Reading: I Chronicles 14 – 16
And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto Him for ever. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord unto his place, which he had prepared for it (I Chr. 15:1-3).
During the forty years that Saul reigned over Israel, the Ark was ignored. Perhaps Saul remembered the disaster that befell Israel when she had tried to use the Ark as a shield in battle (I Sam. 4), or perhaps he just wasn’t that concerned with something that glorified God but did not enhance his own power. But whatever the reason, Saul never attempted to retrieve the Ark from the private residence in which it had been sheltered since being returned by the Philistines (I Sam. 7:1). When David assumed the throne, he was determined that the Ark above which God's presence dwelt (Ex. 25:22) have a central place in his kingdom. And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul (I Chr. 13:3).
David’s first attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem ended in disaster. He had proudly ordered it to be loaded onto a new cart drawn by oxen be transported to his capital city. Celebration quickly turned into mourning when Uzzah reached out to steady the tilting Ark on the cart and was struck dead (II Sam. 6:1-8). It wasn’t until after Uzzah’s tragic death that David took the time to research proper handling of the ark and learned that his orders were in violation of the Law of God (Ex. 25:13-15; Num. 4:15; 7:9).
For his second attempt, David made certain that all who would be involved in the transfer understood their God-appointed duties. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen. This time, David had thoroughly familiarized himself with God’s Word before instructing his people. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord (I Chr. 15:15). Safely, in accordance with the directives of God, the Ark was moved without incident into Jerusalem.
The arrival of the Ark in the city of Jerusalem was a cause for great celebration. Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord (16:7-10). And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod (II Sam. 6:14). David was not singing and dancing in joy and pride at his personal accomplishment; David was celebrating the wondrous, all-encompassing presence of God!
God's work must be done in His way, according to His will, if He is to be glorified. It is only as we serve the Lord according to His Word that we enjoy His presence and receive His blessing.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire (Heb.12:28-29).
Thought for Today: To stumble in the service of God is to forget to ask Him the direction in which we should move.
Christ Revealed: Through David’s fame and exaltation (I Chr. 14:17). God highly exalted Christ, our Redeemer, and gave Him a Name which is above every name (Phil. 2:9-11).
Word Studies:14:13 spread themselves abroad = made a raid, invaded.
Pray for Staff: Judy McCrary • Government Officials: Rep.Dwight Evans (PA), Rep. Lois Frankl (FL);• Country: Mozambique (24,096,669) Eastern Coast of Africa • Major Languages: Emakhuwa, Portuguese, Xichangana • Religious Freedom • 28.4% Catholic; 27.7% Protestant; 18% Muslim; 18.7% None; 7.2% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray in faith that God will bless your family (Gen. 17:18-20). .
Optional reading I Corinthians 3.