A Desire For God’s Presence

1 Chronicles 13:3-4
3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

There was a desire for the presence and blessing of God but the motivation was wrong.

2 Samuel 6:9
9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?

“bring… God to us” / “How shall the…Lord come to me?” – They desired to add God… to add Him to what they had. He would be “the icing on the cake” They would bring God to them! The thing seemed right to “all the people”. The main congregation of God’s chosen people. Consider how it would be/feel to contradict or correct such a people.

Nobody thought to enquire of God first! Nobody!! There was no one who stood to remind them of the word of God and the pattern that He had ordained! Nobody remembered or stated the law of God or considered His desire. Nobody saw or made others aware of a problem! Listen to their hearts… “let us bring… God to us” Is that your heart? Do you desire to bring the presence and testimony of God into your life? Do you feel you are lacking His power, His authority and His character? Beware of building yourself a new cart!

When it comes to seeking God in our own lives be very, very careful of doing what seems right! The presence of God is not acquired through listening to many sermons, going to many meetings, doing many outreaches and being busy about religious activities… Seek God!! Seek Him only! How much time do you spend simply being with Jesus? THAT is what He died for! He died that we might commune with Him! How much time do you spend truly seeking His will, surrendering your own, laying down your own plans? … Do not build a new cart in your heart! Destroy it!

We so easily think that we are right and that we are doing the right thing. We love to assume that we are right!! Oh but how costly it is! Spiritual lives our lost because of our ignorance! Eventually we will look at our lives, realising the tragic truth that God is not in any of it and be left with the heart piercing question that David had…

1 Chronicles 13:11
11 And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.

David was displeased with The Lord. Wow! That truly reveals his heart is all of this. He was displeased at the Lord’s actions. He was frustrated. He was not happy that God acted this way. Consider Cain’s reaction when God corrected him. David’s pride was hurt. His way, his method, his logic, his understanding and his wisdom… They had all been denied. He was displeased that all of His effort was not good enough! He saw the tragic loss and the true lack of God’s blessing!! A right desire, a right thought but a wrong motive. Consider verse 3: WHY??!! Why did they not inquire of God at Kirjath-Jearim?? Already this shows that their hearts were not yielded and submitted!

1 Chronicles 13:12
12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?

He was afraid. The communion was broken. His pride was hit. The comfort, pride and seurity in His own path was shaken/broken. If only David had had a fear of God first!! If only David had sought God’s will first! If only he had enquired of God first! 1 Kings 22:5 …. Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day. Then the question would not have been how can I bring God to me but… How can I come to God?

1 Chronicles 15:1
1 And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.

Preparation for the testimony of God. David had a desire for the presence and the testimony of God to be in His city. What of our hearts?

Are we preparing a place for God to dwell? It is not a standard to reach. To prepare does not mean to create a place of perfection… We will never reach that!! But is there a heart that is yielding and doing whatever it can for God to live there? The heart that yields this way is a heart preparing. Surrendering everything you think is right in order to gain The way, The truth and The life!

Is there a singular desire for the presence and testimony of God? This is not something that we simply attain and store. It is something that we will ever desire, ever seek after. If our hearts are right we will consistently feel like we have not found it or possess it. However the presence and power of God will be witnessed and testified in our lives as we continue to yield our lives, sanctify ourselves and walk in obedience to His word. (Walk in the Spirit)

1 Chronicles 15:2
2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.

Now we see that David had sought for God! He has sought for God in His word, He has spent time enquiring for God’s will and discovered the ordained pattern. He discovered truth. God revealed to Him the requirements that were necessary! He realises now that the new cart was wrong. The only way He could have come to this point is though yielding to the will of God, reading the scriptures and surrendering to the truth.

1 Chronicles 15:13
13 For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

Flesh will eventually die. The Lord’s testimony will, in His time, strike through any false representation. David came some distance before Uzza died… But God will have HIS testimony.

There is a “due order” and only obedience commands a blessing. Disobedience has grave consequences… A life was lost!! What spiritual lives have been or will be lost if we do not walk in the will of God!! How imperative it is that we inquire of Him for Him for His will and seek Him for it.