July 10, 2025 • 36 mins
# 190 - Return of the Ark - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David sets out to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, but joy turns to tragedy when worship without reverence proves deadly. Join us as he learns the hard lesson that God’s presence can’t be carried on our terms—and finds the courage to return with humility, obedience, and true worship.
Episode 190 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Psalm 5:4-5, “You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.”
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Show Notes:
(01:58) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:48) Return of the Ark
(27:58) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen people say, we bring back the
Ark of the Covenant here.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
If the Lord is with us in battle, the Philistines
will undoubtedly fall like grasp before the sight.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
But in their fervor they had failed to reflect on
the true nature of their defeat. God's presence hadn't left Israel.
It was their hearts that had drifted far from the
Lord as a fleet of ships lost to the raging seas.
As the Philistines neared the Ark, panic ripped through the
Israelite ranks like wildfire.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
The Ark of God has been captured and al Glory
has departed.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
We cannot keep the ark.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Both Ashdod and Gas nearly perished because of it.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
The Ark was dutifully carried to kiriad Jaharan. It was
brought to the house of Abinadab, a reverend man who
had devoted himself to caring for the Ark. He consecrated
his son Eliezon to guard the ark and did so
faithfully for twenty years. He won't see my face till
(01:12):
he brings me Michael, she will be my peace.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Offering this again, David, Please, for the love of God,
let it rest.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Macaul Is with another man She's my wife.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
By right.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
I paid for her in Philistine blood. Saul gave her
away again. Treated I want her to know.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Michele was torn from the arms of the man she
had come to love. Her place was beside David. Now,
by rights of first marriage and by the slow, cruel
arithmetic of kingship.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
The road to God's presence is paved with reverence, not spectacle. Shelloh,
my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel,
I'm l Extein with international Fellowship of Christians and Jews,
and welcome to the Chosen People. What happens when we
mistake celebration for obedience? What happens when we seek to
(02:17):
honor God but forget how He's asked to be honored.
Today we find ourselves standing alongside David, who is bursting
with joy, eager to bring the arc of the Covenant
into Jerusalem. A good desire, no doubt. But what follows
is no triumphal march. It's something far more human, far
more costly. The Chosen People have always longed to walk
(02:39):
with God. But to walk with God is to walk
on holy ground, and holy ground demands more than good intentions.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
The skies above Jerusalem were clear, and the sun poured
like molten gold over the city. Stones basked in the light,
arms outstretched, feeling the euphoria of victory. Having just vanquished
the Philistines in battle and secured the borders around Gibea,
(03:12):
David knew it was time to establish Israel as a
thriving kingdom under the rule and reign of God Most High.
He turned back to Michal and Abigail, who were attending
to the Palace Hall's in preparation for a meeting of
the elders.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
It's time to bring the presence of the Lord here
to Jerusalem. This can't be Israel's capital unless the Ark
of the Covenant is here and our.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Midst Abigail smiled at the thought.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
The Ark resides in the house of a Binadab, does
it not? The hope of Israel shouldn't be hidden and
tucked away like that.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
My thoughts exactly, Michael, What say you?
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Michal shrugged, refusing to give David a passing glance. She
had been torn away from her life, her husband and
brought to David like a piece of property. It was
a failure of character. David refused to admit.
Speaker 6 (04:12):
Do what you want, David, you do little else.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
It seems to be so cold.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Michael.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
We're talking about the ark of the Covenant, the presence
of God himself.
Speaker 6 (04:23):
The same God that turned on my father. Forgive me
if I'm not bringing out my tambourines. Have your celebration.
I'll be in my chambers.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Michel left without looking back. Abigail watched her leave, then
turn to David.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
She's not going to stop being angry with you. She
was brought here against her will. It was the same
with me and the bal.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Are you really comparing me to the bal?
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Of course not, but look at her situation.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Michael and I had something. I have to believe she'll
turn around.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
David. As your wife, I can accept that. As a king,
you need marriages to hold alliances. But Michael was brought
for a different reason.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
And what reason is that?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
She's also your last tie to Jonathan. But having her
won't bring him back.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
David winced at that Abigail had always had a gift
for prodding him in a way that turned his heart.
She wasn't jealous or petty. She was a clear and
sober thinker. David needed her. Abigail left, leaving David alone
with his thoughts. Jonathan David longed to have him by
(05:46):
his side again, for counsel. For laughter David's.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Side, Jonathan would agree. The Ark of the Covenant needs
to be here.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
He smiled forgetting his marital struggles and turned to his
attendants with a clap of joy.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Gather all the young men of Israel. Gather the assembly
of God and the musicians. It's time to bring the
Ark into the heart of our nation.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
A tide of joy swept the land. Sharp and bright
trumpets rang through the streets, and drums pounded with a
cadence that stirred the blood. In the midst of this
celebration stood King David, arms thrown wide, his voice lifted
with the people's songs. A sea of thirty thousand men
(06:40):
marched behind him, their faces lit with the fire of hope.
He took them to Bailey Judah to retrieve the Ark
of the Covenant. The ark was hidden in a Binadab's home,
where his sons Za and Ohio stood reverently as the
king approached. Approached with a beaming smile and booming voice.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Ha ha a mina dab Man, The Lord bless you
and your sons, for your faithful stewardship over the Ark
of God. We've come to bring it into the heart
of Jerusalem, where it belongs.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
A beIN Adab looked over David's shoulders, brows up in confusion,
My King, where are the levites to carry the ark?
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Where are the polls to carry it?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I've done better. I brought a card adorned with jewels,
and a procession of dancers and musicians.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Only the best for our God.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Abinadab's face bent in reluctance, but he had not the
confidence to question the king. He and his sons led
David through a narrow corridor to a chamber dimly lit
by oil lamps. There, cloaked in age and reverence, stood
the Ark. David's throat tightened. He gazed at it entrance.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Oh Lord, it's time. Let the arc return. Let Israel
be near to her God once more.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
The procession began. The ark was placed upon the cart,
Uzah and Ahio guiding the oxen forward, their hands trembling.
