CONSECRATED SERVICE. 1st Chronicles 15 Following the chain of events relating to the ark's arrival in Jerusalem is of great interest. What started out as an enthusiastic attempt to do the right thing without taking the time necessary to ensure it was done in the right way became a whole new attitude toward this work. The first attempt started without even asking for divine guidance and ended with death. Time was taken to prepare, so the service was done "As Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord."
David had finished building for his own use and likely for the use of members of his household. Then, time was taken to "prepare a place for the ark." Not just any old place would do. Careful preparation was needed for due respect to be given to that which represented God among His people. A haphazard approach to spiritual things is not acceptable. Anything that reflects on God should be done with careful consideration and a commitment to excellence. When something is dedicated to the Lord, the work needed to do it should be done by consecrated people.
“A place for the ark of God” was a tent in Jerusalem. The original tabernacle had been at Shiloh until the Philistines took the ark. It had been moved to Nob, only a couple of miles from Jerusalem [1st Sam.21:1], and then to Gibeon [2nd Chr.1:3]. There it remained under the guidance of Zadok the priest, and it was there that sacrifices and offerings were made, even after David brought the ark into a new “place” at Mt. Zion.
The three clans of the tribe of Levi, whose priority was the service of the tabernacle, were now to consecrate themselves to this specific task. They had to be cleansed personally so that they would know that any inward defilement had been dealt with. Their clothes had to be washed as a testimony to outward, public cleanness.
This time, they did it as God commanded when the ark was moved. It was carried by poles inserted into circles in each corner, by priests from the tribe of Levi who served at the tabernacle at Gibeon. Those men were descendants of Aaron’s sons. Going in front of the ark with singing were the musicians led by Heman, the grandson of Samuel. Asaph and his sons were the singers. Asaph had composed some of the Psalms they sang. The words of the songs were what was important, not the music from the instruments. Obed-Edom had been given an important position as a doorkeeper where the ark was placed in Jerusalem.
Any service we are privileged to do for our Lord must be done from a clean heart and pure conscience. Awareness of our public representation of our Lord should motivate us to be blameless before men. Order in the service of God is under His directives, not that which appeals to us or is expedient. The commands of the Lord should never be ignored. When we purify ourselves by "the washing of water by the word" and apply the truths in the scripture to our lives, we can worship and serve as those consecrated. Our meditation will lead to appropriate preparation. Preparation leads to appropriate participation. Appropriate participation brings the honor and glory to our Lord that He deserves.
The Levite carriers, singers, and doorkeepers knew their responsibility and the importance of what they were to do. Nothing was left to chance about what part each person was to do. Any ministry for the Lord deserves and commands "due order." Personal opinions are not the criteria we go by in our priestly service. Even our bodies are to be presented as living sacrifices. Nothing has the right to ignore or supersede "due order."
The consequences referred to as taking place "at the first," or "the first time," were not because David was wrong in wanting to bring the ark to Jerusalem, but because the law of God was ignored. The move was ready now that an appropriate place had been prepared and the right people were prepared. The whole nation was aware of what had happened earlier, and now, they were learning not to take God for granted in the tasks they were to do for Him.
Our faith in God is often tested in various ways, and He expects us to know what He says, carry it out in an orderly way, and take action even if we may have fear because of our inadequacy. In faith, we move forward even after mistakes were made. There may be fear and trepidation at first, but when we sense the leading of the Spirit and the presence of God among us, our steps grow more confident and longer. Our voices are raised in praise, our hearts are filled with joy, and our faces shine as we look at the Son.
Those Levites who moved close to the ark to pick it up by the staves and put it on their shoulders were likely fearful at first of reaching out and touching the carrying poles. "All Israel" had gathered and likely breathed a sigh of relief as the ark was lifted and the Levite carriers stepped ahead with the first steps to "the place." Before long, the terror and bated breaths were replaced with the sounds of joy—"God is satisfied."
The appointed singers sang, the musicians made appropriate music, and "all Israel" listened with joy. This was not the ecstatic noise they made in the flesh at the first attempt to move the ark. Now their thoughtfulness, preparedness, care, and a sense of caution put into the movement of the ark. Enthusiastic abandonment was replaced with "holy joy." There was reverence and order that accompanied their joy this time.
