10/8 Sermon on David, Part 4

At The Family Church here in Gainesville, senior pastor Philip Griffin continued his study of the important Old Testament figure of David, king of Israel.  Sunday's message was titled Desiring God's Presence and inferred from David's attitude and experiences how we in our present age can desire and experience God's presence as well.  The scripture of focus was 2 Samuel Chapter 6...you can read it in the New International Version through the following link to Bible Gateway: [link]...

The passage in the scripture refers to the returning of the Ark of the Covenant, from which God would speak to his people, to Jerusalem after David has become king of Israel.  Pastor Philip noted that God's own instructions for handling and transporting the Ark, clearly laid out in scripture, were violated as non-Levites moved it on an oxcart...in the same way that the unbelieving Philistines did.  One of the men transporting it reached out to prevent it from touching the ground...and was instantly smitten with death.  Some have issues with this passage, implying that God is cruel and vindictive...but is he that way, or instead, like the lion Aslan in C.S. Lewis's Narnia series, good but dangerous.  Philip pointed this out and then read on as to how David, seeing the error of what he had done, repented and had the Ark carried in the proper manner into Jerusalem.  And he openly rejoiced and danced, unashamed before all about his love for God...

In discussing the presence of God and how one desiring that presence can achieve it, Pastor Philip emphasized that while God is omnipresent, being in a covenant relationship with him requires his grace...and overcoming the problem of sin, which separates us from God.  Through Christ and our repentance God can work his grace in our lives and make his presence known to us...and we may rejoice as well...

This sermon can be viewed through the church's YouTube video website...here's a link to it: [link].  The Family Church holds its Sunday morning services...with the weekly message, praise music, prayer, and fellowship...at 9:30 and 11.  There is also a hospitality room next to the lobby where coffee is available...