Habinadab trailed behind, eyes shifting in worry. He knew that
this wasn't the way around them. The music swelled lyres
(08:30):
strummed tambourines danced in eager hands, and cymbals crashed like
waves on the shore. David led it all, heart brimming
with joy, feet stamping to the rhythm of worship. They
had forgotten that the ark was not merely gold and wood.
It was fire, cloaked in mercy and fire. When mishandled
(08:55):
Consumes was so caught up in his euphoria that he
failed to notice the jagged surface of the path descending
into Jerusalem. The oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and the
cart groaned under the sudden shift. A wheel lifted, the
(09:16):
axle bent, and the ark began to slide. The golden
Cherubim tilted and the sacred vessel teetered dangerously near the edge. Aza,
son of Abinadab, saw it falling. His breath caught in
his throat. He leaped to the cart's edge to catch
the ark. Abinadab saw it all happen slowly, huzza no.
(09:41):
But it was too late. Za reached out. David turned
and all time stood still. The moment his hand touched
the ark, the sky broke open without a sound. It
was like a single drum beat. Aza gasped, clut his
chest as if his heart had caught flame and crumbled
(10:03):
to the earth. His body hit the ground with a
sound like the end of a song. A terrible silence followed.
The oxen were still. The musicians lowered their instruments. Thirty
thousand men held their breath, and not one dead move.
David ran forward. He dropped to his knees beside the
(10:26):
fallen man, gathering Usa into his arms. The young man's face,
moments ago lit with joy, was now pale, cold, void.
David's lips trembled. His voice when it came, was small
and broken.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
He only meant to protect it.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
David looked up at the Arc, brow furrowed in anger
and confusion.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Is this your justice, Lord? Is this your mercy?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
We sang of your greatness, your gentleness, We danced in
your name, and you strike down the faithful?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
No answer came. The Arc remained silent, holy, untouchable. David
rose to his feet slowly. Anger flared beneath his sorrow.
He turned back to his men, to the priests, to
the thousands who looked to him for strength. But there
was no speech, no comfort. The king turned from the Ark.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Take Uza, return him home with his father.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
They obeyed, lifting Uza's lifeless form and carrying him away
with solemn steps behind them. The great hosts stood like statues,
awash in disbelief. David lingered his eyes on the ark.
He did not approach, could not. His heart, once so full,
(12:04):
now thudded hollow in his chest. A single question gnawed
at him, like a worm in wood? Is the gun
I served?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Not who I I thought he was?
Speaker 1 (12:17):
He turned away across the fields. Nestled between twin hills
stood the home of obed Edom, the Gittite. The ark
was brought to him. No songs this time, no liars,
only silence. David returned to Jerusalem with his men, but
he did not ride tall in the saddle. David was
(12:41):
terrified of the god he once called good Shepherd. The
fire crackled and danced before David. He sat with his
elbows on his knees, hands folded over his mouth, eyes
lost in the slow spiraling drift of smoke toward the
(13:05):
open rafters above. He had not spoken to anyone of
substance in hours, perhaps days. The king was not often silent,
but when he brooded, even the bravest of his men
gave him space. Three moons had passed since Uzu's death,
and still the question lingered like smoke in David's soul.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Why why death? Our hearts were joyful, we were doing
a good thing.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
He could not forget us as face how life had
fled it. In a breath, David rubbed his temples and
leaned forward, gazing into the coals. He was still staring
into the hearth when the knock came. Nathan stepped through
the door.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Ah, Nathan, to what do I hold this visit?
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Nathan took a seat beside David and stared into the hearth.
Speaker 7 (14:07):
There's news from the House of obed Edom.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
David stiffened. He feared the worst.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
What's happened was he struck down.
Speaker 7 (14:17):
Quite the opposite. The Lord has blessed him.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
David turned slowly.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
In what in what way?
Speaker 7 (14:27):
In every way it would seem his cattle have doubled,
his sons are prospering, and his daughters have taken godly
men as husbands. I'm told his eldest is to have
another child, his sixth grandchild. They say peace rests on
the house like morning do, and none can speak ill
(14:51):
of them.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
David's mouth parted slightly, but no words came.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
How could this be? The Arc slays an innocent man
on the road to glory, but blesses another collecting dust
in some farmer's home. Road to glory?
Speaker 7 (15:12):
Is that what you call that little parade of yours?
What was so glorious about it?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
There were jewels, music, dancers.
Speaker 7 (15:22):
Yet no levites, no wooden poles, no ephats, no bull offering,
no obedience, no obedience Obediedom has not been stricken. He's
been embraced, not for his station, or for pomp or parade,
(15:44):
but for reverence, for quiet, for obedience. The Arc had
found a home in a place of humility, not spectacle.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
David, you're saying I should have sombrely marched the Ark
to Jerusalem like a like a funeral procession.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
I'm saying that the Lord does not see as a
man sees, young David. If he wanted pomp and glitter,
he would have kept Saul on the throne, the dashing
wawyer with broad shoulders, flashing banners and trumpets blaring behind him.
But he chose the lowly shepherd instead, one after God's
(16:27):
own heart.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
I tried to usher God's glory into Jerusalem on wheels
of silver and songs of grandeur, using gold and music
to shout God's holiness. But the Lord is.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Not asked for tambourines or silver laced wheels on a
wagon of gold.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
He's asked for reverence, for obedience.
Speaker 7 (16:53):
And to obey his better than sacrifice.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
There was a silence between them, cut by a grunt
from Nathan as he stood up from his seat.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
I learned that one from our old friend Samuel blessed memory.
Now I will leave you with those pearls of wisdom.
Ponder well, my king, pray repent, but no more sulking.
It's unbecoming of you.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
David watched Nathan leave, then reached for his lyre, the
one he had not touched since the day the ark
slipped and Zah died. His fingers danced once again on
the strings with care. The melody came slow, like a
memory returning through the mist. Then the words came too
(17:46):
soft and aching, Lord.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
I have given up my pride and arrogance. I shall
not set my heart on things too great for me.
I am calm, inquired, like a child in its mother's arms.
