“So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.” (2 Samuel 6:15)
After the first disastrous attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem, David waited three months. But then he called the people together and brought up the ark of the Lord “with rejoicing”. And it was not only David who rejoiced. “All the house of Israel” joined him. They brought sacrifices, they celebrated. The presence of God in their midst was a matter of high importance and of great joy.
David valued God’s presence and blessing personally, but also as a king. He considered the worship of God crucial for the people of Israel. And he was right, as we can read throughout Israel’s history. As long as the people served God, they experienced prosperity and blessing. But as soon as they forgot about Him, things went wrong.
What place does God have in your life, and in the community you live in? Do you experience what a blessing it is to live close to Him? What do you think: To what extent can the welfare of a people, or the lack thereof, be linked to their worship and obedience to the Lord?