PM May 15th 1 Chronicles 13

May 15^th 1 Chronicles 13

David brings the ark home

1: And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 2: And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: 3: And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul. 4: And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5: So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim. 6: And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. 7: And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. 8: And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. 9: And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10: And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. 11: And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day. 12: And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? 13: So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14: And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.

1 Chronicles 14 David prospers

1: Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house. 2: And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel. 3: And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters. 4: Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 5: And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet, 6: And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 7: And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

David defeats the Philistines

8: And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them. 9: And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 10: And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand. 11: So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 12: And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire. 13: And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14: Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 15: And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. 16: David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. 17: And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

1 Chronicles 15 David takes the ark to Jerusalem

1: 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. 2: 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. 3: 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. 4: And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites: 5: Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty: 6: Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty: 7: Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty: 8: Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred: 9: Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore: 10: Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve. 11: And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, 12: And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. 13: For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. 14: So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15: 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. 16: And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. 17: So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18: And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters. 19: So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass; 20: And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth; 21: And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel. 22: And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful. 23: And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. 24: And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark. 25: So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26: And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. 27: And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. 28: Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. 29: And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.

Today we read of David’s reforms. He brings the Ark of the Covenant home and the Lord prospers him for doing it. Then we read of the first victory over the Philistines, the first of many. And then we read that David takes the ark to Jerusalem. David didn’t rule with an autocratic style he consulted with the leaders to make the suggestion that they bring the ark back to its rightful place. It was agreed so the people gathered to go and bring back the Ark of the Covenant. They put it on a new cart but alas the ark was supposed to be carried and on the journey the cart shuddered and the ark slipped and a man put out his hand to prevent it from slipping and the Lord slew him. The Lord needs no one to look after the ark and it is a fearful thing to touch that which is holy. The fear of the Lord came down upon David that day. David being afraid took the ark into the house of Obed-edom and this dreaded box came into a house of little children. Will they go a touch the ark too? The Lord blessed that little home during the 3 months in which the ark was there. When Christ is brought into a home instead of it bringing fear there comes a calm and the blessing of God. The kings of the nations wished to help David in gathering materials for the building of the temple of the Lord. As soon as David was anointed king the Philistines declared war. David didn’t run he went to meet them in the name of the Lord. And when he arrived at the battle site he went into the presence of the Lord for guidance. This is where David is coming out as a great king. David having been assured of victory went to battle and there was a great victory and they burnt all the idols of the Philistines. So the Philistines came against him again and again he sought the Lord. The Lord told him to go and defeat them again. But not in the open plain but to skirt around and when he heard the sound of birds in the mulberry tree then he was to attack. This proved to be another great victory. Next David built houses for himself and he prepared a place for the ark and the tabernacle. Then David gave instructions that only the Levites were to carry and move the ark. David being the man of worship that he was he appointed choirs to sing to the Lord and he appointed Heman as choir master. When the ark was brought out of the house of Obed-edom there was a great deal of singing and rejoicing before the Lord it was a time of great joy. However David’s first wife Michal saw David rejoicing and despised him for it. Sometimes worship is not appreciated by those whose hearts are cold.

• What is the significance of the ark being brought home by David?
• What is the immediate result of the ark returning?
• What happened when this dreaded box came into the home of the house in Edom?