My soul is still within me. O Israel. Trust in
(18:14):
the Lord now and forever more.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
He played it again, then again. The tunes stitched something
back together inside him. David paused his strumming and looked
out the window toward the night, toward the hill country
where the Ark now sat in quiet glory. He still
had questions, but pride would no longer be his counselor
(18:44):
He would finish what he started, but this time not
on his terms. This time the king would approach the
Holy with fear, trembling song, and obedience. The morning air
was crisp, a thin mist curled above the hills like incense.
(19:08):
No war horns ran, no banners flew, no golden cart
gleamed in the sun. There wasn't even a crown on
David's head. He came bare foot, clothed in a linen
ephod simple common, the garment of a servant priest. His
hair was unbound, curls bouncing off his shoulders. The Ark
(19:32):
of the Covenant was coming home, and David would not
meet it as a king, but as a worshiper, a servant.
David had gathered levites, not soldiers, not nobles, to bear
the ark, not on wheels of silver, not by oxen,
Their shoulders bore its sacred weight on poles of acacia,
(19:57):
just as Moses had commanded, And every six paces they walked.
The procession halted, blood stained the earth. With every stop,
Lambs and bulls were laid on carefully built altars, their
smoke rising in solemn curls to the heavens. The air
(20:18):
filled with the mingled perfume of praise and sacrifice, blood, incense,
and the songs of men. David danced to it all.
He did not walk with the measured steps of a
ruler or the stiff march of a soldier. He danced
with the wild, unrelenting joy of a man whose heart
(20:41):
had been unshackled. He leaped and twirled, clapping his hands,
his voice lifted in raw, unpolished worship. Dust flew beneath
his feet, and tears streaked the sweat of his cheeks.
He was king, yet he danced as a child. He
was a warrior, yet he sang as a worshiper. The
(21:05):
ark passed through the gates, and with it came the
winds of change. This was no parade of conquest. This
was consecration. They were not merely a nation of tribes.
Now they were the people of the Living God again
united beneath the Lord's presence, and David, dust covered and
(21:29):
radiant was the shepherd who had led them there. Yet
not all were enthralled by the event. Michal stood still
behind the latters of her window, looking down at it.
All Her arms were crossed, lips curled in disdain. She
watched David, the King, barefoot in the dust, smeared with
(21:52):
sweat and soot, dancing like some drunk fool. She narrowed
her eyes.
Speaker 6 (21:59):
That the King of Israel riding around in rags like
a low born zealot, half naked and hollering in the streets.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Her servants glanced at each other, unsure whether to g
nod or keep still.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
My father would have never stooped so low.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
David finished pitching the ten for the ark, stood and
wiped sweat from his brow. He breathed deep, as though
the very air was sacred. Behind him, Levit smooved with
solemn hands, preparing offerings. Then he turned and called for
his steward.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
See that every mouth is fed today, meat, bread, raisin cakes.
No one shall go hungry on a day like this,
my Lord, all of them, the sons of Israel shall
remember this day with four bellies and glad hearts. Take
care that the pores are served. First word to the kitchens,
(23:01):
I'll lend my hands.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
David made his way to the kitchens. He rolled up
his sleeves, brushed flower from his palms, and stepped into
the heat of the ovens. There, shoulder to shoulder with
his servants, the King of Israel baked bread. He sang
low and warm. The servants began to sing with him.
(23:23):
Tension drain from the room, Laughter returned, pans sizzled, raisin
cakes rose in every gesture, every loaf, every song. David
gave glory to God, not from a throne, but from
the hands of a servant. And in the high tower
(23:44):
above mich watched and fumed. David returned to his household.
The laughter of children greeted him at the door, like
a choir of angels. His arms were full with the
last the raisin cakes, which he handed out to eager
little hands. The scent of fresh bread and spiced meat
(24:07):
filled the home. Little Absalom climbed into his lap, and
David held him close his heart. Light. The room glowed
with candle light and joy. A rare stillness in a
king's life. For a fleeting moment, it felt like peace.
He sat among his family, surrounded by faces softened by
(24:31):
food and firelight. They drank and ate and told stories,
and David, holding his son close, began to recount the
tale of the Ark and the journey it had taken
to reach their city. His voice danced with awe, but
warmth in the room chilled. When Michar entered. She stood
(24:53):
above him, arms crossed. David looked up and smiled, but
her eyes were not kind.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
What chubles you, my love?
Speaker 2 (25:02):
This is a joyous occasion, and you carry yourself as
though as the warning.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Michel dismissed his warmth with a flick of her hand.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
I was merely pondering how the King of Israel honored
himself today, uncovering himself like a common street performer. You
should be ashamed of yourself.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
David's brow furrowed, and he sent Absalom to play with
the other children. He looked across the table. Abigail gave
David a knowing look. Rising from his seat, David looked
into the eyes of Saul's daughter.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Ashamed, ashamed to worship the lord among his people.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
They are your servants, David, not your equals, and you
danced before them as though you were no better than they,
frolicking like a child in the dust.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
I danced before the Lord the Law, who chose me
above your father and his house, who appointed me ruler
over Israel, his people, and I will worship him gladly.
If I must look a fool in the eyes of
men to please the Lord, then a fool i'll be.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
You made a spectacle of yourself.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
No, a spectacle was made when I paraded the ark
on a cart of silver, and a man died for it.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Today was not a spectacle. Today was repentant. Today I
danced not as a king, but as a servant.
Speaker 6 (26:38):
And your maid servants, what of them? Did they not
enjoy your little display? Seeing you half naked in that ethod,
it was undignified.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
David paused for a moment, feeling anger mounting. But then
he looked closer at Micham. He could see the hurt
underneath the anger. He thought about Abigail's words and realized
that Michal's disdain was bleeding from wounds he had created.
David's tone softened.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
If it is embarrassment you feel for their eyes upon me,
then I shall be more careful. I will honor you
in that. But know this, Michael, I serve the Lord first,
I'll become even more undignified than this. I'll be humiliated
(27:32):
in my own eyes.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Michel did not reply. She pulled from his touch and
swept from the room like a cold wind. David watched
her go, but did not follow. He pitied her. She
had not chosen this life, not truly. She had been
a daughter of Saul and swept away in games of
(27:55):
jealousy and ego. David did not hold it against her. Still,
a shadow passed over their marriage. No children were born
to them, for no love was made between them.
