1 CHRONICLES LESSON 16
We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 13:1 "And David
consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, [and] with
every leader."
II Samuel 6:1 "Again, David gathered together all [the] chosen
[men] of Israel, thirty thousand." We are about to repeat the same
message that was in the 6th chapter of Samuel. I gave the extra verse
to show the connection.
I Chronicles 13:2 "And David said unto all the congregation of
Israel, If [it seem] good unto you, and [that it be] of the LORD our
God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, [that are] left
in all the land of Israel, and with them [also] to the priests and
Levites [which are] in their cities [and] suburbs, that they may
gather themselves unto us:"
The tribes of Israel had operated somewhat independently. They
had not had a central place of worship. In fact, Saul had led them
away from their deep faith in God. They had placed their faith in an
earthly king, instead of in their One True God. The Philistines had
destroyed Saul, and his family, and many of the other Israelites. They
needed to focus on God again.
I Chronicles 13:3 "And let us bring again the ark of our God to
us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul."
David wants to reunite them around the ark of the covenant which
symbolized the presence of God. The ark had even been taken, and
carried off by the heathens. It was back in the land again, but no
central place of worship existed. The people had really fallen away
from their God. No longer had they looked to God for the answers to
their problems.
I Chronicles 13:4 "And all the congregation said that they would
do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people."
When David brings this to their attention, they know that he is
right. They are aware, if they are to be the nation of Israel again,
it is God that will unite them.
I Chronicles 13:5 "So David gathered all Israel together, from
Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of
God from Kirjath-jearim."
"All Israel", here, is speaking of the thirty thousand we read of
in verse one of 2 Samuel chapter 6 above. "Shihor" is speaking of the
Nile River. "Hamath" was in the upper part of Syria. These two places
mentioned show the extremes David went to for everyone to be
represented in moving the ark. Kirjath-jearim, where the ark was
located, was on the western border of Benjamin.
I Chronicles 13:6 "And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah,
[that is], to Kirjath-jearim, which [belonged] to Judah, to bring up
thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth [between] the cherubims,
whose name is called [on it]."
Baalah is another name for Kirjath-jearim. We see that the
presence of God was represented by the ark. God had dwelled between
the cherubims in the holy of holies in the tabernacle in the
wilderness. They called upon the name of the LORD in this place.
I Chronicles 13:7 "And they carried the ark of God in a new cart
out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart."
They had wandered so far away from the LORD, that they did not
know how the ark was to be carried. Uzza and Ahio were sons of
Abinadab who had been charged with the keeping of the ark. The new
cart was used to show respect for the ark, but that was not how it was
to be carried. There were to be staves run through loops on the
outside of the ark. The priests were to carry the ark with these poles
{staves}. They were not to touch the ark at any time.
I Chronicles 13:8 "And David and all Israel played before God
with all [their] might, and with singing, and with harps, and with
psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets."
The playing, singing, and rejoicing were all in order. God wants
us to rejoice in the Lord.
I Chronicles 13:9 "And when they came unto the threshingfloor of
Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen
stumbled."
It seemed, the stumbling of one of the oxen shook the ark that it
might fall. We must remember, God was displeased with them pulling the
ark with the oxen, in the first place. The threshingfloor was a place
where people gathered, and became landmarks for the people. Uzza was
not the high priest, and even if he had been, he would not be allowed
to touch the ark.
I Chronicles 13:10 "And the anger of the LORD was kindled against
Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there
he died before God."
Anyone who even entered the holy of holies, who were not anointed
to do so, would have been killed. This is doing even worse than
entering, to touch the ark. It is as if he touched the LORD. He did it
to save the ark, but God taught everyone viewing a lesson here, of the
holiness of the ark. He was instantly killed. Again, the ark
symbolized the presence of God. Had they been worshipping the LORD the
way they should have, they would have known the danger of doing what
they had done here.
I Chronicles 13:11 "And David was displeased, because the LORD
had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza
to this day."
Displeased is, probably, speaking of David's grief over the death
of Uzza for trying to do something good. Had David fully understood
the law of God, they would have gone about moving the ark differently.
He, like many of the other Israelites, had not learned God's ways.
I Chronicles 13:12 "And David was afraid of God that day, saying,
How shall I bring the ark of God [home] to me?"
David's desire was to have a permanent home for the ark in
Jerusalem. He, now, was so afraid of God that he felt he might not be
able to accomplish that. He loved God, but did not understand Him.
I Chronicles 13:13 "So David brought not the ark [home] to
himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of
Obed-edom the Gittite."
Obed-edom was a Levite of the family of the Korhites. The ark
remained there, three months and Obed-edom was blessed. At least,
David knew enough to take it to a Levite, who should know how to
handle the ark.
I Chronicles 13:14 "And the ark of God remained with the family
of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house
of Obed-edom, and all that he had."
The presence of the LORD is a tremendous blessing in itself. It
seems, however, that Obed-edom prospered greatly during these three
months. When God blesses, there is no cup big enough to hold the
blessings.
1 Chronicles 16 Questions
1. Who did David consult with?
2. Quote 2 Samuel chapter 6 verse 1.
3. Who did David want to send and gather to him?
4. Why were they fragmented?
5. Saul had led them away from their deep ________ in God.
6. Who had they placed their faith in?
7. Who had destroyed Saul?
8. What did David want to do with the ark?
9. What did the ark symbolize?
10. What was the reply from all of the congregation?
11. If they are to be a united nation again, how will it happen?
12. What is "all Israel", in verse 5, speaking of?
13. "Shihor" is speaking of the _______ _______.
14. Where was "Hamath" located?
15. Where was the ark?
16. What is another name for Kirjath-jearim?
17. Where had God been in the tabernacle?
18. How had God said to move the ark?
19. How were they carrying it?
20. Who drove the cart?
21. Who were they?
22. What did David and the people do before the ark?
23. Who put forth his hand to touch the ark?
24. What happened to him?
25. What effect did this have on David?
26. What is displeased, probably, saying in verse 11?
27. What question does David ask in verse 12?
28. Where did they take the ark?
29. Obed-edom was of what family?
30. How long did the ark remain with Obed-edom?
31. What happened to them, while they had the ark?
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