John, very quickly as I just can't repost the whole study here. I am almost reticent to put it here, since I take it from the Untermyers Children's Bible Study book of l939, a most amazing work, I must say. Keeps my rapt attention. If it is not true, someone must blame Mrs. Untermyer, who now probably is dead. Like I said, I haven't had a chance to run this through scripture like a criminal lawyer with evidence.
The early life of Davis we all know. Great guy. Very holy kid. Then he became king. I had just never read it before, and the verses from the Bible should be read to be sure there is no deception or error in this telling of the life of David. First of all the life of David is told by/through Samuel, the prophet. And a lot of it is recorded in the Book of Samuel. That's interesting, but probably only to me. The book of kings starts when David is old and his life has been a rich mess for a long time. But the book of David and God is shown through DAVID's DEALINGS WITH SAMUEL. That's interesting.
There is a lot of talk in current Christianity that the rawkus church behavior and the carnal rock bands and jazz bands and bongos and
other strange things are somehow all laid at David's feet. Whenever these things are questioned, people demand: DO YOU QUESTION DAVID, WHO GOD LOVED, DANCING NAKED BEFORE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT! Then person after person has stared at me with that judgmental look, and usually at that point I just give up the conversation because it is going nowhere. So, DAvid dancing naked before the ark, presumable to a rock band of the time as our understanding of it goes, shows that God is really a rawkus party-er, and the holy crowd is outdated, and basically David dancing naked before the Ark is where it's really at. This has been my stunned and uncomprehending interpretation.
So I start reading this study, verse after verse, I believe. I start in at the time after DAvid is King, and Isreal is the mightiest kingdom in the world. IN THE WORLD all of a sudden. Because of DAvid and his reliance on God. And they had the Ark of the Covenant--the Presence of God--THE HOLY SPIRIT SUBSTITUTE OF THAT ANCIENT TIME.
First of all the Ark was in a place where it was very blessed and the people around it were blessed and prospered. Then David goes to move it with some people and a man touches the Ark and dies on the spot.
The Bible then tells the story like this. David was scared at that, and left the Ark somewhere at a little farm like place and returned to the big city to be king. He was neither good nor bad during this time, but no longer the holy boy who slayed Goliath either. Now he's a very rich handsome king with a million women.
So "word comes to David" that the little priest in the middle of nowhere in the little farm place David decided the Ark should stay "because David was afraid of it" --David hears that man and the surrounding area have been greatly blessed because of the Ark.
NOW David decides to go get the Ark. Comes into town with it and strips not naked, but down to like an indian's breechcloth and dances all the way to the temple "joyously and madly dancing before the Ark" I believe. Dressed the Bible says in a little ephod. Close to that. Not terribly holy, but I mean we are having a good time bringing this Ark back to the main city. Why? Because David was jealous of how much prosperity surrounded it, according to scripture, and this overcame his fear since the sudden death of the guy who touched it. Why this poor guy died for touching the Ark and ttrying to keep it from falling over, I don't know, but I'll bet the reason is there if you look hard enough. Maybe he was just purely sinful behind the doors. Who knows. But David goes to get the Ark "because he heart so-and-so was greatly propering because of the presence of the Ark".
David has many women in his life and one of the main ones comes to him and berates him for "stripping" in public and accuses him of doing so to show off in front of the women watching him. (not really a holy situation either, come to think of it.) Obviously she was very jealous, and felt that David should have kept more clothes on. We do know that David was very easy on the eyes, and this is all quite normal behavior for women or men.
It says that David says harsh things to her, and this woman never bore a child.
Now, that sounds like a curse from God, doesn't it? Except that this was one of David's women, and apparently all the Bible says is that he probably he stayed mad at her for life and didn't sleep with her again, nor did she cheat on David, and this woman never had children. That is a long way from a curse from God and by God because she perceived that David was letting the women of the town get a good look at him. That was what she accused him of. Showing himself off to the women.
I did not read this old interpretation of the scriptures and what the Bible was really saying by laying it side by side with scripture. I felt that the study was the exact recreation of the history of David, and the truths were utterly amazing, and far from anything I had been taught or seen myself. I don't think she was leaving anything out, and if not, it is even more amazing that this has rarely been seen clearly.
Very soon after this, DAvid lusted after Bathseba and his life collapsed around him, except that he was still rich. As the Bible records, David did receive forgiveness for adultery, murder, lust and I'm glad we don't know what else, but that his days were filled "with blood" until he died. Although, as with all wretched sinners, we know that God always forgives us and takes us back.
But even if other things are buried in there, this is an amazing story.
I believe we have all missed almost 98% of the reason it is there.
I just wanted to put it here just in case it would mean anything to anyone. I do not see it as a blanket endorsement of carnal activity in church because "David did". Au contraire. Au contraire. Actually I see so much in this it's hard to believe. I just wonder what others see if they actually read it.
Nor does it take away from David, whom God dearly loved, and visa versa. But I believe it puts David worship in balance. "There is none good but my Father". (Jesus Christ, ad 33)
I will try to lay this interpretation side by side with the scriptures, but this is what I remember and I want to put it out as I said I would. David has been on my mind for a long time, and why David would be on my mind I can't possibly explain other than the fact that there are more lessons in David's life than we have understood.
Anyway, that's the Bible study I have been looking at with great amazement of the fact versus the perception we have been given of it, or I have been given of it. I believe it is a strong lesson in sin destroying slowly, and starting with small breeches in the spiritual
fabric, maybe. Whatever it is, it seems quite profound. |
