Reading

• 2 Sam. 6:12a
• 1 Chron. 15:1-16:36
• Psalm 105; 96

Devotional

David was reminded of the ark of the covenant when someone told him that the house of Obed-Edom had prospered in everything since the ark had been in their home. Once David finished building his own buildings in Jerusalem he prepared a place for the ark. Uzzah’s death had obviously reminded David of GOD’s instruction on how the ark was to be transported.

Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”
(1 Chron. 15:2 NKJV)

David assembled all of the Levites and told them to consecrate themselves, which they did, and the Levites carried the ark back to Jerusalem. As the ark returned to the city, David had appointed Levites to sing joyful songs accompanied by musical instruments. The Israelites offered sacrifices to GOD for helping them in their quest to return the ark to the new capital city. There was much joy and dancing as a result of the ark’s return. David appointed Levites to play beautiful music and to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of GOD. Following these events David wrote two beautiful Psalms—Psalm 105 and Psalm 96.

There is an important lesson in all of this for us. If we hope to have GOD’s approval then we must do things GOD’s way. David said:

It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.
(1 Chron. 15:13 NKJV)

Just because something “feels good” or even seems obvious that it’s a good thing does not mean that GOD perceives it the same way. The only way we know how to please GOD is because He was gracious enough to tell us through His Word. How can we know “the prescribed way” if we, like David, fail to “inquire of him?” Obviously it’s impossible.