Speaker 5 (28:12):
Today's Bible story begins with the David we've come to know,
David the musician, David the psalmist, David the godly. The
Bible records the scene for us. David and all Israel
were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, liars, timbrels, systems,
and symbols. David wasn't content to sit on the sidelines
(28:35):
and politely clap his hands. No, he was leading the songs.
He was leading the dancing. He was leaping before God
with all of his might. But then right in the
middle of his joyous procession, tragedy strikes. One of the
oxen carrying the arcs stumbles, and a man named Uza
reaches out and touches the ark in order to stabilize it,
(28:58):
and as a result, Uza was killed. Remember that scary
scene from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark when
the Nazis opened the Ark of the Covenant and melt away,
all while Indiana Jones doesn't look at the Ark and
he survives. Well, David hadn't seen that movie. Of course,
he'd seen something real. He watched Uza die, so understandably,
(29:24):
David was alarmed. No longer wanted the Ark so close
to him, so he sent the Ark somewhere else instead,
to the home of obed Edom, and there it stayed
for three months. During those three months, the House of
obed Edom prospered and flourished so much that was obvious
that the Ark had brought the blessings. And after that
David relented and joyously brought the Ark back to the city.
(29:48):
And in the meantime, David learned a very important lesson.
He learned that there needs to be a balance between
closeness to God and reverent separation. To only fear God
limits the blessings that come from having a loving relationship
with Him. But only love God without any kind of
fear or respect diminishes that relationship. Yes, God is our
(30:10):
loving father, but he is also our king. As our father,
he loves unconditionally. As our king, we must respect and
obey him. It's our job, as his chosen people, to
relate to God in both ways and to keep a
healthy balance between the two. After the Ark of the
Covenant finally did arrive in the Holy City of Jerusalem,
(30:30):
First Chronicle sixteen tells us that David wrote a special
poem for the very occasion. David's poem begins like this,
give thanks to the Lord, ho do lashm, call upon
his name, make his deeds known among the peoples. But
the beginning of David's poem also makes me ask a question,
(30:52):
why does it direct us to call on his name
after ready telling us to give thanks to the Lord?
If we've just thanked God, haven't we already called on
his name?
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Now?
Speaker 5 (31:05):
The first person in the Bible who called on the
name of the Lord was Abraham right after God sent
him on his journey to the Promised Land and called
on Abraham to be a blessing to the earth. Genesis
twelve eight tells us that Abraham built an altar to
the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
Abraham's mission was to spread knowledge of the One True
(31:26):
God to all people. So when the Bible tells us
that he called on the name of the Lord, the
meaning is clear. Abraham went around teaching people about God.
And so when you read this verse, we can understand
that this is exactly what David was doing.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Here too.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
We repay God for his kindness to us that giving
him the one thing he asks of all people of faith.
It's the same thing he asked of Abraham. God wants
us to spread knowledge of Him to everyone on earth.
The gift of grad that we can give God is
to spread his name and our faith to others. David
(32:06):
was over joy by the arrival of the Ark of
the Covenant in Jerusalem. It was a great accomplishment for
him as king. But David didn't just celebrate. He spread
his faith and knowledge of God to others. My friends,
let's let our own feelings of gratitude to God be
the foundation for teaching others about him. But there was
(32:28):
at least one person who didn't appreciate David's joyful worship,
and that was his wife, Michal, who criticizes what she
sees as her husband's antics as he wildly danced before
the Arc. But most Jewish stages he David's worship as
essential to the service of joy, having joy before the Lord.
(32:49):
The Hasidim, the Hasidic Jews really emphasized this in their worship.
They pray with singing and dancing, but even the mainstream
Jewish practice singing. But even in the mainstream Jewish practice
singing and dancing, as long as they reflect true and
honest joy, are an essential aspect of God's service, and
(33:10):
we see this in Christian churches as well. Yes, we
still need a level of restraint and respect like we
see in David's second procession with the Arc, but joyfully
worshiping God, well, it's an essential part of the Chosen
People's faith. Let's be honest, it's a hard story to
sit with. We want the presence of God to be beautiful, comforting,
(33:33):
maybe even predictable. We want our worship to work to
lead to blessing, not to a body on the ground.
But here's the uncomfortable truth. The presence of God is
not safe, and the Bible doesn't try to smooth it over.
It presses the question, how close can we come to
the Holy One without being undone? The Jewish agents teach
(33:55):
us that God is Kadosh, so holy that he cannot
be approached lightly. But they also teach that he is rahome,
that he's tender and merciful, full of compassion. And if
that sounds like a contradiction, well maybe that's because we've
forgotten what true holiness really is.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
What if it's not.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
About wrath versus mercy. What if it's about a God
who is so holy, so utterly good that even his
discipline is part of his love. You see, the same
God who let Uza die is the same God who
walked with Abraham, who wrestled with Jacob, and who called
out to Moses from the bush. And that same God
who still comes closer again and again and again is
(34:38):
the God that we get to know.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
God is not.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
Manageable, but he has made himself knowable. He is not safe,
but he is very very good. So what does this
story mean for us. It means that worship isn't just
a song, it's a posture. It means that good intentions matter,
but obedience matters more and means but when we fail,
we don't need to run from God. We returned to
(35:03):
him in reverence, like David did. We try again, this
time with humility. I know life doesn't always feel holly.
Maybe today you feel like David after Uza's death, confused her,
wondering if you've misunderstood everything, And that's okay. Don't turn away,
turn deeper in, ask your questions, approach slowly, listen, and
(35:26):
when it's time, take that first step again, lift your
voice and carry what He's asked you to carry, because
this isn't just David's story, it's ours.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
You can listen to the Chosen People with the Isle
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dot Com app today. This prey dog com production is
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabaga and Ben Gammon are
the executive juices of the Chosen People with Yiel Eckstein.
