1Ch 13:1-4 | KingComments | STEP | 1 Chronicles 11-12 can be considered as an introduction to the next chapters, in which the main subjects are the ark and the temple service. In view of this, God has helped David in establishing his kingship and has brought the people to David. In Deuteronomy we read about a place God has chosen ( ) and a king God has chosen ( ). When Saul was king, there was not sought for that place, and Saul himself is not God’s choice, but the choice of the people ( ). Of David we read that God has chosen him ( ). Only when Saul, chosen by the people to satisfy their carnal desires, is set aside, David, chosen by God, can ascend the throne. When David is in power, he goes in search of the place God has chosen for His Name to dwell there. In Psalm 132 he expresses his longing for it ( ). There we also read that Sion is that place ( ). Sion is the mountain Moriah ( ). On that mountain Abraham offered Isaac on the altar ( ; ). In that event we see a picture of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus (cf. ). David has conquered Sion ( ). There the ark will end up, in the temple that will be built there by Solomon. Before the time that the ark will have its final resting place, a lot has been done with the ark and the tabernacle in which the ark was. It is good to evaluate these events briefly. We can at the same time make an application to the Lord Jesus of Whom the tabernacle and the ark are a picture. When the people have come into the land, the tabernacle is placed in Shiloh ( ). There it is until the birth of Samuel, which is a period of hundreds of years. In this we can see in picture the time of the life of the Lord Jesus on earth. Then the ark is taken by Hophni and Phinehas in the fight against the Philistines ( ). But God does not allow these wicked priests to abuse the symbol of His presence. “So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, … and gave up His strength to captivity and His glory into the hand of the adversary” ( ). He let the ark be captured by the Philistines ( ). Here we can see a picture of the surrender of the Lord Jesus into death by God (cf. ). The ark is seven months in the land of the Philistines, but then returns to the land of the LORD ( ). This can be seen as a picture of the stay of the Lord Jesus in death, which could not keep Him ( ). The ark returns to Israel, not to Shiloh, but to Abinadab’s house in Kiriath-jearim ( ). In this we can see a picture of the risen Lord, Who is no longer seen by all the people, but only in secret by His own. The ark stays for a long time in Kiriath-jearim, until here the thread of the history of the ark is taken up again. It starts here with the observation that there is unanimity to pick up the ark ( ), without one wondering how to do so and where to go. It is important how the ark is transported. This leads to the first judgment on the new government, which leads to fear of God on the one hand and domestic blessing on the other ( ). Later, in 1 Chronicles 15, the ark is brought to Jerusalem in the correct way. This can be seen as a picture of the ascension of Christ. The proof of this is the quotation by Paul in Ephesians 4 of Psalm 68 in connection with the ascension ( ; ). Finally, the ark is brought into the house that Solomon built. Then the glory of the LORD descends into the temple and fills the temple ( ). This event we can bring into connection with the coming down of the Holy Spirit, through which the church is formed to the house of the living God ( ; ). This happened after the Lord Jesus is glorified in heaven ( ). The first thing David’s heart goes out to when he is king is the ark. He does not seek his ease, but the symbol of the presence of God. The ark is the throne of God. God dwells thereon among His people. The ark is in the heart of David. It has always been there. God has indicated a place where He will make His Name dwell, a central place of worship. His Name is His glory. They have to find that place. By bringing the ark to that place, the royal city becomes the holy city, the center of service to God. This also applies to us. For us, this is not about a geographical place or a visible building, but about the spiritual characteristics of the church meeting together. If our hearts are open to it, we will look for the place where the Lord Jesus dwells, where He is the center of His New Testament people, the church ( ). The exercise concerning the search for a dwelling place for the ark is present with only one man, David ( ; ). David is not managed or dictated by others, although he is confirmed by others ( ). His heart goes out to the ark, realizing that the ark is of the whole people. A heart that goes out to the Lord Jesus also goes out to all the people of God. For the retrieval of the ark David consults with the captain and the leaders. Consulting others in the case of a spiritual exercise is not weakness, but wisdom (cf. ). Much of the Lord’s work cannot be properly performed without a cordial fellowship with like-minded people. It is also beautiful to see that David speaks about the people as “our … kinsmen”. He is in truth a king “from among your countrymen”, a countryman with a heart that is “not lifted up above his countrymen” ( ). What David unfortunately lacks here is consultation with the LORD. This leads to a tragic situation if they implement their plan. We can consult with each other, but if we do not involve the Lord and His Word, our plan will not be carried out to the Lord’s glory. The people did not seek God’s dwelling place “in the days of Saul”. It’s good to see that David includes himself by talking about “we”. Although he did look for it himself, he makes himself one with the people here (cf. ). The fact that “in the days of Saul” God’s dwelling place was not sought is a lesson for us that a member of God’s people does not ask for the Lord and His service when he lives according to the flesh. A revival starts with a single person. We see the single person here in David, the man after God’s heart. He had already sought that place when he was still with the sheep and did not know anything about the kingship. We know this from what he says about it in Psalm 132. He searched tirelessly for that place and found it ( ). He finds it in the field of Jaär, in the house of Abinadab. There the ark had been for a long time, forgotten by the people, but not by this then still young man. We can now also know where to find the Lord Jesus and see His glory. This is with the two or three who come together as a church in His Name ( ).

‏ 1 Chronicles 13:1-4

Introduction

1 Chronicles 11-12 can be considered as an introduction to the next chapters, in which the main subjects are the ark and the temple service. In view of this, God has helped David in establishing his kingship and has brought the people to David.

