One Safe Ground

1 Chronicles 16:4,6

He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel… and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

I was alone with the kids when the 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Negros-Cebu around noontime yesterday. My heart both stopped and pumped fast seeing the monitor screen wave left and right. I managed to grab the kids and secured them under the table. They were giggling though, thinking we’re just playing hide-and-seek. The scare heightened when all lights went out and the ground’s still shaking. It was my longest 30 seconds ever. I was breathing hard and very exhausted all afternoon – though doing nothing at all. Tris said he was surprised to see his office floor dark and empty though he just left 15minutes to check the coast’s view from somewhere. Everybody just rushed out for their homes. Neighbor’s kids said they weren’t even allowed to get their bags. It’s a drop everything and go. We’re called to standby for aftershocks, but really, we’re more like standing still here. 

After the Ark of the Covenant was set inside the pitched tent in Zion, David instituted the resume of Temple offerings. The command can be traced back during Moses’ time after Sinai, along with the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle construction. God’s requirement was a daily routine of burnt offerings, plus the burning of incense and tending the Menorah. By routine it meant one in the morning, and one in the evening – without exceptions, and for all generations. The sweet savour was unto the Lord and for the pleasure of meeting Him and hearing from Him. In David’s time, added to making petition and giving thanks was praising God through songs – nonstop. It echoed through the New Testament, with Jesus as the Lamb sacrificed in our stead, and our unceasing prayers as the incense ascending up before God. It’s His ordained requirement in meeting with us. And it’s a regular thing.

I wonder if the priests in David’s time would stop praising God in cases of earthquakes. Will that qualify as an exception to a no-exception rule? Will a momentary stop apply to an ordinance that says forever?  We should be thankful we need not bring a cattle or lamb, or prepare the mix for incense powder or light up candles in our meetings with Him. I can’t imagine having to prepare all those with the ground and my heart all shaking yesterday just so He’d be pleased to see me and hear my panic. Praise God for the blood of Jesus, we have access to His presence – anytime. We may take it for granted in normal days, but we’d realize it so handy, even convenient, in times of great need. The number of times prayer was mentioned in the Scriptures, and now in reference to Temple offerings, prove it was meant to be observed – regularly. Day and night. Now if you’re wondering why God was so silent in revealing you His will, or in rushing to attend to your emergency prayers, guess who first failed in your meetings at the Tent?  To drop everything and go meant leaving the unnecessary to attend to life’s most important. It is the urgency that makes us run to One safe ground when all else are shaking and our hearts trembling.  But isn’t it better if we’re found safe in His arms even before harm strikes? Will we run when we’re already resting in Him?