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There are lots of interesting things going on in this passage.  David reigned “forty years in all” 2 Samuel 5:4.  The number 40 has connections with the idea of completeness: the earth was completely destroyed after 40 days of rain, a complete generation died off as the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, Moses fasted for 40 days (later Jesus would fast for 40 days).  I do not think that it would be out of line to think that the author is suggesting that David had a full and complete reign as King.

Above I also quoted 2 Samuel 5:12.  I would be interested to find out exactly who the pronouns in the quote are referring to.  Is it saying, “And David realized that the Lord had made David King over Israel and had made David’s Kingdom great for the sake of the Lord’s people” or “and had made the Lord’s Kingdom great for the sake of the Lord’s people” or “and had made David’s kingdom great for the sake of David’s people”?  Regardless, I think it points out that often God does not bless us for our sake but rather for the sake of the people we are to minister to and care for.  I take far too much credit for the things God is doing.

Finally, the story of Uzzah has always fascinated me.  The Ark was falling off it’s cart and Uzzah reaches out to balance it; for this act God kills him.  I’ve heard and read many explanations of why Uzzah was killed, the text does not give an explicit reason.  The text does say that “David was angry because the Lord’s anger had blazed out against Uzzah.”  The text does not say (as I have heard many preachers preach) that David was angry with God, rather David was angry at what had happened and because of his anger the Ark was not brought into David’s city Jerusalem.

I think it is significant that David had consulted with God before each of his battles against the Philistines and God had granted overwhelming victory.  However, before moving God’s resting place on earth, the Ark, there is no mention of consulting God, rather David consulted his generals.  I think it would be reading too much into the text to say that David was angry because he realized that he had messed up by moving the Ark, but that is where I tend to go.

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