Have you ever read a chapter of the Bible and when you finished you had no idea what you read because you were not concentrating? I have. That is doing right in a wrong way.

Transition

This evening we are going to see how David did right in a wrong way and it ended up costing a man’s life. We are also going to learn several specific ways this applies to us.

David Did the Right Thing (v.1-5) (1Ch 13:1-8)

  1. He desired to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem
    1. Twenty years earlier, the Philistines stole the ark of God after a terrible battle with Israel. God so plagued the Philistines that they sent the ark back to Israel on a cart pulled by two milk cows (1Sa 6). Then God killed many Israelites when they looked into the ark after it returned. The ark ended up at Kirjathjearim and remained there until David decided to bring it to Jerusalem.
    2. He consulted with his captains, leaders, and the congregation of Israel (1Ch 13:1-4).
    3. He invited all Israel to this special event (1Ch 13:2).
    4. There was nothing wrong with bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem. It was a good move.
  2. David desired to please the Lord.
    1. He made great preparations for the event.
      1. He gathered all Israel together for the event (1Ch 13:5). This would have taken quite some time and preparation.
      2. He had a special cart made to carry the ark. Very likely, this was an expensive and beautiful cart. This would be a first class ride.
      3. He chose Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, the man who had been caring for the ark for 20 years, to drive the cart.
    2. David led a special parade to honour the Lord (1Ch 13:8).
      1. He and all Israel played before God with all their might. This included dancing, singing, and playing music. Most dancing today is sinful because it rouses sensual desires, but this dancing was leaping and twirling as part of a celebration.
      2. The music was played on harps, psalteries (stringed instruments), timbrels (tambourines), cymbals, and trumpets. Each of these instruments may be payed in a god-honouring way if the music does not contain a sensual beat. Today, both rock and “Christian rock” have a sensual beat that appeals to the carnal flesh.

David Did Right in a Wrong Way (v.3-11) (1Ch 13:7-14)

  1. David did not follow Bible instructions.
    1. There is no record that David prayed to the Lord about moving the ark and how to do it. That was a mistake!
    2. David put the ark on a cart instead of following God’s orders to have Levites carry it on their shoulders (Num 7:9). Perhaps David put it on a cart because 20 years earlier that is how the Philistines had transported it. They did it in ignorance. David did it in carelessness. He followed the methods of the ungodly Philistines rather than searching the Bible and praying for direction.
    3. David chose men to guide the cart that were not Levites.
  2. Uzzah disobeyed the Lord in touching the ark.
    1. God’s ark was holy. No one was ever to touch it (Nu 4:15).
    2. Uzzah took hold of the ark to keep it from falling when the oxen stumbled. Instead of us asking, “What else could he do?” we ought to ask, “What should have they done to prevent the near accident?” The sin of carrying the ark the wrong way led to the sin of touching it.
    3. From a human perspective, it seems that his sin was just a little error done for a good reason. God did not look at it that way. Even little sins are a BIG deal to our holy God.
  3. God struck Uzzah dead
    1. Uzzah’s action made God angry. God’s ark was holy and no one was ever to touch it.
    2. God smote him and he died by the ark (v.7).
    3. This displeased David. His immediate response was to blame God. Instead, he should have examined his methods.
    4. David stopped the move and parked the ark in the house of Obededom (v.10). Then God blessed Obededom.
      ☆ From this, we learn how David did right things in wrong ways and anger the Lord. Many today think that the end justifies the means. In other words, it does not matter what you do as long as the end result is good. They reason, “What difference does it make how I serve the Lord as long as my motives are right?” However, it is never right to do wrong to get a chance to do right. Let me give several examples.
      The 1st example is playing contemporary Christian music (CCM) to get people into church. It is right to try to get people into church. It angers God to play music that appeals to the sensual flesh. This is also true of many children’s Christian videos. They have good intentions but displease God with their soft or hard rock music.
      A 2nd example is giving with a bad attitude. It is right to give our tithes and offerings. It displeases God if we give with a bad attitude.
      A 3rd example is serving the Lord without preparation. It is right to serve the Lord. It displeases God when we fail to practice or study so we can do our best as we serve God.
      A 4th example is evangelizing with compromisers (like working with a Billy Graham crusade). It is good to evangelize. It dishonours God for us to work with those who hold hands with Catholics and other compromisers. It is wrong to work with those who are not obeying the Bible, even if they are really nice people.
      A 5th example is praying or singing without concentrating. It is right for us to pray and sing to the Lord. God is offended when we do it without concentrating.
      ☆ We are in danger of God’s judgement any time we do right in a wrong way.

David Did Right in a Right Way (v.12-23) (1Ch 15:1-29)

  1. David prepared properly to move the ark
    1. David followed Bible instructions for the move (1Ch 15:2).
    2. David called the Levites together and had them sanctify themselves (1Ch 15:12). “Sanctify” means to separate from all sin. They must be right with God.
    3. David admitted their failure the first time (1Ch 15:13).
  2. David moved the ark reverently
    1. The Levites carried it as God said (1Ch 15:15).
    2. The Levites were the musicians (1Ch 15:16).
    3. David offered sacrifices along the way (v.13).
    4. David took off his kingly robe, wore a fine linen robe, and danced and shouted for joy with the people (v.14).
    5. David’s wife Michal (Saul’s daughter) despised David humbling himself among the people in a manner unlike the dignity of a king (v.20-23).
      ☆ God deserves our best. He is holy and we ought to treat Him with great respect. We ought to obey God’s commands and let the Bible be our constant guide. We ought to serve God with reverence. We ought to live sanctified (holy, clean) lives. Because our lives represent Christ to those around us, we ought to dress to honour Christ. Keep modest. Do not wear the sensual styles of the world. Dress distinctly to honour the gender God made you (especially in this godless unisex, transgender world). Dress sharp when you come to worship the Lord at church. Focus on the songs and sermon and don’t get distracted. Do not walk, talk, or pass out offering during prayer. Prepare your heart before you come to a church service. Come early so you can be calm and ready to worship.

Conclusion

David did right in a wrong way and angered the Lord. As we have noted this evening, there are many ways that we can make the same mistake. If you have been doing right things in wrong ways or with wrong attitudes, you need to ask God’s forgiveness. Let the Bible be your guide. Remember, it is never right to do wrong to get a chance to do right. We must live God’s way!

If you have not been treating God as holy and honouring Him in the way you dress, act, and live, you need to get it right with God.

Song: Cleanse Me – 166
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Doing Right in a Wrong Way
4 October 2015 PM – 2 Samuel 6:1-23 – Life of David – Scott Childs