Moving The Ark to Jerusalem
September 9, 2019
Commentary
David prepared once again to relocate the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. He may have chosen to move the ark on a cart the first time (13:7) because it was the method successfully used by the Philistines who were ignorant of God’s word (l Samuel 6:7). However, he learned through Uzziah’s death that God’s blessing only comes through obedience to His instructions.
Now he prepares to move the ark the second time and he is careful to observe the proper protocol (vv. 2, 13, 15). He gathers the priests and Levites and commands them to transport the ark, as God had instructed, from the house of Obed-edom to its new resting place in Jerusalem. Though he planned to place the ark in a substantial temple (17:1-4) for the present he locates it in a tent (v. l).
The moving of the ark was accompanied by a great religious celebration. They had no problems because they did God’s work God’s way:
1. They did it biblically (vv. 1-15). David turned the work over to the Levites and 870 of them united to bring the ark to Jerusalem.
2. They did it joyfully (vv. 16-24). They severed the Lord with gladness as they sang and praised the Lord while they worked.
3. They did it sacrificially (vv. 25-26). They knew that if their work was to be acceptable to the Lord their worship must come from an altar where a price had been paid.
4. They did it fervently (vv. 27-29). It was an enthusiastic procession with the people shouting and David leading them in praising the Lord.
Application
It’s my desire to do God’s work God’s way by doing it biblically, joyfully, sacrificially, and fervently. Vance Havner said, “Too many churches start at 11 o’clock sharp and end at 12 o’clock dull.”
1 Chronicles 15:1– 29 (NET)
1 David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually.” 3 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
5 From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.
6 From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.
7 From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.
8 From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.
9 From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.
10 From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.
11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He told them: “You are the leaders of the Levites’ families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it. 13 The first time you did not carry it; that is why the Lord God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.” 14 The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had commanded in keeping with the Lord’s instruction.
16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style; 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director; 22 Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter; 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of the ark; 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark.
25 So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration. 26 When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod. 28 All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments. 29 As the ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him.