You Have a Duty to Stand

1 Chronicles 15:13

For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

God gave specific instructions on how the ark of the covenant was to be carried. God specifically instructed the Levites to carry the ark on their shoulders. Every time they were to carry this ark, they were to go backwards with the covering of the ark to cover it as they walked. They were also to take staves and put them through rings at each corner of this ark and carry it on their shoulders.

In David’s zeal, he built a new cart to carry it to the city where he lived. Now, there seems to be nothing really wrong with carrying it on a new cart, other than God said that is not how it was to be carried. David's way of carrying the ark seemed to be easier, but it was not God's way of carrying it. It does not matter if a new way may be easier to do things; we are always to do what God tells us to do God’s way. Because David did not follow God's instructions, a man lost his life when he touched the ark to steady it as it shook when they went over the threshingfloor.

We often like to blame David for using the new cart, and we should; however, there’s another group of people who should have stood up to David and said, 'We will not do it because it’s the wrong way,' and that is the Levites. They knew what was right, but to go along with the popular leader, they kept their silence, and one man lost his life. It did not matter if David would have had the Levites killed for speaking against him; they were responsible for carrying the ark, and they should have made a stand against him for they knew how it was to be carried. Their silence when David compromised led to a man's death, just as David's compromise did.

Silence is the biggest contributor to compromise getting traction. Many people remain silent so they can be part of the popular crowd, only to let compromise become the mainstream way of thinking. Imagine if the Levites stood and told David that he could not carry the ark on a new cart; a young man would not have lost his life, and David would not have had this blotch on his testimony. Let me share a couple thoughts about the importance of taking a vocal stand.

First, you must never allow the populace to dictate whether you would take a vocal stand. Too many look at what others will say to determine if they take a stand, but if you are always desiring to be in the popular crowd, you will find yourself in the crowd of compromisers. My friend, the remnant is never in the popular crowd, and they are always considered the problem.

Second, silence allows another generation not to know the ways of the Lord. All it takes for the next generation to take compromise to another level is for the present generation not to say a thing when compromise rears its ugly head. Somebody needs to take a stand so the next generation will know what is right.

Third, being vocal against compromise shows the next generation how to take a stand. If no one takes a stand when compromise is evident, the next generation will never know how to take a stand. We need people who are not afraid to lose friends, be alone, and be in the remnant for the sake of truth. Yes, we should take a vocal stand against those who compromise, but we should also take a stand against those who are silent when compromise is revealed.