历代志上

Meditative Reflection
God cannot be Taken Lightly

“The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.” (1 Chr. 13:10)

The return of the ark to Jerusalem ought to be an extremely joyous occasion, and one cannot really blame David for being upset at the death of Uzzah which basically destroyed all the excitement of this otherwise joyous occasion. However, to be upset is one thing, to be angry especially with God is another, and David had an important lesson to learn, even in his zeal to bring back the ark of God, undoubtedly out of love of the Lord.

The biblical author specifically reminds us of what the ark is all about: “the ark of God, the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name” (13:6). It represents not only God’s presence, but it signifies the presence of that name—the LORD, Yahweh—and the fact that He is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. The presence of the ark signifies that presence of the One and Only God who is not only the Almighty, but He who rules over heavens and earth, and is to be revered with utmost holiness.

Unfortunately, in the absence of Samuel, the priests were totally ignorant of the stipulation in Numbers 4 in that “the ark was not only to be moved by none but Levites but it was to be carried on the shoulders, not in a carriage…even the Levites were expressly forbidden to touch it on pain of death” (K&D, 591). David followed the example of the Philistines and moved it simply on a new cart, and by non-Levites.

I believe the stumbling of the oxen was not an accident, nor was the touching by Uzzah, presumably out of good intentions. However, the Bible makes clear that what Uzzah did was an “irreverent act” (2 Sam. 6:7), meaning that it was probably not just the act itself that caused his death, but rather the fact that he had adopted an irreverent attitude toward the ark which was revealed to all through this incident.

I do not blame David for getting upset and even angry with God; we all have moments like this in our life. However, when David had time to calm down and reflect on the matter, he should come to understand that

a. As much as he loved the Lord and got excited about the return of the ark to Jerusalem, he still had to treat the Lord, whom he loved, with utmost reverence, because He is the Lord Almighty!

b. As he consulted the Lord on his every move (or at least on every important move), he should also consult the Lord about the return of the ark and how it should be done. This, at least from what we can tell, was not the case.

c. The striking dead of Uzzah was not only according to the decree declared already in Numbers, but like the rejection of Cain by the Lord, if he did right, would he not be accepted by the Lord? (Gen. 4:7). That means Uzzah’s irreverent act was only an expression of his irreverent sin that was “crouching” at his door (Gen. 4:7), waiting for the chance to express it.

Although David’s anger was not justified at all, God, being long-suffering, enabled David to calm down and get over his negative feeling; in fact, through the expressed blessings He poured on the entire household of Obed-Edom (a Levite of the family of Korahites—13:14), He helped him understand that if he approached the ark with reverence and transported it according to His law, the Lord would not change His promise and would continue His blessings upon him, especially the blessings of His very presence in Jerusalem. The world always turns a joyous celebration into a time of unholy, uncontrolled licentiousness, but never should the children of God!

Meditative Reflection
What Really Matters is Obedience

“And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.” (1 Chr. 14:2)

Reading this part of the history of David gives us a reminder that nobody is perfect—not even David.

The way the Chronicler arranges the early part of the history of the united kingdom under David is very purposeful especially in light of the sequence of events recorded here being rather different from that in 1 Samuel:

- The joyous occasion of bringing the Ark back to the City of David was interrupted by the death of Uzzah who irreverently touched the Ark (13:10).

- Then the Chronicler mentions about the unusual tribute by King Hiram of Tyre (a very powerful nation along the coast), which caused David to acknowledge that not only had the Lord established his kingdom, but that he was so highly exalted not for his own purpose, but for the sake of His people Israel (14:2).

- However it is followed immediately by the account of David’s further taking many wives and bearing more children in Jerusalem (14:3-7).

The message to his immediate hearers, the returnees from exile, is rather obvious: Even as godly and God-pleasing as King David was, no one can take the Almighty God lightly and even open acknowledgement of God is not enough. What really matters ultimately is obedience.

In the words of JFB:

“sovereigns are invested with royal honor and authority not for their own sakes so much as for that of their people. But if it is true of all kings, it was especially applicable to the monarchs of Israel, and even David was to know that all his glory and greatness were given only to fit him as the minister of God, to execute the Divine purpose towards the chosen people” (JFB, 482).

However, such head knowledge, or even conviction in the heart is not enough: David needs to live a life that is consistent with his mind and his heart. But the Bible is very honest with David’s failure in informing us of his violation of the law of the king in Deuteronomy 17:17 in taking many wives. David was seduced by the custom of his time in that “a large harem was considered from time immemorial as part of the court of an oriental monarch…and (thus he) suffered many a heartburn afterwards in consequence, not to mention his fearful fall in consequence of his passion for Bathsheba” (K&D, Commentary on the OT, vol. 2, 584).

