Good Intentions

Introduction

A. Have you ever noticed that the more you know about someone or something the more you are likely to take that person or something for granted? Think about it. We even have a saying in our culture — familiarity breeds contempt. There are several other statements that fit this idea. Knowing someone well we say “I can read them like a book.” Or “I know that like the back of my hand.” The more we know about something or someone the more comfortable we become with that object or person. This is overall a good thing. However, it also leads us to take things for granted.

B. Have you ever thought about our relationship with God being one in which we can take it for granted? All of us at times struggle with maintaining a balance between being comfortable with our relationship with God and not taking that relationship for granted. The scriptures are filled with texts which remind us that God desires for us to be confident and sure of our relationship with him. God doesn’t want us to live fearful of him, but he would have us to live in fear of him. Finding that balance can be difficult. Today we begin a series from Chronicles. We are going to look at 1 Chronicles 13 and try to rediscover the importance of maintaining this balance in our relationship with God — the balance of being comfortable with him and yet not presuming upon his holiness.

Background of Chronicles

A. Originally Chronicles was one large writing. While our Bibles have a first and second Chronicles, the Hebrew Scriptures had the two combined for one large writing. When the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek, it probably required two scrolls to get the entire writing. Thus, was born a first and second Chronicles. In the Hebrew Bible, Chronicles comes at the end of the section known as the Writings. In Matthew 23:35, Jesus refers to Zechariah’s death as recorded in 2 Chronicles 24 establishing that Jesus understood Chronicles to be included as part of Scripture.

B. The English Bible has Chronicles following Samuel and Kings which makes it appear that is a restatement of what is written in these writings. However, the writer of Chronicles has a unique message to give. The Chronicles were written after Israel’s exile in Babylon. 2 Chronicles 36:20 mentions the kingdom of Persia. The Persian empire came into existence in 539 B.C.; thus, the writing had to have been completed following the exile. Tradition attributes authorship of the Chronicles to Ezra. Ezra led a great spiritual and moral revival after the exile.

C. Following Judah’s fall into Babylonian hands, the people of God were exiled for 70 years. At the end of that exile, Cyrus, king of Persia decreed that all the Jews could return to Jerusalem and reestablish their political and religious practices. The focus of the Chronicles is on the reestablishment of Israel’s spiritual health and the reestablishment of Jerusalem as the place of worship. The genealogies were needed to demonstrate who were the legitimate priests so Israel could be rebuilt. The history may have come from Samuel and Kings, but the point is to highlight the events which demonstrate Israel’s unfaithfulness so that a spiritual and moral renewal could take place.

D. The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles highlights the genealogies to demonstrate those who are legitimate leaders in Israel. The genealogies begin with Adam and move forward rapidly. Saul as the first king gets only a blurb. This is intentional. The focus is on renewing the mighty kingdom which David and Solomon brought about because of their faithfulness to God. David’s reign begins in Jerusalem which according to Samuel took seven years to secure. The author gives a quick summary. Jerusalem is God’s choice for his people for worship. After some additional recitation of who truly belonged to David’s warriors, the author turns immediately to the restoration of worship in Jerusalem with the bringing of the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 13 records this event.

E. It reads very similar to the same event recorded in 2 Samuel 6. However, there is a major difference. In the first part of chapter 13, David consults with other officers and then asks the people to support the return. While the people participate in the return of the ark in 2 Samuel 6, there is not a community endorsement sought. This fits with the author’s intent and purpose for the Chronicles. He is trying to focus on reestablishment of Jerusalem as the place of worship and the necessity of the people uniting to make this possible.

F. The rest of the event proceeds just as in 2 Samuel 6. The ark is loaded onto a cart with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the oxen along the path. There is much celebration occurring while the ark is being transported. When the oxen stumble at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reaches out his hand to steady the ark so that it will not fall from the cart. Uzzah’s touching the cart displeases God and Uzzah is struck dead. This results in David’s anger and fear and eventually deciding to leave the ark with Obed-Edom, a Levite (15:18, 21) while he tries to decide what God’s will is.

Lessons

A. The question may arise in our minds, why would God bring death to one who was trying to do God’s will? Why would God ruin a celebration? Let’s look at Exodus 25:10. According to this text, the instructions of God were explicit. The ark was to be built in such a way that two rings were on either side of the box. When it was time to move the ark, the ark was to be carried using two long poles that had been fashioned for such a use. In fact, the text is clear that the two poles were to never be removed. Let’s look at Numbers 4:15. Again, the instructions of God are explicit. When the ark was to be moved descendants of Levi, the Kohathites were to come into the tabernacle and carry the articles of tabernacle. So what happened with David’s attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem.

B. First, the ark wasn’t carried, it was placed on a cart to make the journey to Jerusalem. Second, notice who was leading the cart — Uzzah and Ahio. Who are these two men? They are the sons of Abinadab according to 2 Samuel 6. Who was Abinadab? According to 1 Samuel 7, he was a Gibeonite who was given responsibility for taking care of the ark after the Philistines refused to keep it any longer after taking it from Israel. The Gibeonites were bondsmen of Israel after Joshua had made a treaty with them in Joshua 9. The Philistines didn’t want the ark, but neither did they want the ark back in Israel’s hands so it was given to one related to Israel but not a true Israelite. The point. Abinadab’s sons are not Kohathites. David is going to bring the ark back to Jerusalem but he isn’t following God’s explicit commands in the process.

C. How could God bring death to such a celebration? The better question is how could David carry out the will of God by going against the will of God? Two quick lessons. First, wanting to do God’s will means that we must do things his way not the way we want to do it. We cannot excuse our misconduct by saying that we are wanting to honor God. It doesn’t honor God for us to do the wrong thing. We might start with a wrong premise and think that since the premise makes sense that it must be right. For example, God wants me to be happy. Sounds reasonable, but it is difficult to find such in scripture. There is much more about God’s people being called to the blessing of suffering rather than the bliss of comfort. But if you start with the premise that God wants me to be happy, then suddenly anything that brings happiness is okay to do. That excuse is as old as Eve herself who went against God’s will because she thought doing so would result in greater wisdom and pleasure. Doing God’s will means doing things his way not the way we want to do them.

D. Second, this text teaches us that one must not become so comfortable with our relationship with God that we presume upon his holiness. Of all the events that the Chronicler could have written, among the first is a story which demonstrates the importance of holding the holiness of God paramount. David was God’s chosen king, but being God’s chosen did not allow him to ignore the commands of God. Being God’s child doesn’t allow us to live the way we want. We must not presume upon God’s holiness. Finding that balance between comfort in our relationship with God and yet still knowing that God is holy is sometimes difficult to maintain. Just as David needed to find that balance so do we. It’s hard to imagine taking God for granted but it does happen.

1.  While in the process of sinning; having that internal battle about doing the right thing; struggling knowing what is right but the temptation is so very powerful, we think God will forgive me. Such a thought is to presume upon God's holiness.

2.  Coming to the assembly without a heart prepared to encounter the majestic God is to take our relationship for granted.

3.  We can go days without praying and except for weekly sermons may never pick up his word to spend time with him. That is presuming upon his holiness.

4.  Do you presume upon your relationship with God? Jesus spoke with God on a frequent basis. God in the flesh did not presume upon the relationship that he shared with his father. Invitation.

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