Thurs.’s Devo - The Presence of the Lord

Read: 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36; Romans 1:18-32; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 19:6-7 From the time that Uzzah was struck down when he touched the ark, David did some research into the law to find out what went wrong. He read that the Levites were to carry the Ark on their shoulders with the poles. No one else could touch it. He called all the Levites and priests together and gave them the instructions of how to carry the Ark. He ordered music and song to be done by the priests and Levites. *** When David felt like everything was in place, he and the elders and generals of the army went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant up to Jerusalem. He did it with much ceremony. He did not want to the people to forget how important God’s presence was and all he had done for them. This time David sacrificed seven bulls and rams and God helped them carry the Ark. *** David took off his kingly robes and dressed in the linen of the priests. David was prophet, priest and king just like Jesus. They brought the Ark up to the sound of ram’s horns and trumpets and shouts of joy and singing. David danced and skipped and laughed with joy. His wife, Saul’s daughter, Michal, watched him from her window and was filled with contempt for him. This would cost her her posterity. *** David gave all present gifts of a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. He led them in a great song of praise reminding them of God’s covenant with them. God had taken them from a very small number and grew them to a great nation. He made other nations fear them and would not let them kill his prophets. (How sad that they killed their own prophets.) David called all creation to praise the Lord because he was coming to judge the earth. He reminded them they had nothing to fear because God was their salvation. *** Roman explains it in detail. God made it clear through his creation everything about him and his invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature. They are without excuse. Nature that showed this will also punish them. *** Through man’s rebellion, they were twisted in their minds and became utter fools. They began worshipping idols instead of God. They made images of all sorts of created things and worshipped them. Then they did shameful things with their bodies and turned to perverted sexual acts like homosexuality. *** Since they refused to worship Him, he abandoned them to themselves. They became insolent, proud and boastful inventing new ways of sinning and disobeying their parent. They were heartless and had no mercy. They had no fear of God and his power and encouraged others to join with them in their sin. *** Lord, how wonderful are the things that you have stored up for us, your righteous people who put their trust in you. We will not be ashamed or disappointed. Thank you for your presence that always goes before us.