FRIDAY November 30, 2018
The Holy Presence of God
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up with you.”
1 Samuel 6:21
Notice, the people of Beth Shemesh began to recognize that God was powerful, God was great, and God was holy. Their ungodly actions had caused the death of so many. The only way God could truly bless His people was to bring them back into a reverence for His holiness. They needed to reverently come into His presence and bow before Him in Spirit and in truth.
A decision was made by the people of Beth Shemesh to send for other priests who knew the right way to handle the holy articles of God:
Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab… and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD (1 Samuel 7:1).
The Ark of the Covenant would remain in Kirjath Jearim, meaning, “town of the forests,” a long time. It would be twenty years before Israel would return to the LORD with all their hearts (I Samuel 7:2-3), and about fifty years before David would bring the Ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). What a long time for the people in the city to have missed out on the blessings and presence of the Lord among them.
I think about the many different churches and individuals who have missed out on the blessings of God. I have seen many church leaders fall into sin. It is often their wives and children who pay the consequences for their sin and disobedience. We serve a God who is perfect and holy. If only men, as leaders, would recognize the holiness of God and desire to have the presence of God back into their lives! Only then will the blessings of God and the return of His presence be with them and their homes.
Do you desire the blessings and presence of God to return to your life?
The Christian life is to live all of your life in the presence of God.
~R.C. Sproul~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!