2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Proper 10 (15) - Year B
I think it important to include verses 6-11.
It appears David is working on the same polling process that is currently doing us in politically. Polling and spinning the results back to folks is an excellent way of meme-ing us into sloganeering rather than consideration of the issue at hand. If you are interested in this try Meme Central.
And so, without thinking about anything much, David leaves the ark/chest behind. It was the practical thing to do?
Then comes new information about prosperity. Ah, prosperity! Still being the superpower of his day, David hies himself hence to recapture what was originally in his possession but discarded as unimportant. Can anybody remember native reservations and how the desolate and left-behind was reclaimed when oil or other resources were finally discovered there?
With equally little thinking and a whole lot of knee-jerk economic response to prosperity, David reclaims the ark/chest. It was the practical thing to do?
May your leadership be better principled than David's.
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Joseph (Reader)
Would you make that mistake again? Uzzah's mistake costs him his life. Michal doesn't seem to learn form Saul's mistakes. David ready to consolidate power in Jerusalem with this icon learns from the mistake of Uzzah and develops a greater understanding of the power of God.
Can redemption be found in the mistakes that we make?
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Wesley (Blogger)
As long as the power of G*D is seemingly random [G*D "bursts" forth against David's enemies (5:20) and "bursts" forth against Uzzah (6:7) scaring David into leaving the ark behind] we are emboldened to see what we can get away with.
Inasmuch as David's dance was reminiscent of the old fertility rituals (the ark is the seed of future blessing in this scene) Michal is justified in her criticism. Is it David's mistake here, confusing Michal with her father Saul, that leads him to not reconcile with her and perhaps bringing forth an heir who could have united these royals? Is it this mistake of David's what leads him to follow his hormones in regard to Bathsheba only five short chapters later?
Mistakes do seem to be quite repeatable and new ones made as we mistakenly misapply the learning from one mistake into another situation. Mistakes can be redeemed. Is that redemption from GOD or inherent in the mistake itself. This seems like a fruitful discussion to follow for awhile and see what surfaces for us.
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Joseph (Reader)
Too many times we don't seek redemption from our mistakes but we offer justification for why we did what we did. Perhaps that is where/when we repeat our mistakes or misapply the learning from them.
Perhaps redemption from our mistakes comes when we draw closer to God with the realization of our mistake. Only in that Light can we see the depth of our mistakes and endure the sometimes tragic consequences we bring upon ourselves. An example of this is when the prophet confronts David over his infidelity.
Mistakes abound here in this text. Some are based on misunderstanding the nature of God, the personhood of others, and even a misunderstanding of ourselves. Maybe divine redemption comes in that time of reflection after our mistakes (if we truly take the time to reflect) when we understand or faults in relation to our neighbors and we understand ourselves a little better. Better in the hope that we don't make the same mistake again.
Is that divine or human redemption?
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M. (Reader)
In the United Church of Canada, our Lectionary leaves out this part of the Samuel reading. I am leaning towards a reading which focuses on bearing the ark of God on a new cart out of the house of Abindab, and setting up in a tent. In a time in our congregation (and church?) when we are faced with real challenges of survival, and the need to move out of our "houses" (buildings) which burden us and keep us from moving on, what stops us from moving forward? Perhaps the "mistake" in this case would be in spending too much time worrying about redeeming our own mistakes. Perhaps we need to spend a little more time dancing before the Lord's ark, being fools for God, taking risks regardless of how others perceive us.
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Wesley (Blogger)
At this point I will be looking at leadership issues this weekend. We will use David (all 19 verses) and Herod to raise questions about what we are using as the grounding for our leadership (all followers are leaders in their own arena and together there is a leadership of a congregation in its setting).
David appears to be using some form of cost/benefit analysis to justify leaving the ark/chest and reclaiming it. Herod is dealing with an emotionally laden choice between his own desires and saving face.
These are not unusual matters for any of us to have to deal with in family, business, leisure, or other situations. As people sent by Jesus to preach, heal, and manage personal demons and corporate principalities and powers (remember the context of Herod's story as an interruption of the sending disciples by twos) we can just as easily find ourselves drawn to inappropriate models of prosperity and power as David and Herod.
To see where leadership mistakes are made is one way to address issues of our own discipleship (on what basis are we going to make decisions). I must admit, though, that part of this focus is based on my current work as an intentional interim pastor who is dealing more with clarifying systems than chaplaining individuals.
I can see Uzzah simply protecting himself with his action. What is your response to being crushed by the presence of GOD? Would you also stretch out your hand to steady the ark/chest if it were beginning to topple toward you? Would you kneel down and say, "Crush me Lord, lowly worm that I be."? I'm sure something could be done with that scene but the congregational situation here is pulling me in a different direction.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/july2003.html
Dancing David
Stumblebum Uzzah
Beheaded John
Face-saving Herod
Plumbline holding Amos
Fearful Amaziah
Destined Christ
Promised Holy Spirit
The earth (see above for its variety) is G*D's and all that is in it (even the female not mentioned above).
Lift up your heads, O David, John, Amos, Christ, Holy Spirit! and be lifted up.
Lift up your head (__your name here__)! and be lifted up.
Imagine even Uzzah, Amaziah and Herod able to lift their heads, for all are chosen in Christ. Imagine the hardest person you have to deal with. Their head, too, will be lifted. There is no stopping the results of steadfast love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace. They will not stop at such nothings as political promises and betrayal, falseness and war.
Lift up your heads, O Uzzah, Amaziah, Herod! and be lifted up.
- - -
nothing tries so hard
to be something
when all that is needful
is nothing
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
In temporary lives in a temporary universe, we find it comforting to point at some eternals. An Ark-of-G*D is invested with such a characteristic. A new cart (technology) may be constructed, but it is for the carrying of an old god. In the end this is not any better than trying to put new wine into an old wineskin. Eventually the Ark is misplaced, forgotten again. And again.
For now there is blood aplenty. There is Uzzah’s death for touching the ark and knowing it to be acacia wood (temporary) [elided section]. There is the death of an ox and a fatling (or 7 as per 1 Chronicles 15:26 or 70 or 100s), unnamed and temporary, in anticipation of placating further G*D-anger against even David (also temporary).
Bringing an Ark to Jerusalem has the feel of later rulers playing the bread and circus card to distract folks from an unmediated experience of radical temporariness that has about it a universal quality and thus an eternal quality.
Most ironic, this moving Ark o’G*D intended to be with the people on their way is now safely esconced in Jerusalem and “the people went back to their homes” rather than continue on a larger journey. They settled for temporary in the present of eternity. How does that speak to the church of today? To you?
With what dignity, fear, and élan are you bringing your experience of the universe into the specific and temporary time and space where you are?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/07/2-samuel-61-5-12b-19.html