It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”

1 chronicles 15:11-15

11 Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.

Today’s title is “Carry It On The Shoulder”

The gospel frees us from many bondages that bound us before. Freedom is the most essential thing that Jesus gives us through His truth. Such mindset of Christ as freedom-giver or liberator is most clear in His words in the gospel of John. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32) .” The apostles of Jesus Christ also emphasized the spirit of freedom. Apostle Paul said, “ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatian 5:1). I love the freedom that the Lord has given us. I enjoy it thoroughly. But the freedom that the Lord has given us is not without accountability. Even Apostle Paul who stressed freedom in the strongest words said, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love (Galatian 5:13). David’s love and passion for God are well known to God. God was pleased with David’s decision to move the ark to the city of David. But He struck Uzzah who tried to steady the ark with his hands when the oxen carts that were carrying the ark were stumbled. It upended the whole plan of David to move the ark. What was wrong with them? Was it that serious to upend such a well-meaning joyous celebration? David and the people of Israel must have agonized with these questions. And they finally got an answer to their questions. We see it in today’s passage. Albeit our passion for God is pleasing to God, we are never entitled to do it at our own whim or convenience. Oxen carts seem a very convenient way of moving ark to Jerusalem. But God already prescribed that the ark can only be carried on the shoulders of Levites. The bible does not clearly show whether David knew the prescription of God or not. Either way, God hold David and the people of Israel accountable for the negligence. You should carry the ark of God on your shoulder. It might be highly inconvenient compared to the cart. But paying due honor to the presence of God does much good to the people of God than doing it inconvenient way. That’s not diminishing our freedom at all. Living in the times of technology that makes things faster and more convenient, we are also often tempted to God’s work in inconvenient and easier ways. Are you not? What do you do when you are facing such temptations of convenience? We all need to make sure that we don’t use carts when God wants us to carry them on our shoulders. Certainly, obedience is better than convenience. Amen!