In our last visit we noted in 1 Chronicles 13 that David and the people neglected an important element in their attempt to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. In chapter 15 David tries again. Verse 2 says David took pains to make sure “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever."
In Verse 12 the Levites were told to consecrate themselves in preparation to bring the ark to Jerusalem. David confesses in verse 13, “It was because the Levites did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” When they read God’s Word they found that the Levites were to carry the ark with poles on their shoulders. God warned, if anyone touched the ark they would be struck down. When they followed God’s instructions all went well.
In an inductive Bible study you first find out what the Bible says. Then you try to understand what it means. Looking over these two chapters it’s clear David’s desire to move the ark to Jerusalem was ok, as stated in chapter 13:2, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God then let’s do it.” He did the first of these, “it seemed right to all the people,” but he neglected to check out the second.
It wasn’t that God didn’t want the ark moved. He did, but He wanted it done according to the instructions He had given them. Half right was not good enough. We’ll do the third step in our inductive study in our next visit.
