Today's Scripture Reading (July 5, 2025): 1 Chronicles 13
Sometimes, we take our examples from the wrong
people. If there is a sin of the contemporary church, it might be that we have
come to resemble the world too much. However, not in the ways at which we
sometimes point. The way we mirror the dominant culture is not evident in the
Christian response to some of the Hot Topic issues of our day. We reflect the
world in that we often prioritize our own needs over those of others; we seek
to take advantage of the weak and exploit the powerless. We have lost sight of
the fact that we are called to be servants, loving the world as Christ has
loved us. We have refused to take the words of Jesus seriously, who taught his
followers not only that we are to love each other but that we are to protect
the stranger, the widow, and the fatherless. Jesus made it clear. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew
25:40). This ministry to the least of these that Jesus outlines in Matthew 25
has been forgotten in our contemporary world. We make excuses, arguing that we
have the right not to help the least of these. We accuse these same people of
being less than human; we label them and remove the rights that our culture
insists that everyone should have. We, the Christian Church, follow the world
rather than the explicit instructions of Jesus.
Chronicles tells us that as David prepared to bring
the Ark of the Covenant back from its resting place at Abinadab's house to
Jerusalem, he instructed that a new cart be made ready to carry the Ark. The
problem is that that is not how the Ark was to be moved.
Have them make an ark of acacia wood—two and a
half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it
with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. Cast four gold rings for it and fasten
them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the
other. Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay
them with gold. Insert the poles into the
rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. The
poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed
(Exodus 25:10-15)
The intent is that when the Ark is moved, it is to be
carried, not placed on a cart or a similar vehicle. Furthermore, there were
specific individuals designated to carry out the task. These were Levites from
the family of Kohath.
After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy
furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to
move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the
carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will
die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of
meeting (Numbers 4:15).
David, possibly because he did not understand the
requirements of the law, had made different arrangements for the movement of
the Ark. Unfortunately, David should have known, and there was no excuse for
his ignorance on this topic. And if he did not know, someone among his advisers
should have known or found out what the regulations should be.
However, there was a previous historical example of the Ark of
God being moved in a cart. That example came from the Philistines. Before the
reign of Saul, the Philistines had captured the Ark and wanted to return it to
Israel. To accomplish this feat, they used a new cart. That tale is found in 1
Samuel; "Now then, get a new cart ready, with two
cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the
cart, but take their calves away and pen them up" (1 Samuel
6:7).
David seems to have followed the
example of the Philistines rather than seeking God's instructions on how to
move the Ark. It was a mistake for which David would pay a very high price.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 14
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