LEARNING FROM MISTAKES
Opening Prayer
Thank You, Jesus, for being a God of second chances.
Read 1 Chronicles 15:1–16
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”
3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4 He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
5 From the descendants of Kohath,
Uriel the leader and 120 relatives;
6 from the descendants of Merari,
Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;
7 from the descendants of Gershon,[a]
Joel the leader and 130 relatives;
8 from the descendants of Elizaphan,
Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;
9 from the descendants of Hebron,
Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;
10 from the descendants of Uzziel,
Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.
11 Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.
16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.
Footnotes:
a 1 Chronicles 15:7 Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What does it mean that we Christians are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, God’s holy nation” (1 Pet. 2:9)?David, the novice king, messed things up (chapter 13) by deciding to move the Ark without making the proper arrangements. This time he seems determined to get it right. We can learn from each aspect of the plan he now carries through. Might this be a good template for us as we organize church activities, such as plans for a new building or an outreach in our district?
First, David proclaims that those whom God has chosen are the ones who carry out the work (2). We should always seek God’s guidance in setting up our teams. Secondly, David continues his policy of openness and inclusion. There are no furtive whisperings or secret committees (3). Thirdly, David insists that the workers are “consecrated” (12). It is vital that, before we set out on a task for the Lord, we are united in purpose to bring glory to God. Fourth, the Israelites follow God’s clear guidance about how to get the job done (15). (They dispense with their cart.) Finally, they praise the Lord as they go (16). David is even careful (22) in his choice of worship leader!
Apply
What are you currently planning, whether in church life or at home? Have you sought God’s wisdom and examined the motives of your heart?
Closing prayer
Take some time now to pray through Psalm 139:23,24.
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