Introduction

1 Chronicles 15:25—16:7: In today’s reading, David carries out his second attempt to move the Covenant Box to Jerusalem. He once again arranges a celebration with fine clothes, music, and dancing. This time he offers sacrifices before the journey and has the Levites carry the Box to ensure God’s favor. When they arrive in Jerusalem, David offers more sacrifices in thanksgiving and distributes food to all the people in Israel. Finally, he appoints some of the Levites to lead worship to the LORD in front of the Covenant Box.

Today’s Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 15:28 GNT

So all the Israelites accompanied the Covenant Box up to Jerusalem with shouts of joy, the sound of trumpets, horns, and cymbals, and the music of harps.

Read

25 So King David, the leaders of Israel, and the military commanders went to the house of Obed Edom to get the Covenant Box, and they had a great celebration. 26 They sacrificed seven bulls and seven sheep, to make sure that God would help the Levites who were carrying the Covenant Box. 27 David was wearing a robe made of the finest linen, and so were the musicians, Chenaniah their leader, and the Levites who carried the Box. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 So all the Israelites accompanied the Covenant Box up to Jerusalem with shouts of joy, the sound of trumpets, horns, and cymbals, and the music of harps.

29 As the Box was being brought into the city, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and leaping for joy, and she was disgusted with him.

1 They took the Covenant Box to the tent which David had prepared for it and put it inside. Then they offered sacrifices and fellowship offerings to God. 2 After David had finished offering the sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD 3 and distributed food to them all. He gave each man and woman in Israel a loaf of bread, a piece of roasted meat, and some raisins.

4 David appointed some of the Levites to lead the worship of the LORD, the God of Israel, in front of the Covenant Box, by singing and praising him. 5 Asaph was appointed leader, with Zechariah as his assistant. Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel were to play harps. Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and two priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, were to blow trumpets regularly in front of the Covenant Box. 7 It was then that David first gave Asaph and the other Levites the responsibility for singing praises to the LORD.

Reflect

How do the Israelites react (verse 28)? How does David react (verse 29)? Michal, identified here as Saul’s daughter, was also David’s wife (see 1 Samuel 18:20–27). Why was she “disgusted with him”? (See 2 Samuel 6:16–23.) What does David do differently in this attempt to move the Covenant Box? By entrusting the Box only to the Levites as God had commanded, David is successful and all the people benefit, receiving food from the thanksgiving sacrifices (verse 3). How might this guide us in doing what God requires of us today?

Pray

Lord God, you work all things for the good of your people. Like David, let us rejoice in your marvelous works. Keep us from pride in our status and achievements, so we may love you with our whole hearts and proclaim your goodness to others. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

1 Chronicles 16:8–43: The Levites lead the people in a song of praise.