48 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown
48 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown
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title = "1 Chronicles 13:1–14"
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date = "2024-01-15"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1Chronicles13.1-14)
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Having gained the support of the people, the next major thing we are told David does as king is to bring the ark of the covanent to Jerusalem.
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He doesn't make the decision as an autocrat or dictator, but asks the opinion of the leaders of the soldiers and civilians.
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Crucially, it is not merely a popular opinion that he is after, but also whether they agree with him that the plan has come from the Lord.
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David understood that men may make whatever plans they wish, but if the Lord does not ordain success then it will not happen.
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That makes it strange, then, that they don't handle the ark with the reverence that God and prescribed for it when they do move it.
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All of Israel is gathered together for the celebration of bringing the ark of Yahweh to be amidst the people.
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To clarify some history, the ark had previously been taken into battle so that the Lord would bless the Israelites and give them victory.
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However, they weren't faithful to the Lord and only saw the ark as a magical talisman, so it was captured by the Philistines.
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The Philistines took the ark to the temple of Dagon as a trophy, but the Lord kept toppling the idol and breaking it, eventually causing a plague of tumors to break out before the Philistines realized they needed to return the ark to the Israelites.
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That is how it ended up in Kiriath-jearim in Judah.
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This happened while Samuel was still a boy, so Saul hadn't become king of Israel yet, but King Saul and the rest of Israel never tried to recover the ark and treat it properly.
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David makes an attempt, though, and all of Israel joins the procession that brings the ark from the house of Abinidab.
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There is singing, dancing, and much rejoicing along the way, which is entirely appropriate because this is a good thing that they are doing for the Lord.
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They transport it on a cart drawn by oxen, and Uzzah and Ahio are in charge of keeping them on the right path.
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At the threshing floor of Chidon, though, one of the oxen stumbles and the cart tips, threatening to dump the ark to the ground.
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Uzzah, probably without even thinking about it, puts his hand out to steady the ark to keep it from falling, and the Lord strikes him dead.
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That seems rather harsh, doesn't it?
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It only seems that way because we do not have a correct view of how very, very holy God is.
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Should the ark have touched the ground?
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No.
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But the ark is not supposed to be put on a cart, whether oxen pull it or not.
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Instead, it should be put on poles and carried by four Levites, as described in the Law of Moses.
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The ark is not just a fancy box that holds Aaron's budded staff, the golden urn of manna, and the tablets of the Law.
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The ark is the earthly throne of Almighty God who sits beneath the shelter of the wings of the cherubim.
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The Most Holy Place was God's throne room.
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The ark wasn't precious cargo to be carted around.
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It was a royal palanquin.
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Uzzah died because God's throne was not given the proper reverence, as a warning to all the people that the Lord does not mess around.
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David was angry, and it's natural to think he was angry at the Lord, but the text doesn't say who he was angry at.
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The text does say hewas afraid of the Lord, which makes sense.
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Sinners in danger of judgement should be in fear of the Righteous Judge.
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We can speculate about the rest of his thoughts and motivations, but we can hope he heeded the warning of the Lord and gave the ark to the care of Obed-edom who did show the ark of the Lord the proper reverence.
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* * *
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We are all wretched sinners who cannot stand in the light of Your holiness. Your mercy is unwarranted.
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