This is the summary of a Bible Study that I gave to a group of friends on Sept. 29, 2007. Dunno why I never posted it up here… had it on Facebook though.
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King David is about to die, and so he calls his son, Solomon, who is the heir to the throne in for a final man-to-man talk. Obviously what he is about to say is very important as they are his last words, as a dying man to his son. David says: “I am going the way of all the earth Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses” (1 Kings 2:2-3)
David chose these words carefully, reflecting on an event in which David saw the perils of not following exactly what God has commanded. While moving the ark, after defeating the Philistines, David made the wrong choise, decided to move the ark without first consulting the law regarding the proper procedures for moving the ark. As a result instead of the 6 Levites (Priests) who were supposed to move the Ark, David had the ark moved using a new cart and an ox. Unfortunately, the ox stumbled and the ark almost fell from the cart, so Uzzah stretched out his hand to steady it.
But, being impure, God could not possibly stand the touch of Uzzah on his most holy ark, and so God struck Uzzah dead. David, fearful of God, leaves the ark in the house of Obed-edom for three months, during which time God blessed his household.
David, seeing this decided to move the ark again, but this time consulted the law before doing so. He realized the error of his ways and this time moved the ark properly, causing much celebration in Israel.
We must note that there was nothing inherently wrong with how David decided to move the Ark the first time. It was not like he was trying to cut corners. The passage specifically says that they used a *new* cart, possibly meaning a well built cart to move the ark, and also an ox to pull the cart. There was nothing wrong with their attitude in moving it, their error was in oversight. They did not first check the Law of Moses to find out how exactly they were to move the ark. By extension, they did not realize the holiness of the LORD, which is why Uzzah died.
With this in mind, David charges Solomon to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses (2 Kings 2:3). Realizing that there is absolutely no excuse in not following the law of God. But further, he actually connects this to being a man, and being strong. The only way to be a man, and to be strong is to follow the law of God.
So what does this mean for us today? In a reading of the Law of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy, specifically Leviticus), we realized that God is extremely detailed in what he expects of his people. In reading the Gospels, we also realize that the expectations of the law go far beyong just phyisical actions (Matthew 5)… If you have looked at a woman lustfully, you have already commited adultery. If you have looked at a brother with hatred, you have already committed murder.
We realize that the Law is actually quite impossible. Except for this… Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in he likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Wow how amazing is that? God, through Jesus Christ, has given us the mechanism to fulfill His law, and thus to be truly men. It is through Jesus, who did not let the smallest stroke of the law pass without being fulfilled, that we are truly men. It does not matter how well intentioned we are, guys, or how “good” our actions are. We do not have in and of ourselvesd to fulfil the demands of a holy and righteous God. We need help. We all need Jesus.