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Thursday 21 April 2011

Day 112: Israel’s victory

My favourite Psalm today - Psalm 139. It contains so many layers. I wonder what will strike me from it today?

Victory at Baal Perazim
2 Samuel 5:19-21, 1 Chronicles 14:10-12
The second conflict
2 Samuel 5:22-25, 1 Chronicles 14:13-17
Decision to bring ark back
1 Chronicles 13:1-4
God’s complete knowledge and care
Psalm 139
Journey of ark from Kiriath Jearim
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 1 Chronicles 13:5-8
God and his people
Psalm 781-11, 67-72
Ark brought to the house of Obed-Edom
2 Samuel 6:;6-11, 1 Chronicles 13:9-14
David’s song of triumph
Psalm 68

Here is the first significant difference between the 2 Samuel account ad the Chronicles version. 2 Samuel has David carrying off the Philistines’ idols, while in Chronicles he orders them to be burnt. Chronicles tells us that people ignored the ark during Saul’s reign - is this an example of the narrator explaining why David was better than Saul? Saul didn’t instinctively turn to God, while David does.
Then a strange thing happens - the ark wobbles, and Uzzah stretches out a hand to steady it, so God strikes him down. David, for the first time, is bewildered by God, and falters. God is too mysterious even for David to fathom out completely.
Psalm 139 is headed in my Bible “The inescapable God.” I wonder if this is a rare moment when David wishes he could escape the gaze of God?

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