It is not only a lesson for the returnees from exile, but for all of us today.

Meditative Reflection
Michal - A Wife who held a grudge

“As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.” (1 Chr. 15:29)

When Michal was first introduced to us, she was probably, like David, a young person, perhaps even in her late teens. She was romantically in love with David. Just as she thought it was not meant to be, the betrothal of her older sister to David fell through and her wish was granted. As much as it was a political ploy or even an evil plot on the part of her father, she was married to the one she was madly in love with (1 Sam. 18:20).

As wonderful as it was, her love for David was soon put to a test, but she passed this test in flying colors as she risked the wrath of her father (and could even be her life) in helping her husband flee for his life (1 Sam. 19:12). However, what did she get in return for her faithfulness to her husband? She was given to another man as his wife by Saul (1 Sam. 25:44).

As unfortunate as it was, we read in the Bible that at least this new husband of hers, Paltiel, loved her dearly (2 Sam. 3:16). In other words, if she wanted to hold a grudge, she should hold it against her father and no one else!

However, just as she might be content with her fate, David was not. He used his influence and took the opportunity of Abner’s betrayal to demand her back. If David did it out of love, we could understand. But by then he had other wives, in fact six of them already (2 Sam. 3:2-5), while Paltiel presumably had only Michal. By then, whatever love Michal had for David had turned into hatred and scorn, perhaps rightfully.

Yet, David remained the king anointed by God, and he remained, as flawed as he was, totally committed to reign after God’s heart. As a king who sought to enquire of the Lord on his every move, the return of the ark was meant to ensure that such a dependency on God would continue even after his reign (1 Chr. 13:3). And, the return of the ark of God also signified His blessings on His people and the restoration of the centrality of the worship life of God’s people. It was indeed an occasion which called for great celebration. Unfortunately, Michal allowed her own misfortune to rob her even of her relationship with God, putting her personal grudge before the plan of God and the blessings of her people!

Yes, I have come across many servants of the Lord who have neglected their families and especially their wives, and some of these wives have adopted Michal’s attitude. One such woman said to her husband after many years of marriage, “I have had enough of you and your God!”.

I would entreat you, if you happen to be a Michal to set aside your own grudge. Do not let it rob you of your relationship with God and blind you to the plan and will of God in you and your spouse. Do not turn God’s blessing into a curse! (2 Sam. 6:23)

Meditative Reflection
God-Centered Worship

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.” (1 Chr. 16:8)

If we are being honest, we must admit that most of prayers are very self-centered; even our so-called worship is often very self-centered.

We can simply examine even the prayer we uttered this morning, and ask, “Did it begin with praise and adoration?”. Chances are, we began and ended likely in petition, and the contents were mainly about our needs, our wants and our situation. Even if we seek God’s will, it was likely about ourselves.

What about our Sunday worship? Sure we sing a lot of praise songs and choruses, of which many are about how God has met our needs; even though they might be spiritual rather than material, still they were about us.

It is because we are so consumed with ourselves and our needs that we fail to approach God to hear and to know what He really wants to say to us.

In this likely first ever song or psalm that was sung before the ark written by David, we learn an important lesson about what a God-centered worship is.

David begins this psalm with a “call to worship” that is centered only on God. If you read very carefully, while David calls upon us to give thanks, to make known, to sing, to tell, to glory, to seek, to rejoice and to remember, the object is always God, not a word about himself or Israel—all about God!

You might ask, "Why is it so important?". 

Allow me to share my experience at one worship time: I participated in a “Praise and Prayer” session on a Sunday evening led by one of my colleagues. He led us for 45 minutes of singing songs, like this opening “Call to Worship” written by David—songs that focused only on who God is and His mighty deeds, intertwined with scriptures and prayers with the same focus. After this time of praise and adoration, I was so full of the thoughts of God’s greatness, goodness and kindness that whatever petitions, worries or needs that I had brought with me that evening suddenly looked so trivial. I did not feel the need to tell them to the Lord. (Did He not know, did He not care, did He need my begging before He would answer me?) In fact, because I was now so God-centered, my attitude in asking changed: Concerning the things that I originally thought I needed to talk to Him about, I did not feel like asking at all. I only felt like continuing to worship and to praise Him.

With our reflection on this psalm of David today, I encourage you to write your own “Call to Worship” following the example of David and pray it aloud to the Lord before you go into petition or intercession. See if it makes a difference in your prayer-life.

