1 Chronicles 13 - The Presence of the Lord in Your Life

1 Chronicles 13 1And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 2And 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: 3And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. 4And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim. 6And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, 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. 7And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. 8And 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. 9And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10And 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. 11And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day. 12And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? 13So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. 14And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.

Today's Scripture Meaning David consults about the ark. (1-5) The removal of the ark. (6-14) Verses 1-5: David said not, What magnificent thing shall I do now? or, What pleasant thing? but, What pious thing? that he might have the comfort and benefit of that sacred oracle. Let us bring the ark to us, that it may be a blessing to us. Those who honour God, profit themselves. It is the wisdom of those setting out in the world, to take God's ark with them. Those are likely to go on in the favour of God, who begin in the fear of God. Verses 6-14: Let the sin of Uzza warn all to take heed of presumption, rashness, and irreverence, in dealing with holy things; and let none think that a good design will justify a bad action. Let the punishment of Uzza teach us not to dare to trifle with God in our approaches to him; yet let us, through Christ, come boldly to the throne of grace. If the gospel be to some a savour of death unto death, as the ark was to Uzza, yet let us receive it in the love of it, and it will be to us a savour of life unto life.

Today's Scripture Application Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of 1 Chronicles with Chapter 13 and we see the account of David and the ark and how the Lord smote Uzza when he touched the ark and how he blessed the family of Obededom as the ark took residence in their home. In making application we see the ark represents the power and presence of the Lord. When the presence of Lord was in the home the household prospered and when we disobey the presence of the Lord we face the judgement of God just as Uzza found out. It reminds me of times in my life where I have sought the Lord to be blessed and others where I disobeyed and had the Lord discipline me. Now not everything bad that happens to us is result of our disobedience but the principle of the ark and obeying the Lord will result in a positive or negative effect on our lives. How about you? Do you see the principle of the ark in your life? Let us learn from our text today and this principle of the ark to remember that need the presence of the Lord in our lives.

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