(36:02):
Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are
voiced by Jonathan Cotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan,
Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and
the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by
Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvado, bre Rosalie and
(36:27):
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(36:49):
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Previously on the Chosen people say, we bring back the
Ark of the Covenant here.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
If the Lord is with us in battle, the Philistines
will undoubtedly fall like grasp before the sight.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
But in their fervor they had failed to reflect on
the true nature of their defeat. God's presence hadn't left Israel.
It was their hearts that had drifted far from the
Lord as a fleet of ships lost to the raging seas.
As the Philistines neared the Ark, panic ripped through the
Israelite ranks like wildfire.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
The Ark of God has been captured and al Glory
has departed.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
We cannot keep the ark.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Both Ashdod and Gas nearly perished because of it.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
The Ark was dutifully carried to kiriad Jaharan. It was
brought to the house of Abinadab, a reverend man who
had devoted himself to caring for the Ark. He consecrated
his son Eliezon to guard the ark and did so
faithfully for twenty years. He won't see my face till
(01:12):
he brings me Michael, she will be my peace.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Offering this again, David, Please, for the love of God,
let it rest.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Macaul Is with another man She's my wife.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
By right.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
I paid for her in Philistine blood. Saul gave her
away again. Treated I want her to know.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Michele was torn from the arms of the man she
had come to love. Her place was beside David. Now,
by rights of first marriage and by the slow, cruel
arithmetic of kingship.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
The road to God's presence is paved with reverence, not spectacle. Shelloh,
my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel,
I'm l Extein with international Fellowship of Christians and Jews,
and welcome to the Chosen People. What happens when we
mistake celebration for obedience? What happens when we seek to
(02:17):
honor God but forget how He's asked to be honored.
Today we find ourselves standing alongside David, who is bursting
with joy, eager to bring the arc of the Covenant
into Jerusalem. A good desire, no doubt. But what follows
is no triumphal march. It's something far more human, far
more costly. The Chosen People have always longed to walk
(02:39):
with God. But to walk with God is to walk
on holy ground, and holy ground demands more than good intentions.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
The skies above Jerusalem were clear, and the sun poured
like molten gold over the city. Stones basked in the light,
arms outstretched, feeling the euphoria of victory. Having just vanquished
the Philistines in battle and secured the borders around Gibea,
(03:12):
David knew it was time to establish Israel as a
thriving kingdom under the rule and reign of God Most High.
He turned back to Michal and Abigail, who were attending
to the Palace Hall's in preparation for a meeting of
the elders.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
It's time to bring the presence of the Lord here
to Jerusalem. This can't be Israel's capital unless the Ark
of the Covenant is here and our.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Midst Abigail smiled at the thought.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
The Ark resides in the house of a Binadab, does
it not? The hope of Israel shouldn't be hidden and
tucked away like that.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
My thoughts exactly, Michael, What say you?
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Michal shrugged, refusing to give David a passing glance. She
had been torn away from her life, her husband and
brought to David like a piece of property. It was
a failure of character. David refused to admit.
Speaker 6 (04:12):
Do what you want, David, you do little else.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
It seems to be so cold.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Michael.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
We're talking about the ark of the Covenant, the presence
of God himself.
Speaker 6 (04:23):
The same God that turned on my father. Forgive me
if I'm not bringing out my tambourines. Have your celebration.
I'll be in my chambers.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Michel left without looking back. Abigail watched her leave, then
turn to David.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
She's not going to stop being angry with you. She
was brought here against her will. It was the same
with me and the bal.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Are you really comparing me to the bal?
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Of course not, but look at her situation.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Michael and I had something. I have to believe she'll
turn around.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
David. As your wife, I can accept that. As a king,
you need marriages to hold alliances. But Michael was brought
for a different reason.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
And what reason is that?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
She's also your last tie to Jonathan. But having her
won't bring him back.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
David winced at that Abigail had always had a gift
for prodding him in a way that turned his heart.
She wasn't jealous or petty. She was a clear and
sober thinker. David needed her. Abigail left, leaving David alone
with his thoughts. Jonathan David longed to have him by
(05:46):
his side again, for counsel. For laughter David's.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Side, Jonathan would agree. The Ark of the Covenant needs
to be here.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
He smiled forgetting his marital struggles and turned to his
attendants with a clap of joy.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Gather all the young men of Israel. Gather the assembly
of God and the musicians. It's time to bring the
Ark into the heart of our nation.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
A tide of joy swept the land. Sharp and bright
trumpets rang through the streets, and drums pounded with a
cadence that stirred the blood. In the midst of this
celebration stood King David, arms thrown wide, his voice lifted
with the people's songs. A sea of thirty thousand men
(06:40):
marched behind him, their faces lit with the fire of hope.
He took them to Bailey Judah to retrieve the Ark
of the Covenant. The ark was hidden in a Binadab's home,
where his sons Za and Ohio stood reverently as the
king approached. Approached with a beaming smile and booming voice.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Ha ha a mina dab Man, The Lord bless you
and your sons, for your faithful stewardship over the Ark
of God. We've come to bring it into the heart
of Jerusalem, where it belongs.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
A beIN Adab looked over David's shoulders, brows up in confusion,
My King, where are the levites to carry the ark?
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Where are the polls to carry it?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I've done better. I brought a card adorned with jewels,
and a procession of dancers and musicians.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Only the best for our God.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Abinadab's face bent in reluctance, but he had not the
confidence to question the king. He and his sons led
David through a narrow corridor to a chamber dimly lit
by oil lamps. There, cloaked in age and reverence, stood
the Ark. David's throat tightened. He gazed at it entrance.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Oh Lord, it's time. Let the arc return. Let Israel
be near to her God once more.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
The procession began. The ark was placed upon the cart,
Uzah and Ahio guiding the oxen forward, their hands trembling.
Habinadab trailed behind, eyes shifting in worry. He knew that
this wasn't the way around them. The music swelled lyres
(08:30):
strummed tambourines danced in eager hands, and cymbals crashed like
waves on the shore. David led it all, heart brimming
with joy, feet stamping to the rhythm of worship. They
had forgotten that the ark was not merely gold and wood.
