For some reason, everyone has forgotten about the Ark, you know the thing that supposedly represented God's presence with Israel? Yeah that one. But years have passed and now some one in David's camp remembers. "Gee, David, the Ark is still in Baale-Judah." Looking around his throne room, David realizes something is missing, oh yeah. "Well let's go get it." And they do in 2 Samuel 6.
For David, bringing the Ark to Jerusalem connects Israel's past with its future. It ties the Will of God with this new venture of the monarchy. But before we think that the Ark can be tamed, we again see a demonstration of God's wild power. Uzzah reaches out to steady the Ark on its journey and God took his life. Understandably, this shocks David who then leaves the Ark in the house of Obed-edom because he is afraid to bring the Ark into Jerusalem.
After three months, word comes to David that the household of Obed-edom has been tremendously blessed, so David decides to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. Along the journey to Jerusalem David dances in front Perhaps David's dance was a Canaanite ritual or perhaps it was an honest form of liturgical dance. Whichever, this dance seems to represent the vibrant life in God that gives thanks and rejoices.
Michal does not appreciate her husbands performance, but he cares not. Her lack of faith is then demonstrated in that she does not bear any sons to David. Clearly God favors David's opinion verses Michal's.
Of course, David realizes there is an inconsistency at work here. He lives in a great palace but the Ark does not. In 2 Samuel 7, David goes to Nathan to inquire whether he should build a temple. By building a temple, David really legitimates his rule for God will now reside with him. However God finds a different way to legitimize David.
After Nathan gives his initial assent, he is given a dream by God to tell David that David will not build him a temple instead God will establish a new house, the house of David. God will legitimate David by providing for a lasting succession, God creates a covenant with David that will last throughout the history of David's line.
This gracious act, prompts David to prayer in which we compares his own insignificance with God's glory. However, he does tell God he will hold God to his promise.
1 Corinthians 4
Paul's argument in the 4th chapter basically equates to "I don't listen to criticism from the cheap seats." Paul could care less what the Corinthians think about him, he does not work for them. Paul is a servant of God, he is a steward of God's message and he will be only judged by God. The Corinthians can criticize all they want, Paul will remain true to his calling and proclaim the message given to him by Christ.
Having cleared up the reality that Paul does not really care about the criticism leveled against him, he now chooses to level his own criticism. It would seem that when Paul speaks of Apollos, he is speaking in a way that the two of them are harmonious, there is no dissension there and therefore any dissension in Corinth cannot be based upon a pro-Paul crowd versus pro-Apollos crowd. No the real issue in Corinth is the over inflated egos of the church; the Corinthians are puffing themselves up as if they are possessors of wisdom and knowledge, when in fact, what they have is a gift from God.
Paul challenges the Corinthians to live like "us", to be servants and not some self-righteous buffoons who look down upon the "simple." How can they boast, they do not possess anything to boast about, the knowledge they have been given is a gift from God. Paul sarcastically speaks of Corinthians as kings, and wishes he was one too! The Corinthians are mixing the Gospel message with other Greek philosophy to elevate themselves but that is not the Gospel message. Believers are called to be servants, just as Jesus was a servant.
Paul contrasts his work as an apostle with the Corinthians self-understanding. The Corinthians see themselves as kings but Paul and the apostles suffer for their faith. Paul points out that to follow Christ is be scorned as Christ was scorned, to be hated like Christ was hated.
Paul then quickly shifts tone, from admonition to a fatherly embrace of his children. Like father disciplining his children, Paul is disciplining his. As children should emulate their parents, so the Corinthians should emulate their father. This is a new community, potentially more Gentile than Jew, they are learning as they go but they need role models, they need examples. Paul holds himself out as the example.
Of course, in the same way that a mother might threaten the children, "Just wait til your father gets home", Paul closes this chapter with a warning to boasters, "I am coming home, you better shape up."
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