There is joy among God's people today when we share our joy with others as we praise and worship our Lord. Harmonious singing of understandable words gives expression to the joy in our hearts. Only listening to others sing and maybe saying "Amen" at the end reduces music to entertainment. We can edify ourselves and others when we "sing and make melody in our hearts" with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
When God's instructions are followed, even though we may not know the reasons or outcome of the event we are engaged in, there is joy in obedience because we trust and love our Lord. Our real understanding of all that happens to us or the value of what we do will not be grasped until a future day when everything will be made plain. We have "doorkeepers" today who deserve our respect and honor. Even if they don't get it from people, their service is for God, and it continues. It may not seem important now, and men do not regard it, but pay day is coming. God will fully recompense His faithful servants.
Those who carried the ark had just one major event they had to do for the Lord to remember for the rest of their lives. The musicians and singers had opportunities to serve from time to time. The silent doorkeepers were always outside the tent where the ark rested in "the place." They may not have seemed important to others, but they were at their post when everyone else went home. Obed-Edom became one of them. His commitment to the presence of God in the form of the ark at his home led to his privilege to continue in service as a doorkeeper.
God helped the Levites carry that heavy gold-covered ark and the solid gold mercy seat above it. He would give the needed strength to lift that weight onto their shoulders. As they walked, He would guide their footsteps so they could coordinate their steps with their brethren. The obstacles in the road could be a problem as weight would shift from one set of shoulders to another.
When we are called upon to bear burdens, we are to "bear our own" burdens. We are also to bear "one another's burdens." Our service for God needs help from God, and He is near to give what is needed. "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass, and as thy days, so shall thy strength be." We are not powerless to do what God wants.
The linen garments of all in that procession would indicate a respectful outward appearance of those involved in service for God in a public way. Dignity and humility go together. Those were all dressed alike, so they attended to that which testified to the presence of God among His people, not to their position. We owe the Lord evidence of our respect for Him when we represent Him in public. A casual attitude toward divine things is reflected in how we present ourselves. The opposite is also true. Extreme attention to how we appear before people is as much of a distraction as slovenly dress. Humility has a way of knowing what is appropriate so that the people's minds are directed to God, not men and women. To be overdressed or underdressed is representative of a self-centered attitude.
How we appear to people is not really what is behind our looks or actions. David appeared undignified to his uppity wife Michal. Bitterness seemed to have been a characteristic of Michal, the daughter of Saul, who was given as a prize to David by her father. They had nothing in common. Because of her attitude, she was childless.
She seemed to consider her life a disappointment because she had no understanding of God’s work in individuals and nations. She had reveled in being a daughter of a king and then a wife of a king, but she wanted to be the one who decided what her king-husband should be like. David’s joyful praise and enthusiasm for God seemed to disturb her because they weren’t dignified and intimidating but openly personal and grateful.
If we have an image of ourselves that we think is the standard for everyone, we have made a big mistake. "Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart." Leaders who think themselves worthy of honor and praise will be brought low by God, who looks on the heart.
A husband and wife should be able to communicate openly and discuss any matter without being critical of each other. Each has strengths suitable to their gender, calling, and personality. There is compatibility when we are conscious and accepting of each other's roles. Carnal criticisms from a spouse, or any other believer for that matter, are not only uncomfortable but counterproductive. The even temperament of the other can balance the enthusiasm of one to the benefit of both. Then we can be unified in our work for the Lord and can fulfill what we are doing, and be ready for the next task that our Lord gives us.
There is order in God's things; nothing should ever be carelessly done. God is a God of order, and everything He does has a purpose. Creation attests to the fact that He knows best how things reveal His design. The nature of matter, the seasons of life, and the designations of time unfold a character always suited to what is best for all. Nothing God does is haphazard, especially the Gospel call.
Men suited and designated by God to do this special work for Him were to bear the ark. They were identified carefully, for God had chosen them to sanctify themselves and be ready to carry that holy ark. God dwelt with His people, and the ark symbolized that His presence was truly there. Due order was needed: strong shoulders to bear, and men united together so that the testimony of God would be made clear and plain as God gathered with His people.
It is like that today: some are trustworthy in God's things. Those publicly presenting the truth have an essential load to bear as they represent God and His truth to this generation. What is to be done is made plain by God’s word, revealed to men so that each needs to be aware that God chose him to represent Him. God is supreme over all; God is blessed forever! What He says and does is a matter of life or death, and the message never changes.
Those who represent all of us when it is God’s truth that they shoulder, should be humble in their spirit because they have been chosen to speak of such holy things. Appropriate order is expected in service, and when our worship brings to God what He desires, when we speak of Him to our generation. We know that what is at stake is eternal life or the soul’s damnation.
Earlier mistakes were corrected. Those moving the ark had to be clean outwardly and sanctified inwardly. The same linen clothes of those in the procession focused the onlookers' attention on the ark, not on the people attending it. Doing the will of God from the heart brings joy, praise, and thanksgiving.