You Can't Pin this on ME!

Warriors Arise: January 25, 2023

1 Chronicles 15:11-13 (NKJV) And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

If you go back and read from the beginning of chapter 15, David is diligently trying to reestablish Aaron's family and the Levites to their position of ministering before the ark of the Lord, as He ordained in the Wilderness (Exodus 28-30). He is digging back through their history to figure out what went wrong, when they tried to bring the ark of the Lord back to the people. Uzzah died and he needed to know why. He knew Uzzah died, because he had put his hand out and touched the ark, when trying to steady the ark of the Lord. But he was missing something. There had to be more to this. Was there a way to prevent it? Was there something else behind God's immediate action? Yes. God had given specific instructions on how it was to be carried. Even though David was trying to reestablish God's place with their people, he had to do this the way God instructed. What was David missing? What didn't he understand?

Some may think it pretty harsh of God to respond so quickly and permanently with Uzzah. Many times people say the Bible is out dated and doesn't relate to the lives and events of today. That is a lie the enemy would like us to believe; because if we believe the Bible is irrelevant, then we will believe God is as well. Once the enemy removes the Word of God from among us, then he will usurp God's authority and place in our lives. David had to remember. The Levites and line of Aaron had to remember and return to their place, their purpose, their assignment from God. They could have been afraid. The last priests who carried the ark were killed in battle. Did they forget the lack of godliness of the priests who were carrying the ark that day? Did they remember what God had told Samuel when he was but a boy, sleeping before the ark of the Lord? God told Samuel that He would judge the house of Eli, because he would not discipline his sons, who were misusing their positions as priests (1 Sam. 3:1-14).

I am curious to learn what the Levites and Aaron's family were doing after the ark of the Lord had been taken by the Philistines. I am curious to learn why they didn't go get it from the house of Abinadab. From the time the ark of the Lord was lost in battle, returned, Samuel judged Israel, Israel demanded a king, Saul ruled 42 years and then it took 7 years for David to be made king over Israel, what have the Levites and the line of Aaron been doing? Did they all go home when the ark of the Lord was lost in battle? When David goes to retrieve the ark of the Lord from Abinadab's house, did the Levites show up ready to carry the ark? Were there representatives from the house of Aaron? Could this be why David addresses them directly and shifts some of the error upon them?

1 Chronicles 15:11-13 (NKJV) And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

David holds them accountable, because they should have known. They should have been there. They should have volunteered to carry the ark and remind David of what God instructed back in Exodus. Why did they give up their position? Why did they disregard their responsibilities, given by God. This is why David spoke so directly to them. God had changed. He hadn't given the responsibility to someone else. He gave it to the Levites. He instructed the house of Aaron. Then David changed in mid-sentence to "we." He includes himself, because he was a good king. As king, he needed to consult God on transporting the ark. David understood proper order and authority. How many times had he sought the Lord to find out about how He wanted things done? This was a hard lesson to learn, because his error caused a man to die. The Levites disregard for their position led to a man dying. Aaron's family line shirking their responsibility led to a man dying. David knew they each needed to feel the weight of what had happened, including himself. He would not bare it alone, because he was reinstating the Levites and Aaron's line. He wasn't going to give them lighter duties. He was about to give them more. He would make sure they understood where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to do.

It is hard to swallow a pill, as big as David was giving. He was holding each one of them accountable for Uzzah's death. He was calling them out to go and sanctify themselves. It wasn't good enough for David to have the right men. The right men had to get right in their heart and in their relationship with God. Then they could carry the ark of the Lord.

Father, it is difficult to receive correction. It is difficult to think that I might have caused someone else to lose their life, their purpose, their destiny or their call in life because I didn't meet with You. I didn't consult You before plowing ahead with accomplishing what was in my heart. I ask to be reminded of this when I try to rush ahead with the plans that are in my heart. I pray I will settle myself, seek You, read Your Word and listen to You for the answer, the direction, the blueprints for how a task is to be accomplished. I pray I would turn to You before stepping forward. More than accomplishing Your will, I want to accomplish it Your way, in Your time, and with Your people in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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