To Study: 2
Samuel 6:1-12, Numbers 4:6 and 15, 1 Chronicles 15:1-29, 16:1-43.
To Read in class: 2 Samuel 6:1-12, 1 Chronicles 15:11-15.
Memory Texts:
Younger: Psalm 93:5 "Holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever."
Older: Psalm 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek
after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to
behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."
OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. It is important to be reverent and respectful towards God.
2. Good intentions are not enough when responding to God’s commandments.
3. The individual that obeys God will know His will and will not walk in
darkness.
4. Those who are truly reverent toward God will always have His blessing.
5. The greater our knowledge, the greater our responsibility toward God.
SCENE 1. Blank. VISUAL AIDS. Figures of
the tabernacle, the ark, and the high priest to present a review of their
meaning. Add signs that say “The Holiness of the Ark” and some of the
qualities that characterized the tabernacle, such as “A costly structure,”
“Dwelling Place of God”, with a “Separate Most Holy Place and Access
permitted only once a year to the high priest”.
DEVELOPMENT:
Note: During the time the Israelites were taking possession of the land of
Canaan, the ark remained in the tabernacle in Gilgal. Later it was taken to
Shiloh and was there during the time of Eli, some three or four hundred
years later (Jeremiah 7:12). From Shiloh it was taken to the battlefield,
where the Philistines captured it (1 Samuel 4:3-11). It remained with them
for seven months before being returned (1 Samuel 5:7-8).
- God had commanded that the “ark of the covenant” be left permanently in
the Most Holy Place,
seen only by the High Priest once a year.
- When Moses, Aaron and Joshua were alive, the ark was treated with
reverence.
- Between the death of Joshua and the time of Eli, little is known about how
much care the Israelites had for the tabernacle, but during this period God
looked after the ark.
- Eli did not exercise discipline on his sons Hophni and Phineas, and their
behaviour was
reprehensible.
- Samuel was still serving in the tabernacle at this time.
- These two priests, sons of Eli, were in charge of the ark when it fell
into the hands of the Philistines.
- When it was returned to Israel, the people of Beth-shemesh looked inside
the ark, and many died for intruding into what was sacred and separated to
God.
- God had warned the people that death could result if the ark were not
transported according to
His orders (Numbers 4:15).
- When it was left at Kirjath-jearim (1 Samuel 7:1-2), no one died, for they
kept the ark in a way that was pleasing to God.
Cns. The ark is a type of Christ in whose presence we must be reverent.
Apl. Stress to the students what it means to have respect and reverence in
the presence of God. To call God by any other name than the correct one, God
the Father, is not right.
Exm. To use slang or worldly expressions for God such as “the man upstairs”
or “the boss”
dishonours God. God should be glorified in the names we use to refer to Him.
SCENE 2. (E-12) VISUAL AIDS. On a road
near the threshing floor of Nachon, figures of groups of people with the ark
on a cart pulled by oxen, and the figure of Uzzah lying dead beside it.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Almost 100 years after the Philistines returned the ark, David had it
taken out of the house of
Abinadab where it had been since its return.
- An occasion of great rejoicing was soon changed into sadness, for in spite
of David’s good
intentions, he committed an error.
- Instead of looking into the Scriptures to learn the right way to transport
the ark, David followed the
most recent example, that of the Philistines, of putting it on a cart.
- His good intentions were seen in that it was a new cart.
Apl. Good intentions are not good enough when they go against what God
commands.
- While the Israelites were moving the ark, something occurred that had not
happened when the
Philistines used a cart pulled by animals: the oxen stumbled.
- Seeing the animals stumble, Uzzah put forth his hand to steady the ark of
God and the anger of the Lord flared against him (2 Samuel 6:6-7).
- God struck Uzzah dead right there on account of his imprudent act.
Cmt. What the Philistines could do without punishment was not permitted to
the people of God.
They had greater knowledge and thus had greater responsibility.
- When David saw what happened, he was afraid to continue with the ark and
take it to his city. For this reason he ordered that it be taken into the
house of Obed-Edom, a Levite.
- Obed-Edom welcomed it and God blessed his house and all that he had, for
he knew how to give
proper reverence to this sacred object.
Cns. God always honours those that honour Him and obeys His word, showing
respect towards Him (1 Samuel 2:30).
Cmt. God’s blessing on Obed-Edom’s house shows that it is worthwhile to fear
God and that which
represents Him in the nation.
SCENE 3. (F-5) VISUAL AIDS. Entrance of
the city of David. Figures of groups of people together with David
celebrating the arrival of the ark being carried on the shoulders of the
priests.
DEVELOPMENT:
- When he consulted God and looked into the Law of Moses, David came to
realize what his mistake had been.
- David had prepared a special place for the ark.
Sug. Use this point to emphasize to the students the need to give to the
Lord Jesus the place that He deserves in their lives.
- David commanded the Levites to consecrate themselves in order to bring up
the ark of the Lord.
Consecration required a cleansing of the body on the outside and of the soul
on the inside.
- They brought up the ark on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in
accordance with the will of God.
- There was much singing and rejoicing as the ark arrived in Jerusalem.
Cns. Doing God’s will creates joy in the heart of the person who is
honouring Him.
SCENE 4. Blank. VISUAL AIDS. Figures of
persons obeying the will of God and of others who are not. Also, the figure
of a youth walking in darkness, and a figure of another youth walking
without difficulty with a flashlight in his hand.
DEVELOPMENT:
Evidences seen in those who do not recognize the holiness of God:
1) Little reverence for God.
2) Boredom when the Word of God is read.
3) Arguing and fighting instead of paying attention to a Bible
topic.
4) One who spoils the class by distracting other pupils and (see
#5)
5) One who does not know what is God’s will for his life, walks in
darkness and stumbles.
In those that respect what the Word of God says, the evidence is seen in
that:
1) They seek God in prayer.
2) They respond to the will and direction of God and
3) They walk in the light, without stumbling.
Cns. The Bible stresses the importance of obeying the things that are
written in it, for they “are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through
his name” (John 20:30-31). |
