July 10, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Extravagant Celebration

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Opening Prayer

Eternal One, I thank You for the gift of this new day. May the light of Your presence set my heart on fire with love for You.

Read 1 Chronicles 15:25-16:6

[25] So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. [26] Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. [27] Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. [28] So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps. [29] As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart. [1] They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. [2] After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. [3] Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman. [4] He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to extol, thank, and praise the LORD, the God of Israel: [5] Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, [6] and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Early Christianity was infectious, energizing and joyous. 21st-century Christianity needs to recapture that same verve. This will attract the needy, lonely, sick, and oppressed into the arms of a loving heavenly Father” (Tony Campolo).

Some cultures know how to celebrate significant events extravagantly–with long processions, loud music, huge crowds, lavish decorations, maybe fireworks. For Israel this event was one of its finest. To an uninformed observer, it might just have been about transporting a small wooden box a short distance. To “all Israel” (28), it was about their new monarch and his leaders bringing the symbolic presence of God to its new home.

The key participants in the procession–David, the Levites and musicians–were simply but finely attired. The crowd added their shouts of joy to the official music coming from all manner of portable instruments. (As a singer/musician, I am encouraged that Kenaniah, the song leader, was chosen “because he was skillful at it” (1 Chron. 15:22).) The king was so excited that he danced his way into the city. At the end of the journey the Ark was safely installed in its new tent, where offerings were presented to God and edible souvenirs were given to the people.

Two phrases caught my eye: first, “because God had helped the Levites” (26). Divine-human cooperation is an important theme in Chronicles. Here the sacred task was carried out by consecrated human hands, but under the divine protection of Yahweh. Second, “she despised him in her heart” (29). Michal was affronted by what she regarded as David’s shameless exhibitionism (2 Sam. 6:20-23). She may also have resented David taking the monarchy from her father or misunderstood the significance of the contrast between David’s priorities and Saul’s. So, sadly, while the Levites celebrated their God-enabled achievement with a sacrifice of thanksgiving, the complex political love match between David and his first wife (1 Sam. 18:20-29; 19:9-18) was irretrievably broken.

Apply

Imagine yourself at the celebration–perhaps as David, Kenaniah, Michal or someone in the crowd. What would have been most significant or memorable for you?

Closing prayer

Gracious Lord, sometimes life saps all the joy out of my life. Keep me close to Jesus so that his joy will pervade my life.

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