Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23; 1 Chronicles 13-16.
Most of us remember what happened to Uzzah: he touched the ark (which was forbidden) in order to steady it on the cart, and God struck him (1 Chronicles 13:7-10). David was upset over this. Not only did this man die, but now the king was not sure how to bring the ark to him.
“David was afraid of God that day, saying, ‘How can I bring the ark of God home to me?’” (1 Chronicles 13:12).
David knew that this first method of transporting the ark was not acceptable. He needed to find another way to move it.
“Then David said, ‘No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever’” (1 Chronicles 15:2).
This new way to transport the ark – carried by the Levites themselves instead of being moved on an ox cart – was not just some new idea David came up with on his own. He discovered it by consulting the Law.
“Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites… and said to them, ‘… Because you did not carry it at the first, the Lord our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.’ So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 15:11-15).
David’s intention to bring the ark home was good. But his good intentions did not excuse disobedience to God’s law. He needed to consult God’s word and follow His instructions.
The same is true today. We may intend to do many good things (worship God, spread the gospel, etc.); but we must be careful to follow God’s pattern in accomplishing our goals.
Tomorrow’s reading: Psalm 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, 68
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
