Devotion for Thursday 19 August
Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the First Book of Chronicles, Chapter 13 verse 8, “David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets,” (NRSVB). King David called together the captains of the army and the leaders of the assembly of Israel. He asked them if they would agree to a gathering of all the people to go with him to bring the Ark of the Lord back from Kiriath-Jearim to the City of David. The whole assembly under the guidance of their king rejoiced at the return of the Ark. They promised to seek the Lord, for in the time of Saul, the worship of the Israelites declined. The joyous celebration ended in mourning for the people. They did not follow God’s instruction regarding the sacredness of the ark and someone touched the ark and lost his life. David was angered that the return of the ark was accompanied by such a calamity and feared bringing the ark back to his city. He left the ark in the house of the Levite, Obed-Edom and his house was blessed, for they treated the presence of God’s Ark with reverence. God ordained, in the commandments given to Moses, that the Levites should carry the Ark of the Lord, and that the priests should accompany it and walk before it.
The first journey, to bring the Ark back, was not accompanied by seeking and obeying the instructions of the Lord regarding the sanctity of the Ark of the Lord. The second journey was done in accordance with the commandments given to the priests, and the Ark was placed in the specially prepared tented place, in the palace court in Jerusalem. After the offerings and prayers of dedication, every Israelite received a loaf of bread, a portion of meat and a cake of raisins as signs and gifts of God’s blessing. These gifts to take home, to share and enjoy, were given as a reminder of God’s presence. David continued with his program of religious reforms and commissioned singers, musicians and craftsmen to serve in the gathering place of the assembly. He asked Obed-Edom and his family to be the gatekeepers at the Tabernacle that covered the Ark of the Lord. When the worship of Israel, and the services of the consecrated officers were restored in Jerusalem, the Israelites sought the presence of the Lord and found new joy in serving God and seeking his word.
Returning to the old worship practices of the fathers and mothers of faith, after a long period of silence, has filled people with joy, awe and thankfulness. After the Second World War and the devastation of the bombing of many churches, parishes across Europe and in the United Kingdom came together with great joy, following the rebuilding of the churches. They returned to worship without fear of air-raids and bombardments, thanking God for being able to worship in peace again. Because the church is in the world, it suffers with the people of the world the various calamities that have to be endured. Returning to worship, finding the prayer-soaked chapels still professing the presence of the Lord, even in the most painful times, will restore hope and faith. The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, in Chapter 4, verses 4 and 5, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! The Lord is near,” (NRSVB).
Father, we ask that the world and her people will return to worship you with reverence and fear. You are our awesome God, who loves the world and her people. You desire good things for the people and want to bring peace and good-will to the nations. Help us to show your love and hope through our faithfulness and joyful worship, Amen.
