Day 119 1 Chronicles 14-16

Because of David's reverence for the ark  described in chapter 13, according to the reading for today he is blessed by the LORD in a number of important ways—with new status and recognition within the international community (14:1-20), with wives and children (14:3-5), and with decisive victories over Israel's traditional enemies, the Philistines (14:8-17). At the end of the account of his defeat of the Philistine army, the chronicler sums up the situation by saying  that  "the fame of David [goes] out into all lands, and the LORD [brings] the fear of him on all nations" (14:17). While this is certainly an exaggeration, David's status in the region is enhanced by the recognition of a powerful local ruler, Hiram, the king of the wealthy Phoenician city-state of Tyre.  Hiram's gift is important because it symbolizes that commercial ties have been established with Israel's closest neighbor. The Kingdom of David is now a regional power, albeit a minor one. Hiram recognizes the importance of good relations with Israel, because Phoenician wealth is based upon international trade, and the Kingdom of David controls the vital commercial lanes at the crossroads of the Middle East. This position David's son Solomon will exploit to the fullest. Using the cedar logs Hiram sends him, David now builds a house for himself in Jerusalem and prepares "a place for the ark of God and [pitches] a tent for it" (15:1). Although the Tent of Meeting and the official cult remain at Gibeon where the regular offerings and sacrifices are made (16:39), the Ark of the Covenant is now moved to Jerusalem to ratify David's position as the LORD's chosen king and Jerusalem as his capital. The ark is now separated from the Tabernacle, where it had always been kept. This anticipates the situation in the time when the Books of Chronicles are written, in the period following the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon. By then the ark has vanished, presumably destroyed with the Temple of Solomon, been replaced by Jerusalem and the Davidic monarchy as the visible signs of the LORD's presence.    In our reading the ark  enhances the power and prestige of David. On its journey to Jerusalem he takes the greatest care to see to that the tragedy of Uzzah is not repeated. The ark is moved not by cart but carried with great care and reverence by Levites who have been duty sanctified for the task (15:15).  And this time the transition comes off with mishap. Once it reaches Jerusalem, David provides for its safety by appointing "gatekeepers for the ark" (15:23). We also notice that David takes great pains to provide music to celebrate the journey of the ark and to enrich the worship surrounding it. Music was always part of the worship of Israel, but under the kingship of David much greater emphasis is placed upon it. Musicians are not something we saw attached to tabernacle worship, which was focused upon blood sacrifice. Now music becomes as much a part of worship as sacrifice and just as necessary. So we told that "all Israel [brings up] the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and [makes] loud music on harps and lyres" (15:28). Not everyone is pleased with this musical outburst, however. We are told, almost as a footnote, that when Michal, King Saul's daughter and now one of David's wives, looks out her window and sees her husband "leaping and dancing" before the ark, she despises "him in her heart" (15:29). Her father had neglected the ark and his neglect had led to his death (1 Chronicles 10), now his daughter's disapproval of David's fervor is a reflection of her father's unfaithfulness. And this is in turn the reason why Saul dies, and the LORD puts David in his place (10:13). So the ark is installed in the tent that David has prepared for it and appropriate burnt offerings are made before God. And these sacrifices are combined with music and the singing of psalms. A special composition has been commissioned for the day, and we are told that "on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the LORD by Asaph and his kindred," those Levites David had appointed as musicians attached to the ark (16:7). The psalm they produce is a familiar form. It begins by recalling the covenant that God made with Abraham and the faithfulness of the LORD to his people Israel throughout the generations (16:14-18). But then it takes a more universal turn, and praises the God of Israel as the one and only God of the whole earth—"all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens" (16:26). Finally, all of humanity is called upon to join with Israel to praise "the glory and strength" of the LORD who is king (31). To Jews living in the time of the chronicler, exiles returned from humiliating captivity in Babylon to the ruined city of Jerusalem, this psalm must have come as good news indeed, proclaiming the power and faithfulness of the Lord, who is in control of history, and is always the source of salvation for all who, like David, put their trust in him.