David's First Attempt to Retrieve Ark of God I Chronicles 13

I Chronicles 13:6 "And David went up, and all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring u thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it."

The ark was the center of worship in the tabernacle and then the temple. It was where certain priests went into the holy of hollies to offer sacrifice to God for the sins of the people.

It had been stolen by the Philistines but returned after it caused them much heartache and body ache. But it had not been brought to the capitol of Israel. David sought to do so but in this first attempt went about it the wrong way. Back in the law the ark was to be carried a certain way and it was not on a cart. Priests were suppose to carry it on shafts put through rings.

v7 "And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Ussa and Ahio drave the cart."

For a priest to go before the ark, he must be purified and dressed a certain way. It is a dangerous thing for sinful man to go before a holy God without the blood covering.

v9 "And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Ussa put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. v10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Ussa and he smote him because he put his hand to the ark, and there he died before God."

This story should stress the importance of the blood of Jesus Christ which was offered for our sin upon the cross of Calvary. His blood covers our sin in salvation so that we can stand before a holy God and not be struck down because of our sinful nature. It may be a hard thing for some to understand: Man has been sinful since the garden of Eden (we all know that story). Adam's sin has been passed down through his blood to all mankind. Jesus was sinless and so his pure blood took the place of our tainted blood. When God sees someone who has received Jesus Christ as Savior, He sees the blood of his son and not our own.

v12 "And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?"

Adam and Eve hid in the garden until they were clothed with the garment made by the LORD through the shedding of innocent blood. They were afraid and ashamed. Throughout the ministry Jesus often said 'Be not afraid.' He had come to take away the barrier between man and his Father.

In the days of this story, the law had been put aside much like the Bible has been pushed aside in our society. David did not know or ignored the instructions contained in the law as to how to transport the ark. He revived that knowledge in the next chapter as we will see. The answer was there all the time to the question of verse 12. People often asked the question these days: How can God? The answer is in the Bible.

v14 "And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had."

David left off bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem for a time. The house where it remained was blessed. I hope we do not push aside the word of God. It is our ark. It is our answer.

Why did David fail in bringing in the ark of God? He tried to do the right thing in the wrong way.

Psalm 34:12-14 "What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it. v15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."

Keywords: Chronicles, Old Testament, David, Ark of God, Ark of Covenant, Bible study, salvation. David's first attempt at bringing in the ark of God.