David is not a perfect man, but he is God’s man. He fails to bring the ark up on the first attempt, but makes it right and is able to deliver the ark of God to the city of Jerusalem.
When God judges His people, He never dispenses punishment as an end in itself but as a means to an end. Hebrews 12:5-13 expounds this truth as clearly as any passage in scripture. If you are under chastisement, take to heart these steps of obedience as suggested by this passage.
Even in the Old Testament, much of the relationship between God and His people was based on love. God definitely loved them and they were expected to respond to Him in like kind. Yet, as today, when they began to waver from the Lord, God started getting their second-best. They gave Him the leftovers.
We could truly serve the Lord if we were strong and courageous Christians in all places.
