Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. (NIV)

Have you ever realized too late that you really messed up? David had one of these moments early in his kingship. But here's the beautiful thing about this story: even in his failure, David's heart toward God remains humble and malleable. At first glance, you might be a bit confused as to why David is being so extra about moving the Ark of the Covenant in this passage, but a little backstory will reveal David's heart for honoring God in this moment.

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First, the Ark of the Covenant, or "ark of God,” was representative of God's presence among his people. Today, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling all believers, but before Jesus, God gave his people a fancy box, essentially, that signified the space in which his presence would meet with them (Ex. 25:10-22).  

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About twenty years before David ascends the throne, one of Israel's nemeses, the Philistines, captured the Ark during a battle. Its presence wreaked havoc on their camp, so they eventually sent it back to Israel with their tails between their legs (1 Sam. 6:1-7:2). It stayed in the town of Kiriath Jearim until King David sought to reestablish proper worship practices in Israel.  

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In a parallel account of the same story, 1 Chronicles gives some extra insight into what happened next. David says, "Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul. The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people" (1 Chron. 13:3-4). Maybe you've been there before too: something seems good and right to you and those around you, but oops...you forgot to ask God what he thought about your plan.  

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They mistakenly attempt to move the Ark of God in a manner (via cart and oxen) that was not in alignment with God's instructions for the handling of his holiness (again, see Ex. 25). And as a result, a man named Uzzah tries to steady the ark when the oxen stumble, and he's struck dead (2 Sam. 6:6-7).  

Seems harsh, right? But it's so difficult for us today to grasp the gravity of God's holiness. We don't see it played out before our eyes as literally and dramatically as our Old Testament brothers and sisters did, and I think it's easy for us to forget the true cost of our sin before a perfect and holy God. But David saw it first-hand, and I love his response. It's so honest and human, and yet entirely in line with his view of God. First, he's angry (vs. 8), then, he's afraid of God (vs. 9). But here's the key, friends: he doesn't STOP there. He presses through with faith toward the God he knows is faithful and just. Here's what David confesses in 1 Chronicles 15:13: "It was because you, the Levites, did not bring [the Ark] up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way."  

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How does David continue to walk in his calling even after failure and sin and mistakes like this one? He chooses humility before his God instead of indignation. Even after he fails, he chooses to try once again to honor the Lord. As today's passage says, "So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." He brings it up, not in fear, but with rejoicing. Not with reservation, but with extravagant praise. Not with pride, but with self-abandoned humility and fanfare worthy only of his Holy God.  

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Where in your life do you need to try again today, this time, God's way? Our mistakes will certainly carry consequences in this life, but before our God, a repentant heart meets the blood of Jesus to wash us white as snow. We can come before God after our failures with humility, trust, and the courage to try again to honor him.

God, thank you that your mercies are new every morning! Great is your faithfulness! Thank you, Jesus! Amen.