Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 13.

“Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader.  David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us;  and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.”  Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.  David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called.  They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.  David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.

When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it.  The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark;  and he died there before God.  Then David became angry because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzza;  and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day.  David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”  So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.  Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months;  and the LORD blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.”  1 Chronicles chapter 13.

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Here is a brief summary of where the ark of God was previously.  

The Philistines captured the ark of God in a victory over Israel.  “Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He ravaged them and smote them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.  When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.”  1 Samuel 4:6-7. 

“Now the ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines seven months.”  1 Samuel 6:1. 

“He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD.  He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.  The men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?  And to whom shall He go up from us?”  So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD;  come down and take it up to you.”  1 Samuel 6:19-21.

“And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.  From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years;  and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.”  1 Samuel 7:1-2.

The purpose of this summary is to show that this “outburst against Uzza” was not isolated.  The LORD “struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD.” The men of Beth-shemesh exclaimed, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?” 

Even “David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”

We are only able to stand before “the LORD, this holy God” by the grace of this LORD.  

Nothing is mentioned in today’s Scripture that Obed-edom was a godly man.  Nothing was mentioned about Obed-edom taking good care of the ark of God.  We can infer from today’s Scripture that David informed Obed-edom about what happened to Uzza for “only” touching the ark of God and that after David arranged the careful placement of the ark of God within the home of Obed-edom, it is possible that David warned Obed-edom:  “Whatever you do, do not touch the ark of God!”  And yet, Obed-edom the Gittite received such grace, “and the LORD blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.”

And, there is hope for us too! 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:4-7.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24.