Feb. 6th, 2012
So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres. But as the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. I Chronicles 15:26-29
Following the debacle of almost dropping the Ark of the Covenant, and Uzzah being struck dead for trying to save it; David once again embarks on the task of finally returning the Ark to its rightful place in Jerusalem. Many preparations are made this time, and all care is given to insure its safe delivery. It is a glorious day – long coming – when this physical reminder of the presence of God is brought back to the city of God, by the people of God, under the direction of God’s anointed King, David. I wonder what it might have been like to be there. Sounds vaguely familiar to another Palm parade that would usher God’s only Son into his final week, and place in human history – but it probably looked more like a royal wedding processional on the crowded streets of Jerusalem.
David is overcome with joy and as the Choir, song leaders, and worship musicians lead the processional into the city; David breaks out into dancing, skipping about and laughing. In another retelling of this story it even says that David laid aside his priestly and kingly garb to dance naked before the Lord! Observing this scene from yonder window sill is David’s wife Michal, Saul’s daughter – and she is not happy. Maybe it was her husband’s nakedness on display for all to see that caused her such concern; but I think there might be another factor in her displeasure.
For decades before David defeated her Dad, Saul; religion and religious expression had grown cold in Israel. Ritual and traditionalism, and decorum and order had become the normal way for people to express their religious faith and fervor – now comes this upstart new King, with his crazy ways of worship, and Michal is distressed…and it makes me wonder…
Am I put off by other people’s expression of worship and praise and gratitude toward God? Do I take offense when someone raises their hands, or shouts amen, or sits quietly while others sing lustily? Do I find liturgical and traditional expressions of faith to be second class citizens alongside “contemporary” music, and free form worship? Do I take exception with drums and guitars and “pop” ular expressions of religious passion, preferring organs and pianos, and quiet contemplation? You see – there is no right or wrong way to worship – if worship is done in the Spirit of God, and is honest and heartfelt. And that too makes me wonder…
Am I willing to cast off whatever senses of “decorum” I might think proper and appropriate to express my heartfelt love and gratitude to God, for all God has done and is doing in me and my life? Am I willing to obey the Spirit, in spite of others objections, to “dance and laugh and sing and skip” before the God who made me, saved me, called me, and uses me? Am I willing to “play the fool” to show my love for God? Am I willing to dance naked before God – who hung naked before the world - to show Him how much He means to me – who showed me how much He loved me…? If God was willing to send his Son to die for me – could I at least clap along when the Spirit moves me – or at least not look with disdain on others if they choose to do so? David teaches us a great lesson about worship, and Michal does too…I want to be more like David and less like Michal.

Jan. 31st, 2012
And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. I Chronicles 14:2
This short chapter includes a couple decisive battles that David successfully waged against the Philistines. Each time David first consults God, and gives God the praise upon completion of the bloody task. But what really struck me today is this verse where David seems to stumble upon this realization, this reality that God has now confirmed him as the king over Israel. It seems that David was so preoccupied with building God’s kingdom and restoring it to its healthy spiritual prominence – he doesn’t realize until this moment that God is blessing him and has confirmed his stature in life as Israel’s King for this time. It seems he failed to realize who he was becoming, and what he had become!
I wonder if we do the same. Do we fail to realize how significant we are to God and God’s plan? Do we ever just coast along sometimes in a faithful stupor, unaware of just what God is up to, in and through our lives? Do we ever get so busy working for God, that we haltingly realize that that work is forming us into some more usable tool for the building of God’s kingdom? Do we ever just stop and consider for a moment what it means to be a Child of God – to be called by God – to be gifted and empowered by God to make a difference in our world, and to make our world different? It seems that was David’s revelation at this moment.
And note one more thing – what was the ultimate purpose of David becoming aware of God’s confirmation and blessing? Did you notice it? For the sake of his people Israel. Let us be clear – God didn’t elect and empower and bless David so he could live a cushy life – no God chose David to be his faithful and successful King – for the sake of His people.
I think I must learn that lesson again today. God has not put me in this place right now for any other primary reason – but for the sake of His people in this community, and this church. I am not here to build my resume, or enhance my personal stature or status. I have not received these gifts from God to make myself anything other than what I am, a servant of God. I have not been blessed to serve with these great people for some self-aggrandizement – but so God might use me to lead and teach, and bless these people; God’s people! Certainly I enjoy and appreciate all God’s confirmations and blessings – but I must be reminded today that those are not the ends for which I work – but the means to an end that God desires – the sake of His people.
God…I’m humbled that you would save, call, and use such a sinner as me. Help me realize how you have confirmed me and my position in life for this moment – but ultimately help me understand and even appreciate – that all your blessings in my life – (for which I am grateful) are not just for my enjoyment or enrichment – but that I might be a more worthy and helpful servant for the sake of all Your people!

