If you are following The Plan, you should be reading through sections of 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and numerous Psalms.

Just to set the stage:  David is King.  He has established his capital in Jerusalem. 

David fights the Philistines (again) and defeats them.  This is interesting because this is the first record of David going to battle as King.  David seeks God's guidance before doing so - So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”.  David sets the standard here - but as we read through the accounts of subsequent Kings, we will see that not all of them follow this example and we can all guess how things will go for them.

BTW, there is an interesting angle on this battle here - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1612&article=2299. 

The principle action in this section is around the Ark of the Covenant and David bringing the Ark to Jerusalem.   A few notes:

• When they first started moving the Ark, they put it on a cart.  This may be OK if you are a Philistine, but God had been pretty specific about the Ark to His people.  So when Uzzah touches it, "the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God."
• Then David rethinks things a bit.  He enlists the Levite's, has them sanctify themselves, and Levite's bear the Ark on their shoulders, just like the old days.  Remember that God gave specific instructions for moving the Ark.  From Numbers 4 - "And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die."  And David ensures that the priests blow the Trumpets.
• "So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD."

Of course, not everyone is happy about this.  We read about Michal, Saul's daughter, watching David dancing and "whirling" and playing music - "...and she despised him in her heart."  Like father like daughter. 

David responds appropriately - "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

Good messages in this story.  First, God is serious about what is required to be in his presence.   Just ask Uzzah.  He had the best of intentions, no doubt.  But the Israelites forgot God’s commands about the Ark – and remember that the Ark is where God would be present with His people.   Serious stuff.

Luckily for us we have this miraculous event.  But we should all remember this story when we hear the popular claim that there are many paths to God.    Jesus said (to paraphrase), I am the way and the truth and the light, no one comes to my Father except through me.   God is serious about what is required to be in his presence - then and now.   So share the story of His amazing sacrifice and love with someone - today.   Or they may end up as Uzzah.  Good intentioned, but dead nonetheless.

Second, David is not ashamed to be swept up in joy - dancing and making music before the Lord.  We shouldn't be ashamed either. 

Blessings.

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Pray.