1 Chronicles 13:1-5: a reflection

1David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader. 2David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let’s send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have pasture lands, that they may gather themselves to us. 3Also, let’s bring the ark of our God back to us again, for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.” 4All the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor River of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.

David, newly established as king, resolves to bring back the ark of God, which had been neglected. And he names the neglect honestly: Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul. The ark, representing God's presence, had been neglected, not sought, through Saul's reign; and David, acknowledging this past neglect, resolves to renew the seeking of God that had lapsed. He would seek God again, where God had been neglected.

Notice David's honest acknowledgment and his resolve: we did not seek God in Saul's days; let us bring the ark back. He does not hide or excuse the past neglect; he names it honestly, we did not seek him. And then he resolves to renew what had been neglected, to seek God again, to bring back the ark that had been ignored. His was a return to the seeking of God after a period of neglect, beginning with an honest acknowledgment that God had been neglected.

That pattern, of honestly acknowledging past neglect and resolving to renew the seeking of God, is worth taking to heart. There can be, in our own lives, periods when the seeking of God has lapsed, when we have neglected him, not sought him as we should. And renewal begins as David's did: with an honest acknowledgment of the neglect, we did not seek him, and a resolve to renew the seeking that had lapsed. If the seeking of God has grown neglected in your life, do not hide or excuse it; acknowledge it honestly, as David did, and resolve to renew your seeking of God. Bring back what has been neglected; seek God again where you have not been seeking him. David honestly named the neglect and resolved to renew the seeking of God; if you have neglected God, do the same: acknowledge the neglect honestly, and resolve to seek him again, renewing the seeking of God that had lapsed, as David resolved to bring back the ark that had been neglected in the days of Saul.

Lord, David, newly established as king, resolved to bring back the ark, which had been neglected, and named the neglect honestly: let us bring the ark of our God back, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul. The ark, representing your presence, had been neglected through Saul's reign; and David, acknowledging this, resolved to renew the seeking of you that had lapsed. Show me David's honest acknowledgment and his resolve: we did not seek God; let us bring the ark back. He did not hide or excuse the past neglect; he named it honestly, and resolved to renew what had been neglected. Take that pattern to my heart. There can be, in my own life, periods when the seeking of you has lapsed, when I have neglected you, not sought you as I should. And renewal begins as David's did: with an honest acknowledgment of the neglect, and a resolve to renew the seeking that had lapsed. If the seeking of you has grown neglected in my life, keep me from hiding or excusing it; help me acknowledge it honestly, as David did, and resolve to renew my seeking of you. Help me bring back what has been neglected; help me seek you again where I have not been seeking you. David honestly named the neglect and resolved to renew the seeking of you; if I have neglected you, Lord, help me do the same: acknowledge it honestly, and resolve to seek you again. Help me renew my seeking of you.