1They brought in God’s chest and placed it inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then they brought entirely burned offerings and well-being sacrifices before God. 2 When David had finished offering the entirely burned offerings and the well-being sacrifices, he blessed the people in the Lord’s name 3 and distributed a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a raisin cake to every Israelite man and woman.
Reflection
The moment described in 1 Chronicles 16:1–3 marks a turning point in Israel’s history. The Ark of the Covenant — described in the Common English Bible as God’s Chest — was far more than a sacred object. It represented the very presence of God and God’s covenant with Israel.
The Ark had been with Israel in victory and defeat. It had even been captured by their enemies before being returned under King David’s leadership. Now, at last, David brings it to Jerusalem and places it in the tent he prepared. Offerings are made. The people are blessed. Worship and thanksgiving fill the air.
For David, restoring the Ark to the center meant restoring God to the center. And he believed that when God was rightly placed, everything else would follow.
That is the invitation of Lent.
Lent is not simply about giving something up to prove devotion. It is about restoring God to the center of our lives. Just as David prepared a place for the Ark, we are invited to prepare a place in our schedules, our habits, and our hearts.
God does not merely want sacrifice during Lent — God wants relationship. The goal is not just to complete forty days of discipline, but to cultivate habits that last. When we pray more intentionally, repent more honestly, and depend on God more deeply, those practices begin to shape the rest of our lives.
When God is at the center, worship becomes natural. Generosity becomes joyful. Life feels rightly ordered. So, during this season of Lent, take time to truly make space for God. Draw near. Let God’s presence reshape your daily life.
by Manny Estevez
For Pondering and Prayer
- Are you truly taking the time to draw near to God this Lent?
- Are you putting God at the center of your life?
Prayer: God, help us place You at the center of our lives — not only during Lent, but every day. Remind us that a relationship with You is what we truly need. As we walk with You, give us peace and confidence, knowing that the final victory has already been won through Jesus Christ. In His loving name we pray, Amen.
