1 Chronicles 15:1-10: a reflection

1David made himself houses in David’s city; and he prepared a place for God’s ark, and pitched a tent for it. 2Then David said, “No one ought to carry God’s ark but the Levites. For the LORD has chosen them to carry God’s ark, and to minister to him forever.” 3David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the LORD’s ark to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: 5of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his brothers one hundred twenty; 6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred twenty; 7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brothers one hundred thirty; 8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred; 9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brothers eighty; 10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brothers one hundred twelve.

David prepares to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem, but this time he is careful to do it the right way. An earlier attempt had ended in disaster because it was not done as God had prescribed; and now David says: No one ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD chose them to carry it. He had learned from the earlier failure, and now does God's work in God's way, following the manner God had appointed rather than what seemed convenient.

Notice what David had learned: to do God's work in God's way. The earlier attempt to bring the ark had been well-intentioned but done wrongly, not as God had prescribed, and it ended in disaster. Now David is careful to do it rightly, the way God had appointed, having the Levites carry the ark as God had directed. Good intentions were not enough; God's work was to be done in God's way, according to his direction, not merely as seemed good or convenient to them.

That lesson is worth taking to heart, for we can do God's work in ways of our own devising, however well-intentioned, rather than as he directs. We can assume that good intentions are enough, that God will be pleased with our work however we do it; but David learned that God's work is to be done in God's way, according to his direction. When you seek to do God's work, do not rely only on good intentions, doing it however seems convenient to you; seek to do it in God's way, as he directs, according to his word. Good intentions are not enough; God cares how his work is done, not only that we mean well. Learn from David's earlier failure, and do God's work in God's way, following his direction rather than your own convenience or invention, that your service may be done as God would have it, and not merely as seems good to you.

Lord, David prepared to bring the ark to Jerusalem, but this time carefully, the right way, having learned from an earlier attempt that ended in disaster because it was not done as you had prescribed; now he said, no one ought to carry the ark but the Levites, for the LORD chose them. Show me what he had learned: to do your work in your way. The earlier attempt had been well-intentioned but done wrongly, and it ended in disaster; good intentions were not enough. Now David did it rightly, as you had appointed. Take that lesson to my heart, for I can do your work in ways of my own devising, however well-intentioned, rather than as you direct. I can assume that good intentions are enough, that you will be pleased with my work however I do it; but David learned that your work is to be done in your way, according to your direction. When I seek to do your work, keep me from relying only on good intentions, doing it however seems convenient to me; help me seek to do it in your way, as you direct, according to your word. Good intentions are not enough; you care how your work is done. Help me learn from David's earlier failure, Lord, and do your work in your way, following your direction rather than my own convenience or invention.