1 Chronicles 15
The Ark returns (1 Chronicles 15)
The Ark still matters ….
Correction (v1-15)
- A house and a tent[1]
- Levites only
- Holiness important (“consecrate yourself” v12, v 14)
- Getting it – why the Lord “broke out”
Worship (v 16-28)
- The Levites’ responsibility is not just for carrying the Ark but for the worship celebrations with music, shouting and dancing. Crucial because ark carrying = temporary[2]
- David is fully immersed in the celebrations.
“And even today, we must wonder whether that kind of expression of devotion which gives little attention to worship -also the formal aspects of worship- has not gone far astray from the mark.”[3]
Despised (v29)
- Micah’s response
- Who is in the wrong?[4]
- David?
- Micah?
- Both?
“The reference to Michal … should …be understood corporately. Not only did she despise David, but also, uniquely in Israel she was out of sympathy with the great joy and concern over the ark. ‘Typical of unfaith’ (Ackroyd), the isolation of Saul’s daughter was a further demonstration of the failure of Saul’s house to lead the people of God.”[5]
What is going on?
- David as better King than Saul.
“David seeks God, Saul does not. David cares for the ark that Saul neglected. Saul’s daughter despises David’s celebration (15:29) continuing in the tradition of her neglectful father (Japhet 1993:305). We recall that she was barren (2 Samuel 6), marking an end for Saul’s family.[6]
- David as new Moses[7]
Discussion
- To what extent should we sympathise with Michal?
- Is there a danger in us being suspicious of large Christian projects? How can we guard against this danger?
- How does David point us to Christ in this chapter?
[1] Note this is not the Tabernacle which is at Gibeon at this point (16:39).
[2] Selman, 1 Chronicles, 167-168.
[3] Braun, 1 Chronicles, 194.
[4] C.f. 2 Samuel 6:20-23.
[5] Selman, 1 Chronicles, 173.
[6] Leithart, 1 and 2 Chronicles, 54.
[7] Selman, 1 Chronicles, 170. Leithart, 1 and 2 Chronicles, 52.
Faithroots 