Doing It Right

Then David said, None should carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever. 1Ch 15:2 AMP
And (David) said to them, You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, both you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. For because you bore it not [as God directed] at the first, the Lord our God broke forth upon us--because we did not seek Him in the way He ordained.  1Ch 15:12-13 AMP

Three months earlier an attempt had been made to bring the ark of Jehovah to Jerusalem but it was placed on a cart drawn by animals. God's displeasure at the use of this method resulted in the death of one of the priests.

I have often wondered why, when David made the first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem, the priests didn't instruct him as to how it should be done. I believe I understood something about that today that I hadn't seen before.

The members of the Levitical order had been abused, despised, and ignored under Saul. Earlier in this book it is declared that King Saul had never inquired of the Lord at the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chron. 13:3) which was the symbol of God's presence in the midst of the people. Strangely he did seek out a medium at least once to try and find direction for himself and the people.

This is pure conjecture but I can only imagine that when David called for the ark to be brought up to the capitol city, the priests and Levites were reticent to say anything when the king proposed using a new cart to carry it. Many of their number had been slain by the previous king because they didn't do what he demanded (1 Sam. 22:19). Would this king also be upset if they disagreed with his methods.

Fear of a man may have held them back from doing the will of God.

How important that we fear the right things and keep them in right priority.

See what happened when the king and the spiritual leaders of the people put the fear of God first. "And when God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord [with a safe start], they offered seven bulls and seven rams."

1Ch 15:26 AMP

He showed His approval and blessing and the ark made the journey to Jerusalem with much celebration and no consternation.

There is a right way to honor God and when we approach in that manner He is pleased and we are blessed.

Let not the fear of men overcome our fear of God regardless of personal cost.

Advise for the President (Or any other leader)

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, "How do you advise me to answer these people?" And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

1 Kings 12:6-7

A quick background:

Solomon, King of Israel, has died.  His son, Rehoboam, assumes the leadership of the nation.  The leaders of all twelve tribes approach the young man with a request:  “Your father laid heavy taxes upon us and forced us into labor while the temple and his palaces were being built.  Please lift that burden and make it lighter.”

Rehoboam turns to the advisors who had served his father and asks their advice and 1 Kings 12:6 -7 is their response.

Jesus gave us a picture of his kind of rulership when he told the disciples:

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:25-28

People will follow someone they believe holds their best interests at heart.  Any leader, whether it be a president or otherwise would do well to heed the advice given by Solomon’s counselors.  The best way to demonstrate leadership is through service to those one is leading.

Too many of the current slate of politicians have forgotten this important lesson.  Their major concerns these days are getting reelected so they posture to look good in the eyes of the people but tragically it doesn’t hold up once they are in office.

The test for the citizenry of this country in the upcoming election is whether or not they believe the people they are voting for will truly serve the best interests of the nation.  Many make claims but do those claims hold water?

We need servants not masters.

Ultimately when the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ appears that is what we will get.  “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.