1st Chronicles 15 CONSECRATED SERVICE It is of great interest to follow the chain of events relating to the ark being brought to Jerusalem. What started out as an enthusiastic attempt to do the right thing without taking the time necessary to make sure it was done in the right ways, was changed to a whole new attitude toward this work. The first attempt started without even asking for divine guidance and ended with death. Ti e was taken to prepare so that the service was done "As Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord."
David had finished buildings for his own use and likely for members of his household. Then time was taken to "prepare a place for the ark." Not just any old place would do. In order for due respect to be given to that which represented God among His people, careful preparation was needed. A haphazard approach to spiritual things is not acceptable. Any thing 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.
The three clans of the tribe of Levi whose priority was the service of the tabernacle, now were to consecrate themselves to this specific task. They had to be cleansed personally, and so would know that any inward defilement had been dealt with. Their clothes had to be washed as a testimony to outward, public cleanness. Any service we are privileged to do for our Lord must be done from a clean heart and pure conscience. There should be an awareness of our public representation of our Lord that motivates 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, then we can worship and serve as those who have been consecrated. Our meditation will lead to appropriate preparation. Preparation leads to appropriate participation. Appropriate participation brings the honor and glory to our Lord which He deserves.
The Levite carriers, singers and doorkeepers were all made aware of their responsibility and the importance of what they were to do. There was nothing left to chance as to 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 as taken 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. Now that an appropriate place had been prepared and the right people were prepared, the move was ready to take place. The whole nation was aware of what had happened earlier, and now generations later were learning to not 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 own inadequacy.
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. To reach out and touch the carrying poles, "All Israel" had gathered and likely breathed a sigh of relief as the ark was lifted up 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." 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 begin to shine as we look at the Son.
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 there 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 other 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 not much more than a form of entertainment. We are able to 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 the outcome at the time of the event, 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. Those who carried the ark had just the one major event in which they had a work to do 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 other people, but they were there 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.
We have "doorkeepers" today who deserve our respect and honor, but even if they don't get it from people, their service is for God and it continues. It may not seem important now and it is not regarded by men, but pay-day is coming. God will fully recompense His faithful servants. 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 to their shoulders. As they walked, He would guide their footsteps so they would be able to 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 the way we present ourselves. The opposite is also true. Extreme attention to how we appear before people is as much as distraction as slovenly dress. Humility has a way of knowing what is appropriate so that the minds of the people are directed to God, not to men and women. To be overdressed or underdressed are both 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. They really had nothing in common. 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. It 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."
A husband and wife should be able to communicate openly with each other and discuss any matter without being critical of each other. Each has strengths that are suitable to their gender, calling and personality. When we are conscious and acceptant of each other's role, there is compatibility. Carnal criticisms from a spouse, or any other believer for that matter, is not only uncomfortable but counter productive. The enthusiasm of one can be balanced by the even temperament of the other to the benefit of both. Then we can be unified in our work for the Lord and are able to fulfill what we are doing, and be ready for the next task that our Lord gives us.