Carrying God's Presence

The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron by David Holsinger is one of my all time favorite pieces of Concert Band music. It tells the story of about 300,000 soldiers gathering to go get the Ark of the Covenant, bring it to Jerusalem and make David King over all Israel. Unfortunately, they FAILED….the first time.

During Saul’s day, Israel did not seek the Ark of the Covenant or respect it properly. The first time David tried to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem he failed because they did not prepare or show the proper reverence for the Ark. Uzzah was killed because he touched it. This shows us that God’s Presence is powerful and nothing unholy can enter his Presence without being killed. David’s entrance to Jerusalem with the Ark was meant to paint a prophetic picture of Jesus, so it had to be done correctly.

1 Chronicles 15 parallels the passage we read yesterday in our Sunday Morning Bible Study from 2 Samuel 6. It shows the preparations David made before seeking the Ark a second time. He had all of the Levitical priests consecrate themselves. They had to follow the instructions from the Law for becoming ritually clean, such as offering sacrifices, cleansing themselves, being anointed with oil and wearing the proper priestly garments. (Exodus 28:41, 19, 30:18, 29:6) They had to make preparations, such as finding or making the poles necessary for carrying the Ark.

David devoted a considerable amount of effort into training and preparing worshippers. He appointed singers and instrumentalists to worship before the Lord. Chenaniah, a chief of the Levites, was in charge of the music and trained them in singing because he was skillful. They were instructed on how to tune their harps and lyres and assigned to play various instruments including cymbals, the horn (shophar) and Trumpets (chatsotsarah) which were put in place to play fanfares before the Ark, announcing the Presence of Royalty.  They used both the Shophar—ram’s horn trumpet and the Chatsotsarah—a brass or silver fanfare trumpet. Most of the account of the preparations is devoted to the instruments and singing of worship. This shows the real issue, an awe and respect of God that calls for a response on the part of his people.

David wore a royal robe and a priestly ephod. Instead of accepting worship and adoration for himself, he lowered himself by passionately dancing and worshiping God. The people sang loudly, shouted, played musical instruments and triumphantly brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Holy city of Jerusalem. All of the people, men and women were part of the celebration and all people, men and women received gifts from the King: a loaf of bread, a date cake and a raisin cake. In the same way, all people, men and women, who celebrate Jesus as King receive spiritual gifts from Him. David cared about his people. Jesus cares for us. He provides for our physical needs and our spiritual needs. 

The preparations David made to host the Presence of God represented by the Ark of the Covenant, show us the preparations that we must make to host the Presence of God.

1. Offer Sacrifice

Just like the priests who had to offer a sacrifice to before approaching the Ark, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us, paying the penalty for our sins, in our place so that we can seek God’s Presence without fear.

For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. –Hebrews 10:10

2. Be Washed Clean

Just as the priests had to wash themselves, we are Baptized to represent the cleansing of our sins that comes only through Jesus.

Unless I wash you, you have no part in me –John 13:8

3. Be Clothed

The priests were required to wear very specific clothing to minister before the Lord. David also wore a kingly robe and a clean white linen ephod. Our clothing is the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ.

I rejoice greatly in the LORD, I exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness… -Isaiah 61:10

Speaking about the church, the bride of Christ, Revelation 19:8 says: It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

4. Be Anointed

Just as David was anointed with oil poured out by Samuel when God chose him to be King, just as Aaron was anointed with oil that ran down his beard, the priests had to be anointed. Well you and I are anointed as well. Oil almost always represents the Holy Spirit. When the Bible talks about God pouring his spirit out on us, this is like anointing oil being poured over our heads.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth……the anointing you received from Him abides in you. -1 John 2:20, 27

The Rest of the Story.

The word GOSPEL describes an event. When a mighty, victorious, conquering King enters town, it is appropriate to come out into the streets and hold a parade with singing, musical instruments and fanfare trumpets to greet the King with shouts of acceptance, welcome and acclamation. This is how the good news of a good king is spread. This type of exuberant worship is the way we are supposed to spread the good news about Jesus Christ and invite others to welcome the rule of the King of Kings over their lives. 

Each Sunday morning, when we lead the congregation in worship, we are recreating this event. Just as David offered amnesty to the people of Israel who had initially rebelled against his rule, Jesus offers forgiveness to us sinful, rebellious people. In the same way that David led the people, worshipping, to bring the Ark of the Covenant (God’s Presence) to the Holy City of Jerusalem, We lead the congregation, welcoming God’s Presence through our worship and showing how wonderful He is through our praise. God’s people are like Jerusalem, the city on a hill that cannot be hidden, a city of praise declaring the reign of King Jesus and encouraging all to accept his rule in their hearts, thank Him for his sacrifice, be washed clean and forgiven of their sins, receive the anointing of His Spirit and enter the Presence of the King through worship.

Instead of the Ark, now it is Christians who carry God's Presence within our hearts. Are we representing Him faithfully? Are we showing others what He is really like? Are we worshipping Him passionately as David did? Do we really reverence Him as King? Are we showing others what He is really like?

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Here is a link to the piece of music I mentioned: The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron