MACEDONIA AME CHURCH - July 16, 2006 Scripture

The Scripture Reading(s)

The Old Testament Psalms Gospel Epistles
2 Samuel 11:1-15 Psalm 14 John 6:35-40 Ephesians 3:14-21
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2 Samuel 6: David Brings the Ark of God to Jerusalem

Doing the Right thing the Wrong Way

1  Then David mobilized thirty thousand special troops. 2 He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring home the Ark of God, which bears the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. 3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the hillside home of Abinadab. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart 4 with the Ark of God on it, with Ahio walking in front. 5 David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.

The Death of Uzzah

6 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark of God. 7 Then the LORD’S anger blazed out against Uzzah for doing this, and God struck him dead beside the Ark of God. 8 David was angry because the LORD’S anger had blazed out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “outbreak against Uzzah”). It is still called that today.

David Is Afraid of the LORD

9 David was now afraid of the LORD and asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the LORD back into my care?” 10 So David decided not to move the Ark of the LORD into the City of David. He took it instead to the home of Obed-edom of Gath. 11 The Ark of the LORD remained there with the family of Obed-edom for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.

The LORD Blesses Obed-edom's Home

12 Then King David was told, “The LORD has blessed Obed-edom’s home and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark to the City of David with a great celebration. 13 After the men who were carrying it had gone six steps, they stopped and waited so David could sacrifice an ox and a fattened calf. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly tunic. 15 So David and all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with much shouting and blowing of trumpets.

Michal’s Contempt for David

16 But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him.

David Blesses all the People in the name of the LORD Almighty

17 The Ark of the LORD was placed inside the special tent that David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. 18 When he had finished, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. 19 Then he gave a gift of food to every man and woman in Israel: a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then everyone went home.

20 When David returned home to bless his family, Michal came out to meet him and said in disgust, “How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the servant girls like any indecent person might do!”

David Rejects Michal as Wife

21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD. So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the LORD. 22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, but I will be held in honor by the girls of whom you have spoken!” 23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her life.

 

Numbers 7:9 - Hands OFF says the LORD

But he (Moses) gave none of the carts or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.

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Psalm 24

Mark 6:14-29

1   The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it.
    The world and all its people belong to him.

2   For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
    and built it on the ocean depths.

3   Who may climb the mountain of the LORD?
    Who may stand in his holy place?

4   Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
    who do not worship idols
    and never tell lies.

5   They will receive the LORD’S blessing
    and have right standing with God their savior.

6   They alone may enter God’s presence
    and worship the God of Israel.

Interlude

7   Open up, ancient gates!
    Open up, ancient doors,
    and let the King of glory enter.

8   Who is the King of glory?
    The LORD, strong and mighty,
    the LORD, invincible in battle.

9   Open up, ancient gates!
    Open up, ancient doors,
    and let the King of glory enter.

10  Who is the King of glory?
    The LORD Almighty—
    he is the King of glory.

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Ephesians 1:3-14 - Spiritual Blessings

Mark 6:14-29

3 How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. 4 Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.

6 So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

9 God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. 10 And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,£ for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. 12 God’s purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God. 13 And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.

Mark 6:14-29

14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because people everywhere were talking about him. Some were saying,  “This must be John the Baptist come back to life again. That is why he can do such miracles.” 15 Others thought Jesus was the ancient prophet Elijah. Still others thought he was a prophet like the other great prophets of the past. 16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.” 17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias (his wife). She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. 18 John kept telling Herod, “It is illegal for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias was enraged and wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless. 20 And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

21 Herodias’s chance finally came. It was Herod’s birthday, and he gave a party for his palace aides, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased them all. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” 23 Then he promised, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half of my kingdom!”

24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”

Her mother told her, “Ask for John the Baptist’s head!”

25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”

26 Then the king was very sorry, but he was embarrassed to break his oath in front of his guests. 27 So he sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came for his body and buried it in a tomb.