Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
1 Chronicles 13 – Praying through the Bible #126 – A Prayer that is not a Prayer but a Complaint
How often do we utter our utter exasperation about who we worship to any who will listen? Complaining about God is as old as Satan’s serpent. David moving the Ark of the Covenant and the sin of Uzzah is a story that is easy not to like. David doesn’t.
David’s goal is good, the motive worthy, the method is, well, that is the problem. The goal is to bring God’s Ark to Jerusalem. The motive is to correct the wrongs of the past: “we did not inquire of the Him in Saul’s days” (1 Chronicles 13.3); and to get closer to God. David even couches the proposal as providential, “if this from the LORD our God” (13.2). Everything happens either because God approves or allows it to happen. God approves the Ark being moved. God doesn’t approve but allows how it will be done.
People never have liked the idea of “unscriptural.” Defending their desires, they declare, “That’s just your interpretation,” or “there are various interpretations.” Well, that is correct; there are various ones, and if they aren’t the right interpretation, then they are wrong! God has a right way which is His way; and man’s way is the wrong way.
“At Abinadab’s house they set the ark of God on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart” (13.7). The last time the Ark of the Covenant got moved was before Saul was king, over 40 years ago, during the time of the judges. Immediately before that the Philistines had captured the Ark in battle as Israel misused it as a talisman (1 Samuel 6). The Philistines eventually sent it back on a cart pulled by cows after being plagued by God. They didn’t know any better. Under David, the Israelites repeat the paganistic, unscriptural method. God commanded His priests and Levites to move the Ark, not beasts (Exodus 25.12-14; 1 Kings 8.3). What’s the difference? God is the difference! God’s people borrowing from the world is as old as the world. Israel is imitating pagans, and yet God is amazingly patient. He doesn’t immediately strike everyone involved dead. He doesn’t react until Uzzah reaches out his hand and touches the Ark. God promised death would be the punishment; but either they forgot, or didn’t think God’s way important (Numbers 7.9). After all, sincerity is enough, right?
This brings us to David’s reaction: “David was angry because of the LORD’s outburst against Uzzah” (13.11). Is David mad at himself? No. How about at Uzzah? No again. David is mad at God because God did exactly what God said He would do if disobeyed! Let that sink in. So what does David do next? He feels sorry for himself: “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” (13.12). Simple, obey God! Now notice how easily we can turn David’s complaint into a sincere prayer: “How can I bring the Ark of God to me?” David is known for inquiring of the Lord, but here he does not. Going around complaining about God is not praying although we are talking about God. And don’t let this one little fact escape our notice. God even hears those non-prayers.
Prayer Challenge: Obey; and when we mess up, pray instead of complaining.
Comments