Jan. 5th, 2012
[ i]But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God. David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah…David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned. 1 Chronicles 13:9-11 & 12-14
I am struck today by the harshness of God – and David’s anger because of it. It seems perfectly sensible to me that Uzzah would do all within his power to protect the Ark from falling off the stumbling oxen-cart – but apparently God’s law about not touching the Ark takes precedence over Uzzah’s innocent attempt to do the right thing. I wonder if David was thinking - “Uzzah and I should have just let the dang thing fall on the floor!” It just seems so uncaring and compassionless for God to act so rashly against Uzzah. It is no secret to me how/why David now became afraid of God, and refused to continue the move to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem.
There is a telling phrase in this whole difficult story, though – found at the end of verse 12 - “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” I don’t want to try and super-spiritualize any of what seems a preposterous story in order to “get God off the hook” – for what from my perspective seems an inappropriate punishment for what also from my perspective seems not only an innocent, but even an attempt to helpfully do the right thing. But, there may be more to what David said than meets the eye. Was it really David’s responsibility to “care” for God’s Ark? Maybe God wanted to do some miracle for Uzzah, or David or the people as the Ark fell off the cart. Maybe God wanted to teach some other lesson that we now have no way of learning, because a human intervened, innocently, but without regard for God’s greater law. Maybe David was never supposed to bring the Ark of God into or under “his” care at all. Maybe God is quite capable of handling His own holy things and does not need our help at all. I don’t know, and again, can’t presume to feel like even my skeptical (doubtful) questions in any way make sense of this story.
My “take away” today is to pay attention to God’s law, and regardless the outward circumstances, do my best to do the right thing. If I end up like Uzzah, dead, for mishandling the holy, but my intentions were good, right, honest and honorable – so be it – I can accept that. But if I, like David, have ever thought that handling God’s holy business was my personal responsibility – God go ahead and strike me dead. I know God is capable of handling His own affairs, and probably doesn’t “need” my help! I’m just glad God enlists my help, occasionally, and allows me to handle His holy matters – even when I don’t always understand his ways, and too often disregard His commands. I’m also glad the New Testament, and Jesus, help finish the portrait of God begun in the Old Testament.

Jan. 4th, 2012
This is another interesting chapter listing, numbering and naming all the soldiers who came to join David’s army, and force the crown upon David’s head. At one point David’s growing army is described: Day after day more men joined David until he had a great army, like the army of God. (vs. 22) That is pretty heady stuff – must have been an amazing sight. What I also found interesting were the descriptions used of the various groups of soldiers joining David’s army – I’ll give you some samples: all of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right hand. (vs.2) Some brave and experienced warriors…they were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and swift as deer on the mountains . (vs. 8) These warriors were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand! (vs.14) But I found this description most interesting: All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. (vs.32)
I would love to be noted for any of those valiant characteristics – I’d love to be ambidextrous, I’d love to be fierce as a lion and swift as a deer. But the one listed quality from which I think I’d most benefit is the last – to understand the signs of the times, and know the best course to take. I think understanding the signs of the times is more valuable today than then. We have so many competing voices trying to decipher and dispel their version of reality that it makes it hard to really know which course of action to take sometimes. We have 24 hour media coverage that instead of reporting and clarifying the issues, more often confuses them. They are wholly incapable of presenting an unbiased report on any subject of any kind. We have a massive governmental machine that seems wholly incapable of making one decision for the good of the people that elected them, instead thinking only of being reelected. And we now have this invasive social network that allows individuals to claim an elevated status of intelligence based on how many “likes” their latest post receives. It is a pseudo sense of ill-gotten fame generated by some so-called “friends”.
These are the “signs” I read today. Faith in God is not seasonal or subjective – it is the core of life. Family are indispensable and irreplaceable – the most important people on this earth. Friends are not those who like you on Facebook, but those who walk with you in good and bad times; without judgment, without answers, without hurry. Truth is not shaded by degrees of interpretation – it exists independent of any twisted sense of personal justification. Authenticity is a core value of human existence that shines when all else is dulled. I want to use these signs to guide the way I live today. What signs are guiding your way?

Jan. 3rd 2012
David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. I Chronicles 11:17-19
David has been anointed by God to be the new King of Israel. He immediately sets out to shore up the fledgling nation by securing some courageous soldiers to lead his army – and provide him security. This chapter names the Three men (and note that each time the Three are mentioned, as a group, the word Three is capitalized – a notation usually reserved in the scriptures as a reference for someone who is divine.) These Three men serve as officers in David’s growing army, but they also serve as loyal guards, comrades, and likely, friends. The story listed above is one of their exploits, and it is remarkable. In the middle of an ongoing and mighty battle against the dreaded Philistines, while resting one evening, David makes an off-handed remark about desiring water from a well in Bethlehem. The mighty Three take it as a command, break through the enemy lines, retrieve some of that water, and give it to their beloved King…and what does he do with it? He pours it out on the ground!
How would that make these men feel? They have just risked life and limb for their knucklehead friend/king, and he repays their grand act of love and devotion, by pouring the water out on the ground. Don’t miss the meaning. David didn’t carelessly spill this precious water, no, he fully understood the devotion and risk these men ventured; and realized that even as much as they loved him, and he undoubtedly appreciated their sacrifice – it was not justifiable – that kind of devotion ought not be offered to any human being – but reserved only for God. Therefore David offers the token of their gift to the only one who is worthy to receive it – God – and pours out their gift as an offering to God.
There are many levels of meaning one could draw from this story, but I choose the simplest today: the power and need for good friends. David began his reign recognizing his need for close confidants who would share his load, and secure his ‘back’. These men were selected and became his most trusted allies. Their exploits are mentioned throughout this chapter. They could not do all that was required, and 30 other soldiers are also named in this chapter, but these Three dominate the drama. Their willingness to die for a cup of water for their King is just plain remarkable.
I wonder if I have friends like that in my life. But probably an even more important question…I wonder if I AM that kind of friend to some folks in my life! We’d all like to have those kind of friends – and I’m certain that having them…requires first…being one! I am blessed beyond what I deserve to have good friends, many GOOD friends…and I can count 2 or 3 or 5 or 6 who stand out as GREAT friends, and for that I’m humbly grateful. But rather than count my blessings as I number them today – I want to consider what more I can do to be a good friend…even a GREAT friend to so many that God has placed in my life. Am I willing to risk blood to be a loyal friend? That is what I want today. You?