July 19, 2018 Thursday

“1 ¶  Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2  And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3  So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4  And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5  Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.” (2Samuel 6:1-5 NKJV)

            As David brings the ark of God to Jerusalem he took 30,000 choice men of Israel and what seems to be a band made up of the people of Israel. In what can only be seen as a triumphal entry the ark where God’s presence resided. Placed on a new cart the ark moved downhill from its old location.

            The term “choice men” usually refers to the better trained military personnel who can be used for defense of the king, a powerful offensive strike or as in this case an honor guard.

            To some this may seem too militaristic a way to honor God. Some may even say the honor guard was okay back then because the times then which were much more dangerous.

            There are two reasons why these views may not be sufficient to explain a military honor guard for the ark of God.

First, there never has been a time which was not militaristic and there never will be!

Second, it is a lack of recognition that even if we aren’t in a military war we are in a spiritual war!

            The Salvation Army possibly understands this better than any other denomination and their pastors and preachers hold military titles. Like a military unit they have a chain of command where God is the commanding general. Salvation Army officers will within their corps enlist laypeople to be what are called non-commissioned officers.

            And like the people of Israel the Salvation Army moves onward as Christian soldiers with their bands and singing lifting the cross of Jesus as they battle satan, evil, depression, addiction as they fight a physical, emotional and spiritual warfare!

            What does Jesus say that he came to bring? Can we truly stand by and peacefully watch billions upon billions damned to hell because we will not fight against the evil one? Looking at the world around us how does that fit with your theology which not only be Biblical but livable?