Hello Sunday school teachers, preachers, and students! Welcome to SundaySchoolPreacher.com. In this week’s Sunday School Lesson King David worships God in Jerusalem in ways that had never been done before. David’s worship is heartfelt and sincere. David has built luxurious houses for himself and the city of Jerusalem. And now he wants the Ark of God in Jerusalem also. David wants to honor God. But this isn’t the first time David tried to bring the ark to Jerusalem. This time, he is determined to get it right and get the ark in Jerusalem so all Israel can worship with the symbolic presence of God among them. David gives the Levites specific instructions; he tells them to bring singers, musicians, trumpets, harps, lyres, and cymbals. He and the Levites dress in fine linen robes. This is going to be a grand celebration. David is going to honor God. He is going to worship God and he intends for all Israel to join him in this great and grand celebration of thanksgiving and praise. Some of the ideas surrounding this week’s text include the terms:
Honor
Worship
So this is the first lesson of the Winter Quarter. And I just want to say, as we approach the holiday season, please be kind to others. I just want to remind all of us that the holidays in particular can be difficult for some people who now have to go forward in life without their loved ones. If you notice someone really struggling, if you can, help them to get help. So that’s just a reminder for all of us as we approach the holiday season. It’s a great season of love and joy but not everyone is celebrating all the time. Remember to be kind to others.
Background:
Most scholars agree that First and Second Chronicles were originally one book. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible notes that the original composition was entitled “The Events of the Days”. “The translators of the Septuagint (LXX) divided it into two books assuming it was a supplement to the earlier history of Samuel and Kings, and gave it the misleading title “The Things Omitted””. The Septuagint is the translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek completed approximately a century before Christ by seventy-two men (Septuagint). It was the Bible of the early church and included the Apocrypha. As it turns out, Chronicles is not supplemental or merely additional material that adds to Samuel and Kings.
The NISB notes that the Chronicler “is more selective than supplemental in his use of Samuel and Kings”. Dr. Renita J. Weems writes in The Africana Bible Reading Israel’s Scriptures From Africa and the African Diaspora that “the fourth-century translator of the Latin Vulgate suggested that the name “Chronicon or “A Chronicle of All of Sacred History” more aptly described the book and thus gave it the name “Chronicles””. So these two books began as one book entitled “The Events of the Days”, was later renamed “The Things Omitted”, and later still renamed to what we now have as First and Second Chronicles. The NISB notes that no one knows who the original chronicler was. Nelson’s Bible Handbook proposes the author was Ezra but acknowledges not all scholars accept the theory of Ezra’s authorship.
Dr. Weems also notes the book / books cover “a period stretching all the way from Adam to Cyrus the Great (538 B.C.E)”. So this text has had several names and as Dr. Weems also notes was “edited in its final form during the fifth-century Persian domination”.
The fifteenth chapter of 1 Chronicles deals with King David bringing the Ark to Jerusalem. This isn’t the first attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. On the first attempt God was angered when Uz’zah put out his hand to hold the ark when the oxen shook it (1 Chron. 13:10). This time David ensures only the Levites touch the Ark. Townsend Commentary notes that “While only the Levites could carry the Ark, David involved the entire nation in the celebration.”
David has prepared a tent for the Ark of God. After David built luxurious buildings for himself and the city of Jerusalem he recognized that the symbolic representation of God was not in the city. David wanted the Ark of God in the city of Jerusalem. It would be a grand celebration. A celebration worthy of what David thought was best for what this ark represented among them. Some important words to consider from this text include:
Honor
Worship
Review of Last Week and How it Connects to This Week:
Last week’s lesson opened with 2 Peter 1 verse 1. At verse one Peter described himself as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I noted how Apostle is a high title today and the point is you don’t get too high or too big to serve. I also noted how Peter explained the righteousness of God and precious faith was given by God. It’s precious in the sense that a price has been paid for this righteousness. The righteousness of God and Jesus Christ is not cheap. It’s been purchased with the precious blood of God’s only begotten son, Jesus who is the Christ.
