernacle David has erected and offer offerings to the Lord, and David blesses the people in the name of the Lord. And he gives all a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins to every person, and he appoints some Levites to minister to the Lord. He also gives a song to the Lord to the worshippers, and it is recorded. Some beautiful lines are: "For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised," "Give to the Lord the glory due His name," "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," and "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever." All the people say "Amen!" and praise the Lord. And Obed-Edom and his family become gatekeepers. Then, everyone departs, and David returns to bless his house.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
David was zealous for God's glory and name! He was a true worshipper who worshipped God in spirit and truth and thus was called "a man after God's own heart."