The Power and Presence of the Ark - 1 Chronicles 13

Have you ever had a desire to do something, believed it was the right thing to do; you even believed the Lord was in it, but after preparing for the event or activity, it badly backfired? Many years ago, we were living in the Blue Mountains. There was not a lot of industry there and I wanted to use the qualifications I had in Science and Aquaculture. I prayed about it. I believed the Lord opened the door, and yet my prayer seemingly wasn’t answered. Have you ever been there? Started on a journey, wanted and believed the Lord was in it and it didn’t turn out the way you had desired.

That’s exactly what we have here. David had been made king and was ruling in Jerusalem. He got counsel, (verse 1) “consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader,” but not just the leaders. Verse 2 says, “If it seems good to you and from the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. Then let us bring again the Ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul."  (verses 2,3) It needed to be good from the Lord.

“All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.” (verse 4) There was unity. God’s will and the people united. Surely that is a recipe for blessing and success. Right?

Everything started out fine. It says, “they carried the Ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. And David and all Israel were rejoicing before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon,” (verses 7-9).

What did it represent? It represented the presence of God – the holiest vessel in the world. It was made when the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years. An anointed craftsman, Bezalel, made it. Acacia wood covered in gold. It was meant to reside in the Holy of Holies, a room that only the high priest went into once a year. They had to be sure about it being moved, because God would confirm when a move was on; either by fire at night or by cloud during the day. If there was a pillar of fire at night or pillar of cloud during the day, they followed that pillar. It was aways over the place where the Ark was.

Just because the world seems to get away with it, doesn’t mean we do. The Philistines, when they had the Ark, were judged with tumours. That’s why they returned it. How did they return it? On a cart drawn by oxen, the oxen were directed by God which way to go. But how was the Ark supposed to be moved? By the priests walking with it; carried by the poles through the eyelets. Here we see the Israelites moving it on a cart just as the Philistines had done. But God does not want His people to act like the world when it comes to Him.

But God didn’t strike them down; the cart was moving, maybe everything was okay? The oxen stumbled; just an accident. Nothing is an accident when the Lord is in complete control. Uzzah harmlessly put out his hand, touched the Ark. God struck him down.

Question, does that bother you? Do you love or hate holiness? Holiness isn’t “dos and don’ts,” by the way. But to you, it might be. The writer to the Hebrews said, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) “Be holy as he is holy.” (1 Peter 1:15) Christ is our holiness, He makes us holy, right Jay? Grace saves me, not my actions. Yes, that’s right. My question is, do you love and seek after holiness? If you don’t love holiness, the question then needs to be asked, “Are you in fact a born-again Christian?” Do you really know Jesus?

David got angry at God, so would I. He even called the place where it happened Perez-Uzza – the dividing/breaking of Uzzah. Ever been angry at God? Yes! The giants of the faith did as well. What should we do? Stay in despondency and defeat; God’s not with me; don’t try again; God’s clearly not in it?

No, there are just lessons to be learned.

There are other examples in the scriptures – You remember Moses actually tried to save to Israelites from Egypt, 40 years before actually being successful at it. He had a fair bit of personal growth to go through. He saved a Hebrew by murdering an Egyptian. Then, he saw 2 Hebrews fighting and one recognised him as the guy who killed the Egyptian. He took off – for 40 years.

The desire to have the Ark of the Covenant brought to Jerusalem was a noble desire. David parked the Ark at Obed Edom’s place for 3 months. Obed Edom was blessed. David said - God actually does want to bless me; the issue is with me and not God. 2 chapters later, we see another attempt in 1 Chronicles 15:12-15. The Levites moved the Ark the way it should have been moved and it arrived in Jerusalem. It says, “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)

God wants us to be blessed. He wants us to succeed, but not without a knowledge of Him or His character. I decided to start a business a second time, I had more knowledge of myself, but also had grown in my relationship with Jesus. The Lord blessed in that instance.

What is the Ark of the Covenant for us? The Ark actually represents the presence and power of Jesus. The top of the Ark is sometimes referred to as “the mercy seat.” This presence is both mighty and merciful. The same power that consumed Uzzah also blessed Obed Edom. So, how are we to approach the Power and the Presence of God? We obviously want the blessing of the Lord’s presence. It is done only one way; through faith in Christ. We go from judgment to forgiveness.

Jesus spilled His blood on the mercy seat (the judgement the Lord has on sin) and we are forgiven, we are restored, more than that we are blessed as sons and daughters of the king, forgiven and set free.

You love Jesus? He is your Lord and Saviour? You tried something, it failed miserably? What should you do? Especially, like David, you thought God was in it.

1.  Ask - What lessons God was teaching you? “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future..” (Proverbs 19:20)

2.  You get up – “the righteous falls seven times and rises again.” (Proverbs 24:16) Now that you have learned to “make your plans as God guides your steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) I eventually started another business and the Lord blessed it.

3.  Know this - God’s heart is for blessing, not judgement. “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, but rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23) The Lord took no pleasure in the death of Uzzah. He took immense pleasure in blessing Obed Edom…and eventually David. God blesses us through the Son of David – Jesus. True blessing flows through Him!