In Deuteronomy we read about a place God has chosen (Deu 12:5) and a king God has chosen (Deu 17:14-15). When Saul was king, there was not sought for that place, and Saul himself is not God’s choice, but the choice of the people (1Sam 12:13). Of David we read that God has chosen him (Psa 78:70). Only when Saul, chosen by the people to satisfy their carnal desires, is set aside, David, chosen by God, can ascend the throne.

When David is in power, he goes in search of the place God has chosen for His Name to dwell there. In Psalm 132 he expresses his longing for it (Psa 132:3-5). There we also read that Sion is that place (Psa 132:13-14). Sion is the mountain Moriah (2Chr 3:1). On that mountain Abraham offered Isaac on the altar (Gen 22:1-14; Jam 2:21). In that event we see a picture of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus (cf. Heb 11:19). David has conquered Sion (1Chr 11:4-5). There the ark will end up, in the temple that will be built there by Solomon.

Before the time that the ark will have its final resting place, a lot has been done with the ark and the tabernacle in which the ark was. It is good to evaluate these events briefly. We can at the same time make an application to the Lord Jesus of Whom the tabernacle and the ark are a picture.

When the people have come into the land, the tabernacle is placed in Shiloh (Jos 18:1). There it is until the birth of Samuel, which is a period of hundreds of years. In this we can see in picture the time of the life of the Lord Jesus on earth.

Then the ark is taken by Hophni and Phinehas in the fight against the Philistines (1Sam 4:3-4). But God does not allow these wicked priests to abuse the symbol of His presence. “So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, … and gave up His strength to captivity and His glory into the hand of the adversary” (Psa 78:60-61). He let the ark be captured by the Philistines (1Sam 4:10-11 ; 1Sam 5:1). Here we can see a picture of the surrender of the Lord Jesus into death by God (cf. Acts 2:23).

The ark is seven months in the land of the Philistines, but then returns to the land of the LORD (1Sam 6:1-2 ; 11-13). This can be seen as a picture of the stay of the Lord Jesus in death, which could not keep Him (Acts 2:24-28). The ark returns to Israel, not to Shiloh, but to Abinadab’s house in Kiriath-jearim (1Sam 7:1). In this we can see a picture of the risen Lord, Who is no longer seen by all the people, but only in secret by His own.

The ark stays for a long time in Kiriath-jearim, until here the thread of the history of the ark is taken up again. It starts here with the observation that there is unanimity to pick up the ark (1Chr 13:1-4), without one wondering how to do so and where to go.

It is important how the ark is transported. This leads to the first judgment on the new government, which leads to fear of God on the one hand and domestic blessing on the other (1Chr 13:12-14). Later, in 1 Chronicles 15, the ark is brought to Jerusalem in the correct way. This can be seen as a picture of the ascension of Christ. The proof of this is the quotation by Paul in Ephesians 4 of Psalm 68 in connection with the ascension (Eph 4:8-10; Psa 68:18).

Finally, the ark is brought into the house that Solomon built. Then the glory of the LORD descends into the temple and fills the temple (2Chr 5:14). This event we can bring into connection with the coming down of the Holy Spirit, through which the church is formed to the house of the living God (Acts 2:1-4; 1Tim 3:15). This happened after the Lord Jesus is glorified in heaven (Jn 7:39).

David Wants to Bring the Ark to Jerusalem

The first thing David’s heart goes out to when he is king is the ark. He does not seek his ease, but the symbol of the presence of God. The ark is the throne of God. God dwells thereon among His people. The ark is in the heart of David. It has always been there. God has indicated a place where He will make His Name dwell, a central place of worship. His Name is His glory. They have to find that place. By bringing the ark to that place, the royal city becomes the holy city, the center of service to God.

This also applies to us. For us, this is not about a geographical place or a visible building, but about the spiritual characteristics of the church meeting together. If our hearts are open to it, we will look for the place where the Lord Jesus dwells, where He is the center of His New Testament people, the church (Mt 18:20).

The exercise concerning the search for a dwelling place for the ark is present with only one man, David (1Chr 13:1; 1Chr 17:1). David is not managed or dictated by others, although he is confirmed by others (1Chr 13:2 ; 4). His heart goes out to the ark, realizing that the ark is of the whole people. A heart that goes out to the Lord Jesus also goes out to all the people of God.

For the retrieval of the ark David consults with the captain and the leaders. Consulting others in the case of a spiritual exercise is not weakness, but wisdom (cf. 2Chr 20:21). Much of the Lord’s work cannot be properly performed without a cordial fellowship with like-minded people. It is also beautiful to see that David speaks about the people as “our … kinsmen”. He is in truth a king “from among your countrymen”, a countryman with a heart that is “not lifted up above his countrymen” (Deu 17:15 ; 20).

What David unfortunately lacks here is consultation with the LORD. This leads to a tragic situation if they implement their plan. We can consult with each other, but if we do not involve the Lord and His Word, our plan will not be carried out to the Lord’s glory.

The people did not seek God’s dwelling place “in the days of Saul”. It’s good to see that David includes himself by talking about “we”. Although he did look for it himself, he makes himself one with the people here (cf. Dan 9:5). The fact that “in the days of Saul” God’s dwelling place was not sought is a lesson for us that a member of God’s people does not ask for the Lord and His service when he lives according to the flesh.

A revival starts with a single person. We see the single person here in David, the man after God’s heart. He had already sought that place when he was still with the sheep and did not know anything about the kingship. We know this from what he says about it in Psalm 132. He searched tirelessly for that place and found it (Psa 132:4-6).

He finds it in the field of Jaär, in the house of Abinadab. There the ark had been for a long time, forgotten by the people, but not by this then still young man. We can now also know where to find the Lord Jesus and see His glory. This is with the two or three who come together as a church in His Name (Mt 18:20).