Read 1 Chronicles 13
Bringing Back the Ark
13 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lordour God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. 3 Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.” 4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.
5 So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. 6 David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.
7 They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. 8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.
9 When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10 The Lord’s angerburned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.
11 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.
12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.
Go Deeper
This chapter picks up right where the previous left off, right after King David assumes the throne over all of Israel. He is enjoying his place on the throne and morale is high. The people have feasted and celebrated their new king. Then, in this chapter, something goes wrong.
One important takeaway from this chapter is that how we work matters just as much as the work we do. The same is true for how we serve God. To do the right thing for the wrong reasons is a misstep; so, too, is it a misstep to do the right thing the wrong way. God wants our efforts in work and in service to be done with both excellence and obedience. One cannot come without the other.
In today’s passage, David learns this lesson the hard way. His intention is to move the ark back to Jerusalem and elevate God back to His rightful place in the minds and hearts of Israel. But in this well-intentioned effort, David moves the ark on a cart rather than having it carried by the appropriate priests. To us, that may seem like a minor detail. After all, the cart would be more efficient, especially for a long journey. But that’s beside the point. God had already laid out specific instructions on how to move the ark, and David either intentionally or unknowingly ignored them.
He did the right thing the wrong way, and it led to the death of someone close to him. For us, this calls for a heart-check. Are we working with both obedience and excellence in everything we do? As we go about the daily tasks God puts in front of us, what are our motives? It’s important for us to remember that we can do the exact right thing with the entirely wrong motivation and miss the point entirely. Let’s have this lesson from the beginning of King David’s reign be a learning lesson for us all.
Questions
- How does David celebrate the return of the ark?
- What causes Uzza to reach out and touch the ark? How does David react to the death of Uzzah?
- Can you think of a recent time where you were doing the “right” thing with the wrong motive? What did you learn from that experience?
By the Way
To help understand this passage, read Numbers 4:15:
“And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.”
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9 responses to “1 Chronicles 13”
1 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “ If it seems good to you and from the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. 3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4 All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
The last part of the last sentence== for the thing was right in the eyes of all who???? the people. Was God consulted??? I believe this is where David first stumbled. Yes bringing the ark home was wonderful and I really think God was pleased BUT GOD had given them very specfic instructions from the beginning on how and what and when to take care of the ark. But David used a cart and not the men. David I suspect was mostly mad at himself and not really God but as people do, he had to put the blame somewhere. Later on in chapter 15 we find that David then took the ark to Jerusulem correctly so that there were no mishaps.
Proverbs 3:5–7 ; 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Even when our actions may be what we think are well-intentioned, the outcome may be serious if our decisions are not according to God’s commands. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
God thank You for today, these minutes and that I will trust in You with all my heart, and not lean to my own understanding but acknowledge You and You will make my path straight. God help me to not be wise in my own eyes, that I fear(with reverant, awed respect) You and turn from evil. God help my will power to do the things that please You first and foremost. God thank You for Your Hesed love, my shema hearing, to hear not just to listen but to obey. God thank You for helping me to understand You and Your word better. Help me to see You in all that is written. God thank You for this day, these minutes that You are what I think about, and help me to see others with Your love goggles not through my worldly eyes in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amy, thank you as always for your faithfulness. I LOVE that you quoted such an extremely familiar proverb all the way through verse 7:
“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”
As often as we quote Proverbs 3:5-6, let us not omit such a critical part of that instruction!
As it’s been often said, details matter to God. Most importantly, the posture of our hearts toward his commands carry great weight. God had/has a divine standard that cannot be compromised.
4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.
Yes, need to be cautious about what “seems right”! I can do the right thing, but do it the wrong way!
This entire chapter revolves around what I might call “careless ark-carrying.”
David’s intentions were good — noble, even. He wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, the very sign of God’s presence among His people.
But something went unexpectedly, terribly wrong.
Uzzah reached out to steady the ark — and fell dead on the spot. It feels harsh, but God had given clear, precise instructions for moving the ark.
According to Exodus 25 and Numbers 4, the ark was to rest on the shoulders of the Kohathite branch of the Levitical priesthood. It was to be carried on poles which remained permanently in place. And NO ONE was to touch it.
Ever.
The task was sacred, the method was sacred, and even the people chosen to do it were sacred.
But somehow, somewhere along the way, David and his men overlooked those details. They loaded the ark onto a new cart. Maybe they thought it was more efficient. Or maybe they were just eager.
But then — it happened. Suddenly their enthusiastic, celebratory parade turned tragic.
This story got me thinking: it’s at this “failure to shoulder” where everything falls apart.
Which led me to ask, “what’s the big deal about SHOULDERS?”
Further study of biblical text and online commentary illustrates that “shouldering“ is a very big deal indeed:
1. Shouldering Responsibility
Long before David even got his (figurative) hands on the ark, there was a clear assignment and very clear instructions. God had already designated who was to carry it and how this was to be done.
Moreover, God’s instructions hadn’t changed, because God’s word is immutable: “unchanging, permanent, and eternal in its nature, character, and promises.” (If David and crew thought, “maybe God wants this done differently” — they should’ve waited until HE gave them different marching orders.)
What I believe this means for us today is this:
To take part in the holy work of God is to take it on personally. Placing the ark on a cart instead of shouldering it was a human delegation of a holy duty. Following God means taking up the work ourselves, not handing it off to a system or a shortcut.
It also means taking it seriously — obeying completely, not casually.
And finally, we are to treat our assignments reverently — with humility and a worshipful posture of heart.
2. Shouldering as Symbolic and Prophetic
The Levites were literally carrying the “weight of God’s glory.” That ark must have been SO heavy — physically and spiritually.
Can you picture it? Man — “carrying” GOD?
But then Jesus comes along and turns that image upside down. When He took the weight of our sin on HIS shoulders, the indescribably heavy burden of humanity was lifted up by divinity itself. What once rested on consecrated shoulders — now rests on Christ alone.
That’s the prophetic beauty in this story:
Once man “carried God.”
Now GOD carries man.
3. Shouldering as Loving Sacrifice
This “shoulder imagery” shows up everywhere once you start looking for it:
The shepherd with the lost sheep draped around his shoulders. The father bearing the weight of his child so they can see the parade pass by. The mother carrying her sleeping child from car to bed.
We carry the most that which we LOVE the most — as heavy as it is, and as long as it takes.
4. Shouldering as Surrendered Obedience
Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.” That’s a different kind of carrying altogether — not one of strain, but of shared strength.
This earthly life is burdensome, and the living of it can get so heavy. We WILL carry.
But we need not carry needlessly, and we never carry alone. We shoulder the load WITH God… and FOR God.
And maybe that’s the real lesson tucked inside this story:
Obedience matters — not because God is demanding, but because His ways are always the safest way to bear His glory.
And when we shoulder what He asks of us — personally, reverently, and with love — we find that He’s already carrying us.
I love this imagery. And so very true, what we carry verses what God carries and how.
Thank You for your inputs ❤!!
David did not give up on his mission to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. This teaches us the importance of perseverance in our faith journey. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Keep pressing on, trusting in God’s faithfulness.
I think this is more of a difference between Old Testament and New Testament and chose. The reason why we need a savior.
If we had to maintain all those rules and regulations, many of us would be dead By now. But thankfully, we are now covered by the grace of JC
And shows the reason