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May 4th
The Bible reading for today is in 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23 and 1 Chronicles 13-16.
Question: What do we see God doing today?
A little history first...King David took back Jerusalem from the Jebusites for Israel’s new capital. Our Bible reading recently told us what “GOD did...” “GOD gave David” the city.”
Then the King of Tyre built David a palace to rule from, there in Jerusalem. “GOD gave David” favor among foreign kings.”
Then David planned to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. “GOD gave David” knowledge early on to delight in Him. “GOD gave David” a promise that He would give him the desires of his heart. “GOD” was indeed at work!
For years, the worship of God languished under the kingship of Saul. Our Bible said that...“GOD gave Israel” into the hands of the Philistines...and the ark of the covenant was lost to Israel...“GOD gave the ark” to the Philistines. Then the Philistines gave it back... because “GOD judged them” sorely.
“GOD gave the house of Abinadab” the ark as a stewardship.
“GOD set apart” Eleazar to guard the ark as long as it was in Keriath Jearim.
God was indeed at work!
Twenty years later...David, after consulting with all the leaders in Israel, decides to gather all the people of Israel to Keriath Jearim to escort the Ark to Jerusalem. And it seemed good in the eyes of all the people. There were instruments playing. There were thousands of people singing and praising God. The congregation was excited about being in the presence of God. They were going to worship God all the way to Jerusalem. Ten miles through the highlands to the great city of David.
But not long into the journey of celebration, the music and the singing and dancing stopped. “GOD took Uzzah’s life.” WHY? Was it because Uzzah reached out to steady the ark on the shaken cart...touching the sacred box with his hand? That was certainly part of it.
But there was a bigger reason...a reason that God revealed to David later...and to the apostle Paul much later in the book of Hebrews. Yes, Uzzah died on the road to Jerusalem for irreverently treating the ark of God. But Uzzah also died in David’s place...sounds like the gospel of Jesus.
It was a new cart, pulled by oxen, upon which the ark was being transported to Jerusalem. Surely God would notice and be pleased. It wasn't just any old cart that was convenient, nearby. This was a brand new one that would certainly honor the God of the ark of promise.
Thinking out loud...the Ark of God... close to the “cart” of His covenant people that day. God wanted it close to the “heart” of His covenant people protecting them from going astray.
David and the leaders around him just wanted God to be at the center of Israel’s life. Some would say they retrieved a wooden box with gold on it and planned a great production for a great crowd. But Thinking out loud ...God perceived a wooden cross with Jesus’ bloody body on it and planned to forgive every sinner who believed.
David just wanted the nation to worship God again. He just wanted God to show up for the nation’s sake. And “GOD did show up...” just differently than David envisioned it.
Instead of happy and joyful hearts, shock, sorrow, and sadness prevailed. David was angry...What just happened? This isn't the way it was supposed to play out. David was confused. Until...he went back to the word of God found in the parchments of Moses.
Only Levites from the house of Kohath were to transport the ark...not Abinidab’s family. David’s fault...David’s sin. Only with the poles laid upon the shoulders of the Kohathites, was the ark to be moved...walking...never riding...David’s fault...David’s sin.
And never to be directly seen or touched by anyone, except the High Priest, in the tent or out. David's fault again. David's sin again.
David earned death by his irreverence to God that day. But he received grace and mercy. GOD gave David life that day...and God gave a nation great grace to worship Him for the generations to come.
Sounds just like Jesus. Who gave me eternal life one day...and gave my family great grace for generations to follow!
Have a great day
