May 8
I Chronicles
15:4–I Chronicles 17:16
REJOICING AND REJECTION
I Chronicles
17:4
"Thus saith the
LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in."
There are so many
thoughts that come to me today as I read our Bible
reading. I want to write about the beautiful music that
accompanied the Ark of God as it finally came to its
proper resting place in Jerusalem. King David had
researched the proper way to move that HOLY thing.
Remember the fiasco in a earlier year when it was put on
an ordinary cart?
I wish I could have
been there to hear the sound of the trumpets as the ARK
OF THE COVENANT moved through the country-side, finally
resting in a "tent." Would that "tent" have been the one
in which MOSES and AARON served those many years ago? We
refer to that place of worship as "the tabernacle in the
wilderness" I wish I could have been there to receive "a
loaf of bread" and "a good piece of flesh" from King
David’s hand (I Chronicles 16:3).
Oh, to have heard
ASAPH sound the cymbals and PRIESTS BENAIAH and JAHAZIEL
blow their trumpets as they stood before the ARK OF THE
COVENANT OF GOD (vs.6)! To have heard HEMAN and JEDUTHUN
give thanks to the LORD with their trumpets and their
cymbals, also, as well as other musical instruments of
God (vs. 42). It must have been a spiritual experience!
THE SOUND OF PRAISE FILLED THE AIR OF THE SOULS OF ALL
STANDING THERE THAT DAY! And KING DAVID was moved beyond
words. He danced and praised God! There he stood–playing
an instrument, dressed in white linen, wearing a richly
embroidered outer vestment called an ephod.
The Bible says "THEN
ON THAT DAY DAVID DELIVERED FIRST THIS PSALM TO THANK
THE LORD TO ASAPH AND HIS BRETHREN." Listen to those
words! What a glorious psalm!
Give thanks! Sing unto
Him! Sing psalms! Talk ye of His wondrous works! Glory
ye in his HOLY NAME! Rejoice! Seek the LORD and His
strength! Seek his face! Seek His face! Remember! Be
mindful of His covenant, the word which he commanded to
a thousand generations!
In the flush of such
praise, King David contemplated the difference between
his palace and the house of curtains where the ark
stood. Yes, the place to worship the LORD remained under
curtains. David wanted to build a proper temple for God!
Much to his surprise, NATHAN, the prophet, relayed the
LORD’s message. It was not God’s plan for David’s life!
(David thought it was.) After DAVID’S DEATH, his son
would build that house! Disappointment was not the word!
But he understood and accepted the disappointment with
thanksgiving.
Have you ever desired
to do a special job for the LORD, and He did not permit
this in your life? If so, be consoled by KING DAVID’S
disappointment. Realize that HIS plan is best, and
rejoice that someone else will do it better! (ysw)
"A
RENEWED MIND"
(Isaiah 26:3)
When we are
weary, our mind does not keep up with our heart.
How we should
value and stand in awe of our clear, sound mind.
God can slow
down the windmill of our minds.
Compare
NEBUCHADNEZZAR.
But for His
grace and restraint, our minds would snap.
"THOU WILT KEEP
IN PERFECT PEACE OUR MINDS BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE."
(note the italics omitted.)
(GGS)