I also noted how even in the salutation, he knows his death is coming. But he wants these saints to know God’s grace and peace in abundance. We all need grace. We all need peace. I noted how we can have all the riches of this world, but if you don’t have peace you don’t have much of nothing
I noted how in verse four Peter tells the saints through knowledge and God’s precious promises they are able to escape the corruption of this world. I don’t know how bad corruption was in Peter’s time. But I know it’s bad today. Corruption, violence, sickness, and disease seem to be on every hand. If there is any chance to escape any of this corruption Peter wanted the saints to know about it and to be able to participate in what he called the divine nature.
In verses five, six and seven Peter was essentially saying because of this corruption make every effort to support and strengthen your faith. Then he lists these seven actions – goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. I noted how these may not be a road map to holy living but they are certainly building blocks on which holy living can be built. I also noted how I like how these seven building blocks start with faith and end with love.
Verse nine told us the problem saints have when they don’t have these building blocks. It says if anyone lacks these things they are nearsighted and blind and forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. In other words they would forget where God had brought them from. When you are grateful for what somebody has done for you, you don’t soon forget what they did. We ought to be grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and not soon forget what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.
In verses twelve and thirteen Peter told the brothers and sisters that he intended to keep reminding them of those building blocks. He intended to keep reminding them of the path to holiness. He intended to keep reminding them of the things they already knew. Some things you don’t need anybody to remind you of, you already know it. You just need to do it. Peter is so concerned that he essentially said as long as he’s living he’s going to keep reminding them.
Verses fourteen and fifteen closed last week’s lesson with Peter telling the saints that he knew his death was coming. And not only was it coming, but it was coming soon because Jesus Christ had made it clear to him. Peter knew what he was facing. He knew what lay ahead for him. So while the blood was still running warm in his veins, he was going to do what he can do to help these brothers and sisters get on and stay on the right track with Jesus Christ.
Last week Peter wrote to encourage and remind the saints to hold on and keep on holding on. He outlined seven building blocks that moved from basic faith to a rich love that supports holy living. The Apostle reminded the saints that God extends the invitation to faith in Jesus Christ to all people. He reminded them that believers should confirm their salvation through Jesus Christ by carrying out God’s purposes. He reminded them of how their faith is precious because it has been bought with a price. This week we begin a new quarter with a new focus on honoring God in worship. In this week’s lesson we consider the heart and attitude of King David as he desires a better place for the representation of God among the Israelites. Townsend and Boyd’s Commentaries title this week’s lesson “David Worships God in Jerusalem”. Standard Lesson Commentary titles this week’s lesson “David’s Worship”. The scripture text comes from 1 Chronicles 15:1-3, 14-16, 25-29a.
What Takes Place in This Passage:
The Lesson opens at verse one with the chronicler noting how David built houses for himself in the city of David. Townsend Commentary notes that “the city of David was originally known as Zion or Jerusalem. Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms explains that Zion is “used in the Old Testament for all or part of Jerusalem. In both Old and New Testaments it refers to God’s heavenly city (Isa. 60:14; Heb. 12:22; Rev.14:1). In the Christian church Zion is an image for heaven”. So this helps us understand the long, deep, physical, literal and figurative relationship with this piece of land where David has pitched a tent for the symbolic representation of God to dwell. Both in the Old Testament, New Testament and in the life to come Jerusalem is significant in the life of God’s people. Note also that the Ark of God, the Ark of the Lord, and the Ark of the Covenant are the same thing. Westminster defines it as “the chest carried by the Hebrews that contained the tablets of the law. It was lost from history after the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the Jerusalem (586 B.C.).
In verse two David directs that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God. This was a responsibility of the Levites. Deuteronomy 10:8 says “at that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day.” David had already learned from his first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem that these rules still apply. God had not changed God’s mind about who was to minister to God. I also noticed that the chronicler uses the ark of God and the ark of the LORD interchangeably.
