In a great summer of sport, the nation remains desperate for someone to bring a trophy home. Football especially seems to believe that any football trophy belongs here, the home of football as we know it. Or look at the sheer hysteria created around the fact that a British man may have won Wimbledon – we want to bring things home.
David Brings the Sacred Chest Back to Jerusalem
6 David brought together thirty thousand of Israel’s best soldiers and 2 led them to Baalah in Judah, which was also called Kiriath-Jearim. They were going there to get the sacred chest and bring it back to Jerusalem. The throne of the Lord All-Powerful is above the winged creatures on top of this chest, and he is worshipped there.
3 They put the sacred chest on a new ox cart and started bringing it down the hill from Abinadab’s house. Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the ox cart, 4 with Ahio walking in front of it. 5 Some of the people of Israel were playing music on small harps and other stringed instruments, and on tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. David and the others were happy, and they danced for the Lord with all their might.
Right away, David went to Obed Edom’s house to get the chest and bring it to David’s City. Everyone was celebrating. 13 The people carrying the chest walked six steps, then David sacrificed an ox and a choice cow. 14 He was dancing for the Lord with all his might, but he wore only a linen cloth. 15 He and everyone else were celebrating by shouting and blowing horns while the chest was being carried along.
16 Saul’s daughter Michal looked out her window and watched the chest being brought into David’s City. But when she saw David jumping and dancing for the Lord, she was disgusted.
17 They put the chest inside a tent that David had set up for it. David worshipped the Lord by sacrificing animals and burning them on an altar, 18 then he blessed the people in the name of the Lord All-Powerful. 19 He gave all the men and women in the crowd a small loaf of bread, some meat, and a handful of raisins, and everyone went home.
The people wanted the sacred chest bringing back to its rightful place, to Jerusalem.
The ark of the covenant was the representation of God’s presence with them, the throne of God himself. It had travelled with them until it had been captured by the Philistines, and they wanted it back, they wanted God back home with them. And so the chest came back with great rejoicing.
The story of their desperation to have the chest back among them and their rejoicing when it is, makes me reflect on God’s presence among us.
Am I desperate for God to be with me? To know his presence where I am? Do I want the presence of God home with me? Or am I not bothered? Would I miss it?
Do I do all I can to make sure that God has his rightful place in my community?
Lord,
I thank you for your presence with me
every day.
I pray that I may not take it for granted,
but rejoice that your relationship with me
is personal and ongoing.
May I
do all that I can
to make your presence known
in the places where I am
that others may know your love and presence too.
Pam's Perambulation 