It was fire, cloaked in mercy and fire. When mishandled
(08:55):
Consumes was so caught up in his euphoria that he
failed to notice the jagged surface of the path descending
into Jerusalem. The oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and the
cart groaned under the sudden shift. A wheel lifted, the
(09:16):
axle bent, and the ark began to slide. The golden
Cherubim tilted and the sacred vessel teetered dangerously near the edge. Aza,
son of Abinadab, saw it falling. His breath caught in
his throat. He leaped to the cart's edge to catch
the ark. Abinadab saw it all happen slowly, huzza no.
(09:41):
But it was too late. Za reached out. David turned
and all time stood still. The moment his hand touched
the ark, the sky broke open without a sound. It
was like a single drum beat. Aza gasped, clut his
chest as if his heart had caught flame and crumbled
(10:03):
to the earth. His body hit the ground with a
sound like the end of a song. A terrible silence followed.
The oxen were still. The musicians lowered their instruments. Thirty
thousand men held their breath, and not one dead move.
David ran forward. He dropped to his knees beside the
(10:26):
fallen man, gathering Usa into his arms. The young man's face,
moments ago lit with joy, was now pale, cold, void.
David's lips trembled. His voice when it came, was small
and broken.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
He only meant to protect it.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
David looked up at the Arc, brow furrowed in anger
and confusion.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Is this your justice, Lord? Is this your mercy?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
We sang of your greatness, your gentleness, We danced in
your name, and you strike down the faithful?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
No answer came. The Arc remained silent, holy, untouchable. David
rose to his feet slowly. Anger flared beneath his sorrow.
He turned back to his men, to the priests, to
the thousands who looked to him for strength. But there
was no speech, no comfort. The king turned from the Ark.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Take Uza, return him home with his father.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
They obeyed, lifting Uza's lifeless form and carrying him away
with solemn steps behind them. The great hosts stood like statues,
awash in disbelief. David lingered his eyes on the ark.
He did not approach, could not. His heart, once so full,
(12:04):
now thudded hollow in his chest. A single question gnawed
at him, like a worm in wood? Is the gun
I served?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Not who I I thought he was?
Speaker 1 (12:17):
He turned away across the fields. Nestled between twin hills
stood the home of obed Edom, the Gittite. The ark
was brought to him. No songs this time, no liars,
only silence. David returned to Jerusalem with his men, but
he did not ride tall in the saddle. David was
(12:41):
terrified of the god he once called good Shepherd. The
fire crackled and danced before David. He sat with his
elbows on his knees, hands folded over his mouth, eyes
lost in the slow spiraling drift of smoke toward the
(13:05):
open rafters above. He had not spoken to anyone of
substance in hours, perhaps days. The king was not often silent,
but when he brooded, even the bravest of his men
gave him space. Three moons had passed since Uzu's death,
and still the question lingered like smoke in David's soul.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Why why death? Our hearts were joyful, we were doing
a good thing.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
He could not forget us as face how life had
fled it. In a breath, David rubbed his temples and
leaned forward, gazing into the coals. He was still staring
into the hearth when the knock came. Nathan stepped through
the door.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Ah, Nathan, to what do I hold this visit?
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Nathan took a seat beside David and stared into the hearth.
Speaker 7 (14:07):
There's news from the House of obed Edom.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
David stiffened. He feared the worst.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
What's happened was he struck down.
Speaker 7 (14:17):
Quite the opposite. The Lord has blessed him.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
David turned slowly.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
In what in what way?
Speaker 7 (14:27):
In every way it would seem his cattle have doubled,
his sons are prospering, and his daughters have taken godly
men as husbands. I'm told his eldest is to have
another child, his sixth grandchild. They say peace rests on
the house like morning do, and none can speak ill
(14:51):
of them.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
David's mouth parted slightly, but no words came.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
How could this be? The Arc slays an innocent man
on the road to glory, but blesses another collecting dust
in some farmer's home. Road to glory?
Speaker 7 (15:12):
Is that what you call that little parade of yours?
What was so glorious about it?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
There were jewels, music, dancers.
Speaker 7 (15:22):
Yet no levites, no wooden poles, no ephats, no bull offering,
no obedience, no obedience Obediedom has not been stricken. He's
been embraced, not for his station, or for pomp or parade,
(15:44):
but for reverence, for quiet, for obedience. The Arc had
found a home in a place of humility, not spectacle.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
David, you're saying I should have sombrely marched the Ark
to Jerusalem like a like a funeral procession.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
I'm saying that the Lord does not see as a
man sees, young David. If he wanted pomp and glitter,
he would have kept Saul on the throne, the dashing
wawyer with broad shoulders, flashing banners and trumpets blaring behind him.
But he chose the lowly shepherd instead, one after God's
(16:27):
own heart.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
I tried to usher God's glory into Jerusalem on wheels
of silver and songs of grandeur, using gold and music
to shout God's holiness. But the Lord is.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Not asked for tambourines or silver laced wheels on a
wagon of gold.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
He's asked for reverence, for obedience.
Speaker 7 (16:53):
And to obey his better than sacrifice.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
There was a silence between them, cut by a grunt
from Nathan as he stood up from his seat.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
I learned that one from our old friend Samuel blessed memory.
Now I will leave you with those pearls of wisdom.
Ponder well, my king, pray repent, but no more sulking.
It's unbecoming of you.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
David watched Nathan leave, then reached for his lyre, the
one he had not touched since the day the ark
slipped and Zah died. His fingers danced once again on
the strings with care. The melody came slow, like a
memory returning through the mist. Then the words came too
(17:46):
soft and aching, Lord.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
I have given up my pride and arrogance. I shall
not set my heart on things too great for me.
I am calm, inquired, like a child in its mother's arms.
My soul is still within me. O Israel. Trust in
(18:14):
the Lord now and forever more.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
He played it again, then again. The tunes stitched something
back together inside him. David paused his strumming and looked
out the window toward the night, toward the hill country
where the Ark now sat in quiet glory. He still
had questions, but pride would no longer be his counselor
(18:44):
He would finish what he started, but this time not
on his terms. This time the king would approach the
Holy with fear, trembling song, and obedience. The morning air
was crisp, a thin mist curled above the hills like incense.