In verse three David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem. In this verse the chronicler is careful to mention “all Israel”. At this time David reigns over a united kingdom. Later the kingdom would become divided into Southern and Northern Kingdoms. The chronicler also now switches from the city of David in verse one to Jerusalem in verse three. Townsend notes that the city was renamed city of David because this was where David was crowned king of Israel. Our lesson skips verses four through thirteen which lists some of the descendants of Aaron and the Levites.
In verse fourteen the priests and Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. Westminster notes that sanctify means to make holy by purifying from sin.
In verse fifteen the Levites carried the ark of God on poles upon their shoulders. It seems that this manner of carrying the ark is different than in chapter thirteen when it was possible for Uz’zah to put out his hand to hold the ark when the oxen shook it.
Verse sixteen gives us an idea of what kind of instruments would be used along with singers all from the Levites. There would be singers playing on musical instruments, there would be harps, lyres, and cymbals to raise loud sounds of joy. This was going to be a grand celebration worthy of the occasion. The lesson then skips to verse twenty-five.
In verse twenty-five David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with rejoicing. This wasn’t a celebration just for David. Notice how he includes the elders of Israel. David is the king and he has absolute authority, but he does not neglect the elders nor does he neglect the leaders of his military. This is a celebration for all of Israel. Townsend notes that the ark had been in the home of Obed-Edom for three months before it was brought to Jerusalem.
In verse twenty-six the chronicler notes that because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark, the Levites sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 2 Samuel 6:12b-19 also describes this event but in a different way.
Verse twenty-seven describes the clothing of David and the Levites and singers as a robe of fine linen. It also notes that David wore a linen ephod.
Verses twenty-eight and twenty-nine (a) close this lesson with a description of how they brought the ark up. It was with shouting to the sound of the horn, trumpets, cymbals and loud music on harps and lyres. You get the idea that David really outdid himself with this celebration. Not only did David intend to honor God by bringing the ark to Jerusalem. He intends to worship God with a great celebration in the process. It reminds me of Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. As Mi’chal looks out the window to see David praising God we are reminded that her father Saul did not honor God in the way David is doing.
Context:
You have probably heard someone say “when praises go up, blessing come down.” I like this saying. I don’t know how theologically accurate it is and it certainly isn’t a scripture in the Bible. But still… I like what it conveys. God is worthy of our praise. God is worthy of our praise in the good times and in the bad times. We don’t praise in order to get blessings; we praise God simply because God is worthy. Not only did King David honor God by bringing the ark to Jerusalem, he worshiped God with singing, dance, and praise. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Key Characters in the text:
King David – The central figure as he conquers the City of Jerusalem and builds a place to keep the Ark of the Covenant (Townsend).
Key Words (not necessarily in the text, but good for discussion):
Honor – Glory or respect: it is also worship owed to God as the sovereign creator and redeemer.
Worship – The service of praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and petition directed toward God through actions and attitudes.
Themes, Topics, Discussion, or Sermon Preparation Ideas:
1. When praises go up, blessings come down.
2. Let everything that has breathe praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6)
Question:
1. David honored God by bringing the ark to Jerusalem. In what ways do you honor God today?
Concluding Thought:
Worship, honor, and praise are closely related in that all are a part of our life and interaction with God. In each of these parts we have a heart of thanksgiving toward God. It’s a heart of thanksgiving not only for what God has done and what God can do, but also for simply who God is. Worship, honor and praise is personal. To you, maybe God is your healer, or maybe God is your provider or your protector. Whoever God is to you give God thanks, in worship, honor, and praise.
Preview of Next Week’s Lesson:
Next week’s lesson continues in the very next chapter of 1 Chronicles. In Chapter sixteen the Chronicler reminds us to give thanks to God and to praise and worship God with gratitude. The lesson is titled “A Heart Filled With Gratitude”. The text is taken from 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, 19-27.
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