Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 13:2–3 (New Living Translation)

2 Then he (King David) addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: “If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us. 3 It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”

For centuries the Ark of God the Ark of the Covenant was the centerpiece of spiritual life for the assembly of Israel. Time passed; generations passed.

People forgot.

We do that—we forget. Seems to be some human trait. We focus on the recent, and the recent seems to be a shorter and shorter period of time. While there is much to recommend in focusing on the here and now, there is much to recommend in remembering.

King David brought the Ark of the Covenant back from neglect. “Look,” he said, “this is our heritage. This reminds of us of how Jehovah God did things never seen before or since. All the other peoples of the world remember those things. Let us remember them as well.”

Now is the point in this little essay where I attempt to remark, “And what about us today?” Jehovah God the Creator—the God of the Holy Bible whom we worship—did things never before or since. Do we remember? Do we pause and consider? Other peoples of the world remember these things. Do we?

God, we humbly come before you. Continue to forgive our failings. Help us to live repentant and thankful lives and share Your blessings with those around us. Help us in our unbelief.