The Ark to Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 15-16

            The story of the ark of the covenant being brought to Jerusalem is substantially different in 1 Chronicles than it is in 2 Samuel. Here the emphasis is on the Levitical role. At the outset, David explicitly acknowledges the error of carrying the ark on a cart and says that only the Levites should carry it. The Levites are mentioned 11 times in chapter 15 alone! There’s also a callback to chapter 9 when we read about David appointing the Levites their roles in the temple.

            The psalm in chapter 16 also makes some points, reminding us that David is not just a warrior but a man of God and a poet. The psalm is comprised of portions of Psalms 105, 96, and 106. The section from Psalm 105, which extols the Lord’s faithfulness to the covenant (1 Chronicles 16:8-22/Psalm 105:1-15), matches the Chronicler’s agenda very well.

            Two messages to this post-exilic community are clear. First, we are still the people of God; He is still faithful to the covenant He made with our father Abraham. Second, we still have the personnel to maintain true worship in the Temple. We still have the descendants of Levi in our midst. Our worship and our claims on God are legitimate.