Wed.’s Devo - Bringing the Ark into the City

Read: 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36; Romans 1:18-32; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 19:6-7 David set up a special tent for the Ark of God and had read up on how the Ark was to be carried. It must be carried by the poles on the shoulders of the Levites. He summoned all Israel to the place he had put the tent and appointed the Levites to carry the Ark to the tent. He ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites to sing and play joyful songs as the priests carried the Ark. Other Levites were chosen to guard the Ark. Some were to blow trumpets in front of the Ark and other priests sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. David dressed in a linen robe and a priestly garment and marched with the Levites. He danced and laughed with joy as the Ark entered the city. His wife, Michal, Saul’s daughter watched from her window and disapproved of David’s dress and outward show of worship. They placed the Ark inside the tent David had constructed and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. Then David blessed the people and gave each a lot of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. The Levites lead the people in worship blessing and worshipping and praising the Lord. They worshipped with cymbals, harps, lyres and singing. David had written a Psalm for the Levites to sing giving thanks and praise to God. It retold Israel’s story of how God chose them and had brought them this far. Paul continues in his letter to the church in Rome instructing them that wickedness suppresses the truth. Gods’ truth is made obvious to all through everything He made. We can see clearly his qualities, his power and divine nature through the things he made so that no one can be excused from knowing God. People have known God but they have refused to thank him or worship him as God. Instead, they made up things about God and what he was like. They worshiped idols of things he created rather than the one who created them. God abandoned them to their own wicked imaginations which caused them to distort and pervert everything. Homosexuality became acceptable. Sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior and gossip filled man’s minds. They became backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invented new ways of sinning and disobeyed their parents. They broke their promises, were heartless and had no mercy. They sinned and encouraged others to do so too. Sounds like today! In our Psalm it tells us that the wicked seem to think that God is dead and do not see his punishment awaiting them. They search for helpless victims. When they aren’t immediately punished they think God doesn’t see but He does and will punish them. Lord, thank you that You always have the final say and You always defend your Word. We are watching you move in our nation and are so thankful. Continue to root out evil and replace it with righteousness. Thank you for leaders who love You and honor your Word. Strengthen and justify your people.