Yesterday, we saw that divine disaster struck when David unlawfully tried to bring the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem. So David took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom where it remained and blessed that family for three months” (cf., 1 Chronicles 13:14). Significantly, one of the first things we notice in today’s readings (i.e., 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36) is David’s acknowledgement that “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever” (chapter 15, verse 2). David quickly recognized his failure and learned from it. This is an important principle for us today – when we recognize our sins and shortcomings – we should learn from them and correct them immediately. As much as possible, we should endeavor to do things right the first time. This time, in chapter 15, David will do it the right way by summoning “the priests and Levites … who carried the ark of God … as Moses had commanded in accordance with the Word of the LORD” (verses 11-15). This time, “God helped the Levites who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD” (verse 26). At this point, we read once again about David’s “dancing and celebrating” as the ark was entering the City of David. Michal – here called “the daughter of Saul” rather than “David’s wife”– "despised David in her heart” for his display (verse 29). We addressed this issue in an earlier reflection (cf., June 6, Day #158 – The Daughter of Saul), so here, we simply suffice it to say that, although we do not see any divine rebuke of David’s conduct, Michal’s bad attitude toward her husband clearly finds its source in her father. Obviously, the relationship between Michal and David was problematic. Today, we may not fully understand or even agree with David’s form of worship in dancing like he did, but we are safer to leave it with God to judge - not us. In chapter 16, we see that David blesses the people (verse 2), and presents “to Asaph and his associates” an incredible Psalm of Thanksgiving to the LORD – a Psalm that extols the greatness of the God Whom we serve.
In Psalm 90:11-17, Moses begins with a recognition of “the power of God’s anger and wrath,” stating that such power is “equal to the fear that is due to Him” (verse 11). For those who love the Lord and His compassion and His lovingkindness, such “fear” is called “worship,” but for those who do not know Him, such “fear” is called “terror.” Today we hear much talk about terror and terrorism, but the present terror is nothing compared to the future dread and the everlasting horror that God has prepared for those who reject Him. Moses asks the Lord to “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (verse 11). From this verse, we gather that it is possible to “number our days” wrongly – which by extension – leads us to a heart of foolishness. Yesterday, we talked about “Uzzah’s dirty hands.” Here, Moses indicates that if we allow the LORD to “establish the work of our hands," we may freely expect "His favor to rest upon us” (verse 17). God wants to bless the work of our hands, but only if they are clean.
Romans 16 reads a little like 1 Chronicles 1-10, but it is important for us to see how many different people stood behind the scenes to support Paul and his ministry. Heretofore, these people are the invisible, unsung heroes who made his ministry possible (and that ministry stretches down through the centuries to include us - even to affect our lives personally). All believers today have benefitted from Paul’s ministry. As missionaries overseas, we had many faithful supporters; they were our invisible, unsung heroes. We could not have served in missions without a company of faithful, loving individuals and churches who, by God’s grace, helped “to establish the work of our hands.” My heart is so grateful and my eyes often well up with tears when I think about and remember God’s gracious provision of sacrificial givers and prayer warriors who enabled us to serve God out in the world - as Paul did. What a blessing was ours, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything!
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