Year 1, Week 36, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 36, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Chronicles 13-15.

Today’s reading is in the context of David’s earliest years as king over all of Israel. As David has taken Jerusalem and made it the center of Israel, the Ark is moved to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 13 notes that David consulted Israel as well as sought the LORD as to whether or not the Ark should be brought to Jerusalem. The Ark was to be brought to Jerusalem. However, the first attempt to transport the Ark from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem failed. 1 Chronicles 14 provides a brief update on David in terms of his additional wives and children, as well as a successful military campaign against the Philistines. 1 Chronicles 15 reports the second and successful attempt to transport the Ark to Jerusalem. On this second attempt, David gathered the Levites since they were to be the ones whom the LORD had prescribed to carry the Ark. The Levites transported the Ark according to the means that God has prescribed: “And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 15:15).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the provision of music that gave praise to the LORD, as the Ark was brought into Jerusalem: “Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:3-6a). The Law of Moses gave specific instructions as to who was to carry the Ark and how it was to be carried. It was made clear, during the first attempt to move the Ark to Jerusalem that it made a difference whether or not the Ark was moved the way that the LORD commanded. The death of Uzzah was the result of dishonoring the LORD: “Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule” (1 Chronicles 15:13).

But while the details were provided in the Law of Moses for transporting the Ark, the musical details concerning the worship surrounding the Ark was not as developed. David laid out the instructions for music to accompany the worship of God: “David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy” (1 Chronicles 15:16). David oversaw the expansive role that music would play in the LORD’s worship. Shouts from the singers and loud music with a range of instruments would be commonplace at the Tabernacle (and later the Temple): “So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres” (1 Chronicles 15:28). David’s expressions, as the Ark was being moved and as the songs were being played, was uninhibited: “And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart” (1 Chronicles 15:29). Though not everyone approved.

The transporting of the Ark was a serious thing, but it was also an occasion of festive celebration. There were aspects of the worship that occurred in conjunction with the Ark and the Tabernacle that required careful adherence to the LORD’s command. That made worship a serious thing. Knowing how the LORD commanded His worship was a necessity. The good intentions of Uzzah tragically consisted of disrespect toward the LORD. Such disrespect may not have been intentional, but the LORD requires that He be worshiped in the way that He prescribes. That shows that worship is a serious thing. In fact, those moving the Ark the second time were to solemnly devote themselves to the LORD: “So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 15:14). But worship can also entail festive celebration as when the Ark was accompanied by music and lyrics designed with a purpose, “to raise sounds of joy”. Even though the first attempt resulted in a death, the second attempt was an occasion of joy for everyone: "So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing” (1 Chronicles 15:25). The LORD was pleased—with both their seriousness and their joy. We are told that the LORD was present giving aid to their worship: “And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams” (1 Chronicles 15:26).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe