1 Chronicles 13
McGeeCHAPTERS 1316THEME: David and the arkIn this section we see God’s viewpoint of David’s first attempt to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. During the period of the judges, you may recall, the ark had been captured in war by the Philistines. Because it had caused them no end of trouble, they placed it on a new cart and sent it back to Israel (1 Sam. 6). From that time to this, the ark had remained in the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim. Now David makes an attempt to bring the ark to his capital, which is Jerusalem. God took note of this because it pleased Him that David was putting an emphasis on spiritual matters. However, David starts off on the wrong foot, as we shall see.
1 Chronicles 13:1
David now is Israel’s new king. As he comes to the throne, he has tremendous plans, he has great vision, and he wants to bring the ark to Jerusalem. So he consults with “every leader.” I feel that David made a mistake in consulting all these men. God was leading him and giving him direction; he didn’t need human advice. As I see it, there is a serious problem developing in many churches today because there are too many men who want to have their fingers in the pie. That is, they (especially the boards of churches) want to make the decisions. The problems arise because many of those men are not spiritually equipped to make decisions. Many times their wrong decisions hurt the cause of Christ. It seems to me that David made a mistake by consulting with all of these leaders. He got into trouble by listening to everybody.
1 Chronicles 13:2
This is a sidelight on the days of Saul. During that period the worship of God in the tabernacle was entirely omitted. As a result, the entire tabernacle organization was broken up. The Levites were scattered. Now word is sent throughout the entire land that David wants to bring up the ark.
1 Chronicles 13:4
The decision is unanimous. They all want the ark brought to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 13:5
In 1 Samuel 7 we have the record of the ark being taken to Kirjath-jearim and left there because they had had a bad experience with it.
1 Chronicles 13:6
Of course, God did not live in the ark, nor between the cherubims, but that is the place He designated as His meeting place with the people of Israel. His presence was there. Now they will make their big mistake. As someone has put it, this is doing a right thing in a wrong way. It was right to bring the ark up to Jerusalem, but the method of doing it was wrong.
1 Chronicles 13:7
God had given explicit directions as to how the ark was to be carried. Other parts of the tabernacle could be transported on carts, but not the ark. Notice what God had said to Moses: “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation” (Num_4:15). The ark was never to be carried on a wagon. It was to be borne on the shoulders of the sons of Kohath. Why? Well, the ark speaks of Christ, and He is to be carried, even today, by individuals. A lot of people would like to do it the easy way. My friend, it will require work to get out the Word of God. Many people complain about the expense. I deplore the expense myself, but I want to tell you that it will cost us to get out the Word of God. We can’t put it on a wagon. We must carry it. Each one needs to shoulder his own pack. So let’s get it out. Paul says, “For every man shall bear his own burden” (Gal_6:5). That is another way of saying that each one must shoulder his own pack. In other words, all of us have to put our shoulders to the wheel to get the Word of God out to a world that desperately needs it. God doesn’t write the gospel in the sky; it has to be passed along by His children.
1 Chronicles 13:8
David was a great musician, and this was an occasion of real joy. But it was all interrupted very suddenly.
1 Chronicles 13:9
Why? Because they were doing it wrong. They were not giving the right testimony. “But,” you may say, “this was certainly a severe sort of thinga man just put his hand on it!” Well, to begin with, the ark should not have been on that cart. And the ark did not need Uzza to steady it. Today there are many folk who are putting their hands in the Lord’s work where they should not be putting them. They are interfering with the Lord’s work. I could tell you of many instances of men, probably meaning well, but not doing it God’s way. As a result, blessing does not come. Just so in the case of the arkthe man who interfered was put out of the way.
1 Chronicles 13:11
David was displeased by it, as much as you would be, and as much as the critic is today.
1 Chronicles 13:12
Oh, how often we attempt to do things our own way, and then when we fail, we blame it on God! We say, “How am I going to do this for the Lord?” Well, do it God’s way. Turn it over to Him. That is what David finally had to do.
1 Chronicles 13:13
This concludes the episode. The ark is not going to be brought up to Jerusalem at this time. God is blessing the family that has it now, but David is going to turn his attention to something else.