Meditative Reflection
Unfathomable Greatness of God

“Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.” (1 Chr. 16:24-25)

As I was reading this second part of a Psalm of praise by David, I could not help but feel that David was trying to exhaust all his vocabulary which he could muster to describe the unfathomable greatness of God. What is equally amazing is that these words of praise came not from a professional clergy like Ezra, but from the mouth of a layman, a macho warrior, a politician and a king.

Recently I also came across a poem by a layman who, like David, was trying to exhaust his vocabulary to express the inexpressible greatness of God. His name was Abraham Cowley, a seventeenth century bureaucrat (secretary to Henrietta Maria, queen consort of England), a spy (for the Royalists), a politician and a botanist who contributed to the forming of the Royal Society. He skillfully used contrasts to fathom the depths and heights of Christ’s love on the cross. Allow me to share with you the first part of his poem, Christ’s Passion.

Enough, my Muse, of earthly things,

And inspirations but of wind,

Take up thy lute, and to it bind

Loud and everlasting strings;

And on ’em play and to ’em sing,

The happy mournful stories,

The lamentable glories,

Of the great Crucified King.

Mountainous heap of wonders! Which dost rise

Till earth thou joinest with the skies!

Too large at bottom, and at top too high,

To be half seen by mortal eye.

How shall I grasp this boundless thing?

What shall I play? what shall I sing?

I'll sing the mighty riddle of mysterious love,

Which neither wretched men below, nor blessed spirits above

With all their comments can explain;

How all the Whole World’s Life to die did not disdain.

I’ll sing the searchless depths of the compassion divine,

The depths unfathomed yet

By reasons plummet, and the line of wit,

Too light the plummet, and too short the line,

How the Eternal Father did bestow

His own Eternal Son as ransom for his Foe,

I’ll sing aloud, that all the world may hear,

The triumph of the buried conquerer.

How hell was by its prisoner captive led,

And the great slayer Death slain by the dead.

Abraham Cowley (1618-1667)

Meditative Reflection
Serving God His Way!

“You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.” (1 Chr. 17:4)

David’s desire to build a house for the Lord was indeed very admirable. To think of himself dwelling in a grand palace and yet the Lord remaining in a makeshift tent, this truly reflected David’s love for the Lord. However,  theologically speaking, God does not dwell in anything earthly as Solomon rightly observed, “The heavens, even the highest heaven cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (1 Ki. 8:27).

I am sure the Lord was very delighted with David’s desire nonetheless. However, as admirable as the desire of David was, the Lord said, “You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.” (17:4) As it turned out as we know, it was God’s plan that his son, Solomon, who would build His temple.

Even Nathan made the mistake of thinking that because it was such a good desire, David could do whatever he had in mind since the Lord was with him (17:2).

This is a very important lesson for us to learn as we seek to serve the Lord. Not everything we desire is necessarily of God, even if our intention is noble—planting a church, doing a short-term mission or starting a new ministry. We need to inquire of the Lord and obey His will and His timing. Otherwise, we are asking the Lord to follow us instead!

Meditative Reflection
Special in God’s Eyes

“You, LORD God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.” (1 Chr. 17:17b)

David was completely overwhelmed by the reply of the Lord through Nathan. He was thinking of building a house of God, yet in return, God covenanted with him to build his house forever instead.

I am sure that David also knew, as his son did, that God did not really dwell in a house built by man. His real intention was to express his love and thankfulness to God for blessing him and his people—by defeating all his enemies and for making his name great among the nations. I suspect the building of a place of permanency for the Lord, in the mind of David, was a way to commit the Lord to dwell among them, to be with them forever, unlike what happened to them in the times of the Judges and during Saul’s reign too.

In return, he did receive what he asked for eventually, although he would not be the one who built the temple of the Lord. This honor was given to his son, Solomon. But the promise he received in return overwhelmed him because instead of him building a house for the Lord, the Lord had promised to build a house for him, an everlasting house! This prompted David to exclaim with these heart-felt words as recorded in 2 Samuel, “Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord? What more can David say to you?” (2 Sam. 7:19-20).

We are no David obviously, and yet this is how the Sovereign Lord has dealt with us too! We, who were not part of the Chosen Race — Israel, and had never even cared anything about God, let alone His house, were received into that everlasting house He promised David, the Kingdom established by the Son of David, the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. Such has been made possible through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus on the cross in the new covenant of His blood (1 Cor. 11:25). Indeed, we are just as special as David is in God’s eyes.