(19:08):
No war horns ran, no banners flew, no golden cart
gleamed in the sun. There wasn't even a crown on
David's head. He came bare foot, clothed in a linen
ephod simple common, the garment of a servant priest. His
hair was unbound, curls bouncing off his shoulders. The Ark
(19:32):
of the Covenant was coming home, and David would not
meet it as a king, but as a worshiper, a servant.
David had gathered levites, not soldiers, not nobles, to bear
the ark, not on wheels of silver, not by oxen,
Their shoulders bore its sacred weight on poles of acacia,
(19:57):
just as Moses had commanded, And every six paces they walked.
The procession halted, blood stained the earth. With every stop,
Lambs and bulls were laid on carefully built altars, their
smoke rising in solemn curls to the heavens. The air
(20:18):
filled with the mingled perfume of praise and sacrifice, blood, incense,
and the songs of men. David danced to it all.
He did not walk with the measured steps of a
ruler or the stiff march of a soldier. He danced
with the wild, unrelenting joy of a man whose heart
(20:41):
had been unshackled. He leaped and twirled, clapping his hands,
his voice lifted in raw, unpolished worship. Dust flew beneath
his feet, and tears streaked the sweat of his cheeks.
He was king, yet he danced as a child. He
was a warrior, yet he sang as a worshiper. The
(21:05):
ark passed through the gates, and with it came the
winds of change. This was no parade of conquest. This
was consecration. They were not merely a nation of tribes.
Now they were the people of the Living God again
united beneath the Lord's presence, and David, dust covered and
(21:29):
radiant was the shepherd who had led them there. Yet
not all were enthralled by the event. Michal stood still
behind the latters of her window, looking down at it.
All Her arms were crossed, lips curled in disdain. She
watched David, the King, barefoot in the dust, smeared with
(21:52):
sweat and soot, dancing like some drunk fool. She narrowed
her eyes.
Speaker 6 (21:59):
That the King of Israel riding around in rags like
a low born zealot, half naked and hollering in the streets.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Her servants glanced at each other, unsure whether to g
nod or keep still.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
My father would have never stooped so low.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
David finished pitching the ten for the ark, stood and
wiped sweat from his brow. He breathed deep, as though
the very air was sacred. Behind him, Levit smooved with
solemn hands, preparing offerings. Then he turned and called for
his steward.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
See that every mouth is fed today, meat, bread, raisin cakes.
No one shall go hungry on a day like this,
my Lord, all of them, the sons of Israel shall
remember this day with four bellies and glad hearts. Take
care that the pores are served. First word to the kitchens,
(23:01):
I'll lend my hands.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
David made his way to the kitchens. He rolled up
his sleeves, brushed flower from his palms, and stepped into
the heat of the ovens. There, shoulder to shoulder with
his servants, the King of Israel baked bread. He sang
low and warm. The servants began to sing with him.
(23:23):
Tension drain from the room, Laughter returned, pans sizzled, raisin
cakes rose in every gesture, every loaf, every song. David
gave glory to God, not from a throne, but from
the hands of a servant. And in the high tower
(23:44):
above mich watched and fumed. David returned to his household.
The laughter of children greeted him at the door, like
a choir of angels. His arms were full with the
last the raisin cakes, which he handed out to eager
little hands. The scent of fresh bread and spiced meat
(24:07):
filled the home. Little Absalom climbed into his lap, and
David held him close his heart. Light. The room glowed
with candle light and joy. A rare stillness in a
king's life. For a fleeting moment, it felt like peace.
He sat among his family, surrounded by faces softened by
(24:31):
food and firelight. They drank and ate and told stories,
and David, holding his son close, began to recount the
tale of the Ark and the journey it had taken
to reach their city. His voice danced with awe, but
warmth in the room chilled. When Michar entered. She stood
(24:53):
above him, arms crossed. David looked up and smiled, but
her eyes were not kind.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
What chubles you, my love?
Speaker 2 (25:02):
This is a joyous occasion, and you carry yourself as
though as the warning.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Michel dismissed his warmth with a flick of her hand.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
I was merely pondering how the King of Israel honored
himself today, uncovering himself like a common street performer. You
should be ashamed of yourself.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
David's brow furrowed, and he sent Absalom to play with
the other children. He looked across the table. Abigail gave
David a knowing look. Rising from his seat, David looked
into the eyes of Saul's daughter.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Ashamed, ashamed to worship the lord among his people.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
They are your servants, David, not your equals, and you
danced before them as though you were no better than they,
frolicking like a child in the dust.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
I danced before the Lord the Law, who chose me
above your father and his house, who appointed me ruler
over Israel, his people, and I will worship him gladly.
If I must look a fool in the eyes of
men to please the Lord, then a fool i'll be.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
You made a spectacle of yourself.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
No, a spectacle was made when I paraded the ark
on a cart of silver, and a man died for it.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Today was not a spectacle. Today was repentant. Today I
danced not as a king, but as a servant.
Speaker 6 (26:38):
And your maid servants, what of them? Did they not
enjoy your little display? Seeing you half naked in that ethod,
it was undignified.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
David paused for a moment, feeling anger mounting. But then
he looked closer at Micham. He could see the hurt
underneath the anger. He thought about Abigail's words and realized
that Michal's disdain was bleeding from wounds he had created.
David's tone softened.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
If it is embarrassment you feel for their eyes upon me,
then I shall be more careful. I will honor you
in that. But know this, Michael, I serve the Lord first,
I'll become even more undignified than this. I'll be humiliated
(27:32):
in my own eyes.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Michel did not reply. She pulled from his touch and
swept from the room like a cold wind. David watched
her go, but did not follow. He pitied her. She
had not chosen this life, not truly. She had been
a daughter of Saul and swept away in games of
(27:55):
jealousy and ego. David did not hold it against her. Still,
a shadow passed over their marriage. No children were born
to them, for no love was made between them.
