I Chronicles 13:3
“and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, since we did not seek it in the days of Saul.”
These are exciting times. Saul’s selfish, godless reign is over, David, the beloved of the people and of God takes over the throne and now, they are putting God first. This is a great desire. One that the Lord would be pleased with.
God had warned them against a king in I Samuel 8:10-22. These were some the reasons: he will conscript your sons and daughters into service, he will take the best of your fields, he will take a percentage of your crops, a percentage of your animals and you yourselves will become slaves. This was fulfilled in Saul. He also gave a bad example in not serving God.
The people were weary from his decades of reign. David becomes king. There is this initiative to bring back the ark. It’s like someone recommitting their life to Christ. They’ve been dragged about by sin, God is limited in their lives, they are receiving the natural consequences of sin. Now they’ve turned back to God.
They are hopeful. They are getting David and God. Day is dawning and they are excited. Hope is such a great mindset. We don’t know the specifics, but things are gonna get better.
Jesus says to the Church of Ephesus, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works”, (Revelation 2:5a). This act is part of that. They are doing the first works in bringing the ark back.
This will be the beginning of prosperity in Israel. It will climax and descend in Solomon’s reign. When looking back this is an ascendant time.
Do we see times where we returned to God. He wants us and seeks to lure us back. He will alter circumstances to block evil and to open to good. We have to take it. He helps us. “What then will we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). God does cloak Himself. It’s not a flashing light saying “God is working now”. He is humble and works in ordinary ways. He isn’t dramatic. It may be a last try to lure, but it won’t feel grave. But He fights for us.
There is a blessedness by being right with God, our cup runneth over, our sandals don’t wear out and so on. David say, “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”, (Psalm 23). I once was bored with that psalm, but it is so rich now. Each verse is so deep and powerful. We can experience it as we read it. We resonate with it. His Spirit bears witness with our spirit (Romans 8).
Life can batter us. These are trials meant to purify and improve us. They can make us bitter, if we allow them. Their purpose to to purge the dross from us. To work with the process, we get cleansed and closer to God. Our faith grows. Stay with faith. Trust that He will work it out for the good.
Thank You, God, for times of refreshing. He will keep our cups full, if we stay in Him. Lord thank You for Your blessing and Your staying power. You keep us.