2 Samuel 6:19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.
How do we know when blessing arrives in our life? What does it look like for you? Is it about the quantity and quality of possessions? Is it about the quality of your relationships? The size of your investment portfolio? The cruises you take and the destinations to which you have traveled? How do you measure blessing?
What is a blessing? I guess that is a more fundamental question, isn’t it! Some people seemingly have many, and some have few. Or do they?
From my perspective, a blessing is something positive and needed given to another just to have a positive effect in that person’s life. It can be anyone giving anything anyone else, as long as it lifts up rather than drags down. But sometimes blessings have an even greater meaning.
Our text is one example of just such a blessing. The story is this. David has become king. He has defeated his enemies and brought peace to the territory. And David recognizes that all this victories and his rise to the position he holds is not because of his worth, but because the LORD is blessing him and his actions.
In the consolidation of his rule, David chooses Jerusalem to be his capital city. The people join in with this endeavor. But a misstep by the team moving the Ark causes a pause in the move. Instead of moving the Ark by carrying it themselves, the moving company puts the Ark on oxen. This simple instruction should have been known and followed. It was part of the basic instructions given the moving company, also known as Levites.
So as the cart is being improperly handled, the oxen takes a misstep and the cart tips causing the Ark itself to become unsteady. One of the moving company personnel reaches out and steadies the Ark, a good thing, but a mishap caused by their non-adherence to the moving contract.
Imagine moving nuclear fuel rods in the back of a pickup truck through rush hour traffic in a major city. Could anything go wrong!?! It was spelled out clearly that the nuclear fuel rods had to be transported in specific vehicles with a safety protocol in place. Pickup trucks were not part of the prescribed plan.
But now the Ark stays put because of fear. But the blessing that surrounds the localized symbol of the LORD’s presence among His people lands on the spot and the people around the Ark as it pauses on its journey. Imagine that! Blessing breaks out and people unknowingly receive the blessing.
Finally, after a full review of the safety protocols and a briefing of the moving team, and perhaps some full dress rehearsals, the Ark is moved again to Jerusalem. And how does David celebrate that moment, other than dancing in an “undignified” manner?
David turns around and blesses all the people. This is what our text is telling us about. Look at the verse for a moment. These foods that are passed along to the people are the abundance of the Land the LORD had promised. They are the fruit of a new Garden, like the garden plot in Eden.
With David setting up residence the LORD passes along a blessing to David and he in turn passes along that blessing to all the people. David could have hoarded the blessing, but he passes it along.
I think we need a little more passing along, don’t you! Blessings from the LORD were not meant to be stored up, but to be distributed, so that all can experience the blessing of the LORD. And the nations will come and they will also be blessed.
The Arnold Journey 