Sat.’s Devo - Bringing Up the Ark

Read: 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36; Romans 1:18-32; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 19:6-7 David had several buildings built in the City of David and even a tent for the ark. He researched how to carry the ark and found that it must be carried by priests with the poles on their shoulders. He gathered the priests and Levites together and organized the music. He ordered the Levite leaders to appoint those who would sing and those who would play instruments. Among the priests they chose men to guard the ark and those to blow trumpets as they marched in front of the ark. *** They brought up the Ark with shouts of joy and blowing of ram’s horns and trumpets and clashing of cymbals and loud playing on harps and lyres. *** As they entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter looked out her window at David and was angry with him. He was skipping and laughing with joy in the street. *** The Ark was placed in the special tent David had made and they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. David blessed the people in the name of the Lord and gave everyone bread and cakes of dates and raisins. *** David appointed Levites to play the instruments regularly before the Ark. David had written a song of praise to the Lord and gave the words and music to Asaph. In his song he praises God as the creator of the whole earth and everything that is in it. God is the only god. All the people were to respond, “Amen.” *** In Romans, Paul tells us who God is angry with - all sinful wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. He makes the point that God can be found in his creation and those who refuse to not know him are responsible themselves. *** Instead of worshiping him and thanking God for all he had made and done, some had thought up foolish ideas of what God was like. This led them to become confused and foolish. They began worshipping idols made to look like people, or birds, or animals or reptiles. *** Since they refused to know the truth, God turned them over to their own imaginations and they did vile and degrading things to each other. They traded the truth about God for a lie. *** God turned them over to shameful desires and women became lesbians and men homosexuals. They suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. *** They refused to acknowledge God so God abandoned them and they did things that should never be done. They became full of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior and gossip. They were backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invented ways to sin and disobeyed their parents. They became heartless and merciless and refused to count the cost. Worst of all, they encouraged others to do them also. *** What a description of what we are seeing in our world today. We can rise above all this and show the world that we do know God and will reflect his glory and not the glory of his creation. *** Lord, may we be your glory on the earth. May we show others your love, mercy, righteousness and grace. May hard hearts become softened and come to the knowledge of Christ.