1 Chronicles 13:1-14 David has the ark brought to Jersualem from the Kiriath-jearim where it has been for 20 years or more.Eli and Phinehas, the wicked sons of Eli the high priest, carried it in battle with the Philistines and it was captured. When the ark caused plagues in the Philistine cities and made Dagon fall over, they returned it to Israel, but 70 looked inside the ark and were killed so the ark ended up at Kiriath-jearim for at least 20 years or more. But they carried the ark on a cart from Kiriath-jearim instead of with poles and on the way to Jeruslem the oxen stumbled and Uzzah grabbed the ark. God killed him. David was angry and left the ark in the house of Obed-edom for 3 months but his house was blessed as a sign that David could continue.
14:1-7 David’s family enlarged. He took several wives at Hebron and now he takes more wives at Jerusalem. He ends up with 8 wives and several concubines and at least 16 named sons.
14:8-17 The Philistines attacked David’s men twice and he defeated them. Both times he “inquired of the Lord” and the Lord told him he would win and what strategy to use. David is feared by all nations around him.
15:1-29 The ark is brought correctly on to Jerusalem. David has the Levites safely carry the ark on poles as directed by Moses from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem. There were all kinds of instruments, trumpets, singing, and sounds of joy as it arrived in Jerusalem. David’s wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, saw David celebrating and despised him in her heart.
16:1-7 The “tabernacle of David”. David made a special tent for the ark once it arrived in Jerusalem (called the tabernacle or tent of David). The historical tent of meeting (the tabernacle of Exodus) built under Moses—along with the bronze altar and sacrificial system—remained at Gibeon (about 6 miles northwest of Jerusalem). Priests such as Zadok continued to offer regular sacrifices and burnt offerings there. The two structures remained separated throughout David’s reign and the early years of Solomon’s reign, until Solomon finished building the First Temple in Jerusalem and transferred the original tabernacle structure and its furnishings into the new temple complex.
16:8-36 David’s psalm of thanksgiving. Read and meditate on this psalm. It is full of praise, thanksgiving, worship, and history of what God did with Israel. All the people said “Amen” (“so be it, that is truth, I agree) and praised the Lord.
16:37-43 Worship before the ark in David’s tent in Jerusalem and in the tabernacle at Gibeon. The text notes that David appointed Levites (singers and musicians) to minister before the Ark in Jerusalem (they did not enter David’s tent where the ark was), while the actual sacrificial priesthood (including Zadok the priest) remained stationed at the traditional Mosaic tabernacle and bronze altar in Gibeon.
17:1-15 God’s covenant with David. David was not allowed to build the temple but his son Solomon would. Instead, God promised David that his kingly line would be established forever. That was fulfilled when Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of God on a spiritual throne over a spiritual kingdom, the church. Luke 1:30 “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
17:16-27 David’s prayer in response. David very humbly thanked God for His promise. He did not complain about not being allowed to build the temple.
