All of the good feelings and good intentions with the dancing and singing won’t make God forget or overlook when men are not doing His will. The Scriptures prove this by several examples such as when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to the rock as God commanded. Disobeying God led to Moses not being permitted to enter the promised land. Consider another example:

“7The sacred chest was still at Abinadab’s house, and when David and the crowd arrived there, they brought the chest outside and placed it on a new ox cart. Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio guided the cart, 8while David and the crowd danced and sang praises to the LORD with all their might. They played music on small harps and other stringed instruments, and on tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9But when they came to Chidon’s threshing place, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out and took hold of the chest to stop it from falling. 10The LORD God was very angry at Uzzah for doing this, and he killed Uzzah right there beside the chest. 11David then got angry at God for killing Uzzah. So he named that place “Attack on Uzzah,” and it’s been called that ever since.” 1 Chron. 13, CEV

The ark of the covenant was told by God to be carried with poles that passed through rings on built into the sides of the ark. But the ark was not to be touched or carried on a cart. But David and Abinidab and Uzzah did not follow God’s instruction. And when the cart was rocking so that the ark nearly fell off, Uzzah steadied the ark from falling and God killed him. God is serious about obedience.

Let’s obey God. And as we obey God let’s trust in His saving grace and not in our own good deeds, not matter how much we are tempted to trust in our own works. Let’s obey God by confessing Jesus today. Let’s obey God by worshiping Him tomorrow just as we are commanded with song, prayer, reading of Scripture, eating of the Lord’s Supper, and giving back a portion of our income to the work of the church.

The text in the Chronicles says David got angry with God. David should have been angry with himself for not following God’s instructions to have the Levites carry the ark in the proper way. Later on David decides it is time for a second try to bring the ark of the covenant to its proper place and he wants to do it right. Here’s what he said, “13 “Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15 The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.” 1 Chron 15. Doing it right, according to the Law God had given to Moses, would be pleasing to the Lord.

If we do not follow God’s instructions, people are going to die and be eternally lost if we do not follow God’s instructions. God has not changed. He desires obedience more than sacrifice. Zeal and happy dancing and singing can be substitute obedience to God. God bless you abundantly. Respectfully, Dan Mayfield

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