1 Chronicles 15

The Explanation

In a city with high walls lived a king. His name was David.

David had a beautiful new house. It smelled of fresh wood. The sun shone warm on the roof.

But David was thinking about something else. He was thinking about a golden chest.

That chest was very special. It was God's chest. Inside were God's own words. When people looked at the chest, they thought of God. God is here. God is close.

The chest was far away, at the house of a man named Obed-Edom. And David wanted it near. In his own city, in a tent, all ready and waiting.

So David called everybody. Come! We are going to get God's chest!

And they came. Hundreds and hundreds of people. Uriel came. Asaiah came. Joel and Shemaiah and Eliel came.

David said something important. Wash yourselves. Put on clean clothes. Because this chest belongs to God.

And listen, said David. Nobody may pull the chest on a wagon. Long poles go through the golden rings. And then you lift the poles onto your shoulders. That is what God said. That is how we will do it.

What Does This Mean?

Once, long before, they had done it their own way. And that went wrong. Very wrong. David remembered it. He never forgot it.

So this time they listened carefully. God says how. And we do it that way.

Strong men bent down. They lifted the poles onto their shoulders. Slowly the golden chest went up. And God helped them. Step. Step. Step.

The Common Thread

And then the music began.

Bang! went the big bronze cymbals. Toot-toot! went the trumpets. And the harps sang softly along.

Heman played. Asaph played. Ethan played. And a man named Chenaniah taught everyone how to sing it just right.

The whole road was full of people. They shouted. They sang. They laughed.

And there in the middle was King David. In his soft white clothes. And do you know what David did?

David danced.

He hopped and he turned and he clapped. Because God's chest was coming home. David was so happy that his feet could not stand still.

But up in a high house, behind a window, stood a woman. Her name was Michal. She looked out at the street. She saw David dancing. And she did not smile. Not at all.

Michal thought David looked silly. She did not understand how happy he was.

But David kept on dancing. All the way to the tent.

For You

God's golden chest came home, and the whole city sang.

Do you ever get happy feet? So happy that you have to jump?

You may be happy with God like that too. You can sing loudly. You can clap. You can dance in the room. Even if someone laughs, that is all right. God likes hearing your voice.

And you may listen too, like David. God says how. And we do it that way.

Talk About It

What sound would you like to make for God: a big bang, a toot, or a song?

Why do you think David was so very, very happy?

Praying Together

Dear God,

You are so close. That makes me happy.

I want to sing for You. Loud and glad.

Thank You, God. Amen.