{"id":3873,"date":"2019-07-11T20:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T03:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?p=3873"},"modified":"2019-07-07T18:28:38","modified_gmt":"2019-07-08T01:28:38","slug":"1chronicles_15_1-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/1chronicles_15_1-24\/","title":{"rendered":"Accessing the Presence of God"},"content":{"rendered":"

1 Chronicles 15:1-24 \u00a0Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/div>\n
\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is 1 Chronicles 15:1-24.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

1 Chronicles\u00a015:13\u00a0(NIV)<\/strong>
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the\u00a0LORD\u00a0our God broke out in anger against us.\u00a0We did not inquire of him<\/strong>\u00a0about how to do it in the prescribed way.”
\n<\/em>
\nOn verses 1-15:\u00a0\u00a0Here David makes a second attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem.\u00a0\u00a0The first time David tried moving the ark, he didn\u2019t\u00a0inquire of God as to how to do it.\u00a0\u00a0The result was death for one, and trouble, grief and embarrassment for many.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This time David has learned his lesson and done his research.\u00a0\u00a0He has searched the Scriptures so that he can understand what is God\u2019s prescribed way for moving the ark.\u00a0\u00a0In accordance with Scripture David makes sure that only the Levites are to transport the ark and that they are to do so by carrying it on poles, rather than pushing it on a cart.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

1. Here we see the importance of inquiring of God before you make an important decision.\u00a0\u00a0Before you make an important decision, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.\u00a0\u00a0Get into God’s Word.\u00a0\u00a0Spend quality time in prayer.\u00a0\u00a0Seek godly counsel.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>This will save you trouble, embarrassment and grief later on.<\/p>\n

2. David and his people desperately wanted the presence of God, represented by the ark.\u00a0\u00a0In order for the ark to come to them, David and the people had to learn to do things the way God had prescribed.\u00a0\u00a0David learned the hard way that when we don\u2019t do things God\u2019s way but just do whatever we think is right, the results can be fatal.<\/p>\n

Likewise, nowadays many people erroneously think that they can easily access God\u2019s presence their own way: \u201cI don\u2019t have to Christ in my life in order to have a relationship with God.\u00a0\u00a0I don\u2019t need to ascribe to any particular religion to have God in my life.\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m a spiritual person.\u00a0\u00a0As long as I\u2019m sincere and I try to have a real connection, I can access God.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Little do they know that\u00a0you can only access God\u2019s presence God\u2019s way<\/strong>. When you read the Scriptures, you will see that\u00a0God has prescribed a specific way for accessing His presence: it is only through Jesus Christ.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Sinners like us have no way of reaching God.\u00a0\u00a0But because Jesus Christ died for our sins, those who place their trust in Christ can now freely access the presence of God.\u00a0\u00a0As Jesus Himself says in John 14:6,\u00a0“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except\u00a0through me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

So if you think you can access God\u2019s presence without Jesus, then you\u2019re only fooling yourself and can expect the same fate as Uzzah when he tried to touch God\u2019s presence without doing it God\u2019s way.\u00a0\u00a0God\u2019s Word has already made it very clear that\u00a0it is only through Jesus that we can access God\u2019s presence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Chronicles 15:16-22 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
\n19\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals;
\n20\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to\u00a0alamoth,
\n21\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to\u00a0sheminith.
\n22\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
\n<\/em>
\nOn verses 16-22:\u00a0\u00a0Once again we see the role that music played in the Israelites\u2019 worship of the Lord.\u00a0\u00a0Heman, Asaph and Ethan are the lead musicians in David\u2019s worship band (v17, 19) while Kenaniah leads the singers (v22).\u00a0\u00a0What can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

1. Use the gift of music to help you enter into the presence of God.<\/p>\n

2. Kenaniah is in charge of the singers \u201cbecause he was skillful at it\u201d (v22).\u00a0\u00a0This tells me that\u00a0effective leadership requires not just a willing heart, but also skillful hands<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0In Psalm 78:72 we learn that David was a great leader because he led \u201cwith integrity of heart\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>\u201cwith skillful hands\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What are some skills you need to sharpen in order to a better leader in your church, home, workplace or team?<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Chronicles 15:23-24 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n23\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark.
\n24\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 23-24:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Previously Obed-Edom had custody of the ark in his own home and everything he had was blessed as a result (1 Chronicles\u00a013:14).\u00a0\u00a0So now we see Obed-Edom serving as a doorkeeper for the ark (v24).\u00a0\u00a0What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0Obed-Edom had grown to love the presence of God so much that he just couldn\u2019t stay away from God\u2019s presence.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Later on Obed-Edom would also serve as a musician (1 Chronicles 16:5).\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s as if every chance he got Obed-Edom wanted to be near the presence of God!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As Psalm 84:10 says, \u201cI would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked\u201d.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0When you\u2019ve tasted the goodness of God\u2019s presence, you want more of it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Make the most of every chance you get to be near God\u2019s presence.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Since Jesus Christ has died on the cross for our sins, removing every obstacle that once separated us from God\u2019s presence, like Obed-Edom let\u2019s make the most of every opportunity we have to enjoy God\u2019s presence and help others to experience Him.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s draw near to Him continually.<\/p>\n

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your powerful presence in my life, made possible only because Jesus Christ Your Son died for my sins.\u00a0\u00a0Since I now have 24\/7 access to Your holy presence by the blood of Jesus, may I draw near to You continually, every day.\u00a0\u00a0Thank You for the way Your presence renews my life.\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,
\n\u00a0
\nToday\u2019s passage is 1 Chronicles 15:1-24.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!
\n\u00a0
\n1 Chronicles\u00a015:13\u00a0(NIV)
\n13\u00a0\u00a0It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the\u00a0LORD\u00a0our God broke out in anger against us.\u00a0We did not inquire of him\u00a0about how to do it in the prescribed way.”
\n\u00a0
\nOn verses 1-15:\u00a0\u00a0Here David makes a second attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem.\u00a0\u00a0The first time David tried moving the ark, he didn\u2019t\u00a0inquire of God as to how to do it.\u00a0\u00a0The result was death for one, and trouble, grief and embarrassment for many.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This time David has learned his lesson and done his research.\u00a0\u00a0He has searched the Scriptures so that he can understand what is God\u2019s prescribed way for moving the ark.\u00a0\u00a0In accordance with Scripture David makes sure that only the Levites are to transport the ark and that they are to do so by carrying it on poles, rather than pushing it on a cart.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nWhat can we learn from this?\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. Here we see the importance of inquiring of God before you make an important decision.\u00a0\u00a0Before you make an important decision, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.\u00a0\u00a0Get into God’s Word.\u00a0\u00a0Spend quality time in prayer.\u00a0\u00a0Seek godly counsel.\u00a0\u00a0This will save you trouble, embarrassment and grief later on.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3874,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3873"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3877,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3873\/revisions\/3877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}