1 Chronicles 15:11-15: a reflection

11David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, 12and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, up to the place that I have prepared for it. 13For because you didn’t carry it at first, the LORD our God broke out in anger against us, because we didn’t seek him according to the ordinance.” 14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 15The children of the Levites bore God’s ark on their shoulders with its poles, as Moses commanded according to the LORD’s word.

David is bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem, and this time he is careful. Sanctify yourselves, he tells the Levites, and carry the ark on your shoulders with its poles, as Moses commanded. And he says plainly why the care matters: because we did not carry it this way the first time, the LORD broke out against us, for we did not seek him according to the rule.

The first attempt had ended in disaster. They had loaded the ark on a new cart, a well-meant plan, but not the way God had prescribed, and it went badly. Now David has learned. The intention had been good both times; the difference is that this time he does the good thing in the way God actually appointed, on the shoulders of the Levites, as the law required.

There is a lesson here that sits uncomfortably with our instincts. We tend to think that if our intentions are good, the method does not much matter, that sincerity covers everything. But David learned that honoring God includes attending to how God has said to do things, not just meaning well. Where have you assumed good intentions were enough, without asking whether you are going about it God's way? Do the good thing, and do it as he has shown, with reverence for how, not only with a sincere heart.

Lord, teach me that good intentions are not the whole of honoring you, that how I do things matters too. Where I have assumed sincerity was enough, help me attend to your way, and to do the good thing reverently, as you have shown.