1 Chronicles 15:1 – 29 “David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”
And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it. Then he gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: From the Kohathites, Uriel the chief and 120 of his relatives; from the Merarites, Asaiah the chief and 220 of his relatives; from the Gershomites, Joel the chief and 130 of his relatives; from the Elizaphanites, Shemaiah the chief and 200 of his relatives; from the Hebronites, Eliel the chief and 80 of his relatives; and from the Uzzielites, Amminadab the chief and 112 of his relatives.
David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD. David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals. So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.
The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals. Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to Alamoth. And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith. Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.
Berechiah and Elkanah were to be guardians of the ark. Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.
Moving the Ark to Jerusalem
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom. And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.
Michal’s Contempt for David (2 Samuel 6:16)
As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.”
When David first wanted to move the ark from the home of Obed – edom at Kiriath – jearim, his heart was in the right place but he failed to do his homework. The priests didn’t speak up either. Despite the fact that the Ark was to be carried by the priests using special poles passing through rings on the sides of the Ark, David originally loaded the Ark on a cart pulled by oxen. When the cart lurched and a man named Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark, God struck Uzzah dead.
Now David has done a lot more investigation and has informed himself of the regulations regarding the transport of the Ark. “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.” David gets the priests and Levites to properly consecrate themselves and prepare to carry the Ark. David has also prepared a place for the Ark, including a tent for the Ark. David makes sure that everything is organized, including assigning musicians with specific duties.
This time, everything goes well, and the Ark is successfully brought into Jerusalem. But there’s a sour note in the situation. When David first killed Goliath, he was given Michal, Saul’s daughter, as a wife. At one point, Michal saved David’s life by placing an image in his bed and telling Saul’s soldiers that David was sick. Later, Michal was given to another man, only for David to eventually claim her again. Michal’s second husband was very devoted and was broken – hearted when David reclaimed her. Evidently, Michal is still resentful. As David and the Ark procession comes into Jerusalem, David dances in ecstasy and joy. But Michal is embarrassed and despises David for making a spectacle of himself.
APPLICATION: It takes a false start, but David has learned to make sure he is doing God’s work God’s way. As a leader, David has made sure that he has gotten his facts straight so that he is able to inspire the priests and Levites to carry out their duties properly. Having instructed those who are to carry the Ark and the musicians who are to accompany it, David then throws himself whole – heartedly into the celebration.
Poor Michal! Originally, Michal loved David; however, once given to another man, Michal may have found peace and a loving relationship in which she was valued for herself, rather than as a political pawn. Little wonder then, that when David demands Michal return to him, Michal herself might be miserable. Now rather than being David’s chief wife, Michal has to share David with a host of other women in the harem. So far, Michal has not given birth; some of these other women might be throwing Michal’s infertility up in her face. If Michal is already struggling, then when David disports himself in the streets of Jerusalem, Michal is ready to cut him down to size verbally. And there’s another problem: Michal’s father Saul never truly worshiped God, so Michal herself is not a God – worshiper. Michal cannot possibly understand David’s joy in the Lord because she has never known that joy.
What is not recorded is the reactions of those in Jerusalem as the Ark returns. Those people might be just as giddy with joy as David. For all we know, there might be a whole procession of men and women dancing behind the Ark as it approaches the place David has prepared for it. With shofars and horns blowing, cymbals clashing, and all kinds of other instruments sounding, the very stones of Jerusalem might be shaking! Those living in villages close to Jerusalem might be listening and run to join the celebration when they hear the music and singing and shouting.
Over the years, Jerusalem has witnessed some amazing celebrations. There are the celebrations surrounding the opening of Solomon’s temple. There are the celebrations of Palm Sunday, when Jesus fulfills Scripture by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. But some day, there will be a final celebration. Someday, Jesus, the Messiah, will return in all His glory. On that day, not only will people be singing and shouting, but the very rocks of Mount Moriah will cry out in ecstasy. For those of us who acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord, this return will be the best celebration of all.
1 Corinthians 15:51 – 58 tells us, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives! Help us to trust You when we cannot see. And help us to remember that one day, You will return and that will be a celebration that will never end. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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