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Follow the divine plan in worship
The ark of the Covenant was the centerpiece in the Old Testament worship. This object was a chest or box of a particular design, that represented the presence of God - Jehovah - in the camp of his people. Exodus 25:10-22. This sacred box was to be cared for, protected and moved by a certain part of the ordained priesthood. Numbers 3:29-32. However, as time dimmed the giving of the law (Exodus 20:1-18) from the minds of the chosen nation, the sacredness of this object seemed to fade. Many years after the giving of the law, the man, Eli, was the priest. 1 Samuel 1:9b. His sons, the underpriests, were not godly men. God sent a message to the indifferent priest, using the child, Samuel, as the messenger. 1 Samuel 3:1-18. This message of warning seemed to have had no lasting effect on this man, nor his sons. These ungodly priests decided to take the ark of the Covenant into battle, as a kind of good luck charm. Their plan resulted in the ark being captured by the enemy. 1 Samuel 4:11. However, the ark was, finally, returned to the land of Israel. 1 Samuel 6:1-21. Yet, the ark did not return to Shiloh, its accepted location. 1 Samuel 6:9. We are told that "the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab…" 1 Samuel 7:1. The ark was in this house for 20 years. 1 Samuel 7:2. During this 20 year period, the nation rejected the leadership of judges, and demanded that Samuel, their last judge, "make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 1 Samuel 8:5. Thus, Saul was anointed to be king. 1 Samuel 10:1. Things went well as long as Saul remembered the one who had called him to leadership. However, when he began to take matters into his own hands, he was rejected of God as the king. 1 Samuel 15:23. It is important that we keep in mind that fact that the ark did not seem to be important during the reign of Saul. After the divine rejection of Saul, Samuel was instructed to anoint David to be the next king of Israel. 1 Samuel 16:12,13. Even though this young man was anointed king, he did not receive the throne until several years later. Yet, the plan of God did not change with the passage of time. Saul killed himself, after being wounded in battle. 1 Samuel 31:4. David was made king over the tribe of Judah. 2 Samuel 2:10. We are told that "the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months." 2 Samuel 2:11. Finally, "all the elders of Israel came to the king in Hebron; and King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel." 2 Samuel 5:3. As king over the whole nation, God gave David yet another victory. 2 Samuel 5:6-25. Following this victory, the thoughts of David turned to the ark of the Covenant. The record tells us that "David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, with every leader. 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 the cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul." 1 Chronicles 13:1-3. This plan seemed to be good in the sight of all the people. 1 Chronicles 13:4,5. The journey was made to Kirjathjearim. 1 Chronicles 13:5,6. It is interesting to note that the pagans had sent the ark back to the land of Israel, using a cart. 1 Samuel 6:10-12. The priests knew that the divinelydesigned means of moving the ark was for the "sons of Kohath…should bear upon their shoulders". Numbers 7:9. We are not given the details of the decision, but we know that it was determined that the ark would be brought to Jerusalem by this new and improved means. Great rejoicing accompanied the movement of the ark toward the national capital. 1 Chronicles 13:8. However, this journey proved to be disastrous. "When they came unto the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark: and there he died before the Lord." 1 Chronicles 13:9,10. We are told that "David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza…" 1 Chronicles 13:11a. The ark was, then, stored in the house of Obededom. 1 Chronicles 13:14. Thus, it became necessary for the king and the priests to re-think their plan. We are told that "David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent." 1 Chronicles 15:1. Apparently, these leaders did their homework. "Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever." 1 Chronicles 15:2. Yes, this time he got it right. "And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring the ark of the lord unto his place, which he had prepared for it." 1 Chronicles 15:3. The Levites were told to "sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it." 1 Chronicles 15:12. These men made the necessary personal preparations. "And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy." 1 Chronicles 15:16. The result of this proper preparation resulted in the desired act, accompanied with true joy. "So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obededom with joy." 1 Chronicles 15:25. When the ark arrived in the city, they made a great sacrifice to the Lord. "And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams." 1 Chronicles 15:26. This was the first sacrifice that had been offered in over 20 years. This time, the music and rejoicing was accompanied by the realization that things had been done as prescribed, and, thus, had the approval of God.
We cannot take the things of the lower human nature and sanctify them with some kind of spiritual magic. Romans 8:5-8. We must be certain that we are following the divine plan in our worship. John 4:24. Have you checked your spiritual pulse, lately? What did you find? May we be faithful to that which God has designed. John 3:16. All of our eternity rests on this divine plan.
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