 Unity is one of the key watchwords today as we approach our nation’s 50th Anniversary this coming August. It’s definitely a prerequisite as we seek to rally churches to embrace an evangelical Nation Building Policy for the ensuing years.
There are invaluable lessons on unity from the familiar story of the “bringing back” of the ark by King David in 1 Chron. 13 to 15. The Chronicles detail for us the divine editorial on the history of God’s people, written from a priestly and spiritual perspective.
Three main groups of characters emerge in this story, and are worth noting. They speak of the complexity of unity.
Firstly David, in wanting to bring back the ark, did “everything right”. He consulted the key leaders (13:1); got the people to agree and involved (13:2-5); got the “harps and bowls” going (13:8). He even got the two key men involved, Uzza and Ahio, whose names respectively mean “strength” and “brotherly”.
Nothing could seem to go wrong with such a strong team and “oneness of purpose”.
With hindsight, we know the missteps and setbacks. David “did not consult Him about the proper order” (15:13b). Not only that, there were the things he “did not do... the first time” (15:13a) viz Zadok and Abiathar the priests and the Levites were not sanctified.
In our zeal for the nation and to build His House, there is the danger of allowing “corporate apostles” to sideline God’s servants and priests called to serve Him. Community leaders I am sure, were invited, marketplace leaders in the forefront, and financiers given prominent place – all these happen so often. But in unity, its not just everybody that God wants, it’s the “proper order” and the issue of sanctification. The danger of overlooking “holiness” is rife.
All these oversight occurred in the bustle of “moving forward” and the grandiose scheme of a “national project”. We do well to take heed, as we are equally prone to repeat these mistakes. The Uzza incident is a clear indication that God is in the details.
When bringing the ark back the second time round, David, prepared a place for the ark (15:1), something he did not do the first time round. We can just want the Presence for the sake of blessings. Until God struck Uzza, you couldn’t convince anyone there was no unity. Leader “strength” and co-leader “brotherly” and everybody were working together under anointed leadership!! But “unity” is futile if we don’t consult Him and covet His presence without ulterior motives.
Then there is the second group, the Philistines. Before the second and successful attempt of restoration of the ark, the Philistines came to hear that David had been anointed king, and they attacked him. The unclean always attack the anointed.
Subsequently, David “inquired of God” twice (14:10, 14). This shows us David indeed learned the lesson well. How obvious it must have been. With the Philistines at the horizon, and when you are the anointed king, it is so natural to defend oneself and attack the enemy. But in our zeal to unite the body, we often fail to recognize the obvious that we cannot “unite” the unclean and the anointed (14:8). Presently, amongst mainline churches, a clear divide is coming about over the homosexuality issue. There is never going to be an acceptable compromise in the sight of God. We can have all the “unity week” and “unity services” we like, but its not going to make a difference. Unity is not unison. “Joining hands” with everyone is not unity. Modern day unity proponents would have no doubt rebuked David for not working towards unity with the Philistines.
Unity is not unison.
"Joining hands" with everyone is not unity.
Finally after defeating the unclean Philistines, David proceeds to bring the ark back, following the “proper order”, and consulting God. There was much jubilation, celebration, loud music. But “it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart”. (1 Chron. 15:29, NKJV)
Michal was not “united” in heart, mind and purpose, because there was no “union” in her marriage to David. It was a great breakthrough for David and the nation, and her husband David, was the man God used. But she despised David. It could have been because her father Saul died unceremoniously, it could be because God has chosen to bless David and not another man of her personal preference. Whatever “legitimate” reasons she may have had, she forgot her place, and she lost her place in the history of the nation. She forgot that her husband was God’s chosen king.
She could have become a “mother of Israel” but instead, she became barren till her day of death (2 Sam. 6:23).
It was not criticism of David’s dancing per se that God was dealing with. Michal mistook her privileged position as wife as having the right to deride the anointed king publicly. How true that familiarity breeds contempt. That day, in mocking David, she could not see the larger picture of what God was doing in the nation, and that the ark was indeed “moving into the city”.
In her bitterness and anger, she lost more than she bargained for. In making her point, she missed the point. David and Michal could not agree on what God was doing.
The churches in our nation are one, in Christ. I pray that we would remain one, to see the larger picture of what God wants to do in our land and then truly u-n-i-t-e to invest in our nation.
|