Speaker 5 (28:12):
Today's Bible story begins with the David we've come to know,
David the musician, David the psalmist, David the godly. The
Bible records the scene for us. David and all Israel
were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, liars, timbrels, systems,
and symbols. David wasn't content to sit on the sidelines
(28:35):
and politely clap his hands. No, he was leading the songs.
He was leading the dancing. He was leaping before God
with all of his might. But then right in the
middle of his joyous procession, tragedy strikes. One of the
oxen carrying the arcs stumbles, and a man named Uza
reaches out and touches the ark in order to stabilize it,
(28:58):
and as a result, Uza was killed. Remember that scary
scene from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark when
the Nazis opened the Ark of the Covenant and melt away,
all while Indiana Jones doesn't look at the Ark and
he survives. Well, David hadn't seen that movie. Of course,
he'd seen something real. He watched Uza die, so understandably,
(29:24):
David was alarmed. No longer wanted the Ark so close
to him, so he sent the Ark somewhere else instead,
to the home of obed Edom, and there it stayed
for three months. During those three months, the House of
obed Edom prospered and flourished so much that was obvious
that the Ark had brought the blessings. And after that
David relented and joyously brought the Ark back to the city.
(29:48):
And in the meantime, David learned a very important lesson.
He learned that there needs to be a balance between
closeness to God and reverent separation. To only fear God
limits the blessings that come from having a loving relationship
with Him. But only love God without any kind of
fear or respect diminishes that relationship. Yes, God is our
(30:10):
loving father, but he is also our king. As our father,
he loves unconditionally. As our king, we must respect and
obey him. It's our job, as his chosen people, to
relate to God in both ways and to keep a
healthy balance between the two. After the Ark of the
Covenant finally did arrive in the Holy City of Jerusalem,
(30:30):
First Chronicle sixteen tells us that David wrote a special
poem for the very occasion. David's poem begins like this,
give thanks to the Lord, ho do lashm, call upon
his name, make his deeds known among the peoples. But
the beginning of David's poem also makes me ask a question,
(30:52):
why does it direct us to call on his name
after ready telling us to give thanks to the Lord?
If we've just thanked God, haven't we already called on
his name?
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Now?
Speaker 5 (31:05):
The first person in the Bible who called on the
name of the Lord was Abraham right after God sent
him on his journey to the Promised Land and called
on Abraham to be a blessing to the earth. Genesis
twelve eight tells us that Abraham built an altar to
the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
Abraham's mission was to spread knowledge of the One True
(31:26):
God to all people. So when the Bible tells us
that he called on the name of the Lord, the
meaning is clear. Abraham went around teaching people about God.
And so when you read this verse, we can understand
that this is exactly what David was doing.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Here too.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
We repay God for his kindness to us that giving
him the one thing he asks of all people of faith.
It's the same thing he asked of Abraham. God wants
us to spread knowledge of Him to everyone on earth.
The gift of grad that we can give God is
to spread his name and our faith to others. David
(32:06):
was over joy by the arrival of the Ark of
the Covenant in Jerusalem. It was a great accomplishment for
him as king. But David didn't just celebrate. He spread
his faith and knowledge of God to others. My friends,
let's let our own feelings of gratitude to God be
the foundation for teaching others about him. But there was
(32:28):
at least one person who didn't appreciate David's joyful worship,
and that was his wife, Michal, who criticizes what she
sees as her husband's antics as he wildly danced before
the Arc. But most Jewish stages he David's worship as
essential to the service of joy, having joy before the Lord.
(32:49):
The Hasidim, the Hasidic Jews really emphasized this in their worship.
They pray with singing and dancing, but even the mainstream
Jewish practice singing. But even in the mainstream Jewish practice
singing and dancing, as long as they reflect true and
honest joy, are an essential aspect of God's service, and
(33:10):
we see this in Christian churches as well. Yes, we
still need a level of restraint and respect like we
see in David's second procession with the Arc, but joyfully
worshiping God, well, it's an essential part of the Chosen
People's faith. Let's be honest, it's a hard story to
sit with. We want the presence of God to be beautiful, comforting,
(33:33):
maybe even predictable. We want our worship to work to
lead to blessing, not to a body on the ground.
But here's the uncomfortable truth. The presence of God is
not safe, and the Bible doesn't try to smooth it over.
It presses the question, how close can we come to
the Holy One without being undone? The Jewish agents teach
(33:55):
us that God is Kadosh, so holy that he cannot
be approached lightly. But they also teach that he is rahome,
that he's tender and merciful, full of compassion. And if
that sounds like a contradiction, well maybe that's because we've
forgotten what true holiness really is.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
What if it's not.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
About wrath versus mercy. What if it's about a God
who is so holy, so utterly good that even his
discipline is part of his love. You see, the same
God who let Uza die is the same God who
walked with Abraham, who wrestled with Jacob, and who called
out to Moses from the bush. And that same God
who still comes closer again and again and again is
(34:38):
the God that we get to know.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
God is not.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
Manageable, but he has made himself knowable. He is not safe,
but he is very very good. So what does this
story mean for us. It means that worship isn't just
a song, it's a posture. It means that good intentions matter,
but obedience matters more and means but when we fail,
we don't need to run from God. We returned to
(35:03):
him in reverence, like David did. We try again, this
time with humility. I know life doesn't always feel holly.
Maybe today you feel like David after Uza's death, confused her,
wondering if you've misunderstood everything, And that's okay. Don't turn away,
turn deeper in, ask your questions, approach slowly, listen, and
(35:26):
when it's time, take that first step again, lift your
voice and carry what He's asked you to carry, because
this isn't just David's story, it's ours.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
You can listen to the Chosen People with the Isle
Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the pray
dot Com app today. This prey dog com production is
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabaga and Ben Gammon are
the executive juices of the Chosen People with Yiel Eckstein.
(36:02):
Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are
voiced by Jonathan Cotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan,
Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and
the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by
Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvado, bre Rosalie and
(36:27):
Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on
the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you
enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and
(36:49):
leave a review.
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