In 2 Samuel 6 David is bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. If you remember, Saul lost the ark and when it was retrieved it was kept safe in the house of a priest. The people of Israel are dancing and playing instruments as they parade with the ark. The cart shakes and Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark. This is against the law of God and He kills Uzzah on the spot. David has not encountered God’s anger before and is himself angry with God. He is afraid to care of the ark and takes it to the house of Obed-edom. God blesses Obed-edom while he has the ark.

David wants God’s blessing and decides to bring the ark to Jerusalem. The celebration continues as David leaps and dances before the Lord but it also includes sacrifices. When the ark arrives at its place David offers burnt offerings of well-being. He feeds all of the people who are there.

When David returns to his house his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul chides David because of his behavior while the ark entered Jerusalem. David defends his behavior as gratitude for what God has done in his life and says he will continue to do so in the future. God does not bless Michal with any children.

To many our faithfulness may seem like foolishness. Oh that we would be like David and know that we are not here to please people, but rather, to please God. Let us continue to be foolish in the eyes of people that we may be considered wise in God’s eyes.

2 Samuel 7 opens with David considering where the ark/God dwells. He acknowledges that he lives in a house of cedar but God resides in a tent. He wants to build God a house. He tells the prophet Nathan of his plans. At first Nathan blesses his intentions but God speaks to him and says that He does not need a building to be with His people. He states that He will make David a house, the house of God’s kingdom. His kingdom and his throne will be established forever. This is the Messianic promise that comes to the house of David and is fulfilled in Jesus. David accepts his promise and pledges his faith.

In 1 Corinthians 4 Paul says that he doesn’t care what the people think of him, how they judge him. He is only concerned with how God judges him. He knows that everything he has comes from God and exhorts the Corinthians to have this same understanding. the apostles have been willing to be foolish, to be treated badly, to be persecuted, all the while being a blessing even to those who are doing the persecuting. Paul admonishes the church not to boast in their success but to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, not to judge in cruelty but to love in gentleness.