{"id":463,"date":"2023-10-18T16:39:46","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T16:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.valpo.edu\/devotionals\/2023\/10\/18\/where-is-god-for-you\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T19:32:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T19:32:51","slug":"where-is-god-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.valpo.edu\/devotionals\/where-is-god-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Where is God for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Bible records the story of the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant<\/a> by King David from the city of Baale of Judah (also known as Kirjath-jearim or Abu Ghosh) to Jerusalem. One might be surprised to discover that this large chest, which played such a critical role in the wilderness wanderings of the people of Israel \u2013 said to contain the actual stone tablets on which the 10 Commandments were written along with Aaron\u2018s miraculous walking staff \u2013 wasn\u2019t already in the King\u2019s city! Hadn\u2019t the people of God taken it everywhere with them? Indeed, the meandering path of the Ark (for a time it was even in the possession of Israel\u2019s arch-enemy, the Philistines, where it was credited as the power behind all manner of mayhem<\/a>) can serve as a marker of the uncentralized political structure among the people of God in the time between their arrival in Canaan and the establishment of a centralized monarchy under King Saul. In this light, we might interpret the story of the Ark\u2019s transfer to Jerusalem as a sign of David consolidating his power in his new capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the Ark is long lost to us \u2013 the last mention of it in the Bible occurs in the context of it being installed in the temple Solomon had commissioned<\/a>, after which it is never referred to again except by the prophet Jeremiah as a thing whose time has passed \u2013 the image of the Ark has fascinated Christians from a time long before Indiana Jones. Christian artists noted a symbolic link between the Ark as the container that held the word of God and the person of Mary, the mother of Jesus, whose womb harbored the living word of God.  As we read the account in the First Book of Samuel, the description of the Ark parade and the dancing and celebrating King David might even trigger a connection for us to Jesus\u2019 own celebratory entrance into the same city of Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant was for the people of its time the assurance of God\u2019s attentive presence among them. It was the assurance of this attentive presence that David seemed to be seeking. Jesus\u2019 entrance into Jerusalem trades on this image. The presence of God has come among the people, and the people celebrate God\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about us? Can we count on God\u2019s attentive presence for us? How would we go about locating God? If Jesus has promised to be present wherever two or three people are gathered<\/a> together in his name, do objects or places even matter anymore?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martin Luther, the German theologian, anticipated this question when he was preaching on the occasion of the dedication of a new church. There he was, standing in its newly built pulpit \u2013 a pulpit that his good friend the artist Lucas Cranach had covered with lavishly-sculpted scenes from the Gospels \u2013 and Luther has the nerve to say, \u201cNot that we\u2019re making a special church out of it\u2026one could just as well preach outside by the fountain or somewhere else.\u201d1<\/sup> Earlier in the same sermon, he declares that the reason such places are designated as churches is to give people in the community the assurance, in both place and time, of being able to hear the Gospel of God\u2019s immeasurable and unconditional love for them in the forgiveness of sins and the promise of the resurrection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the central reason behind the place of the Chapel of the Resurrection at the center of our campus and the reason we schedule opportunities for worship and prayer eight times a week when classes are in session. It\u2019s to give everyone the assurance that they know where they can go to hear the great news of the reality of immeasurable divine love for them and to receive the gifts of Jesus\u2019 life and salvation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peace be with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013\u00a0Pr. Jim<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rev. Katherine Museu<\/a>s<\/em> and Rev. James A. Wetzstein<\/a> serve as university pastors at the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University and take turns writing weekly devotions<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

1<\/sup> Luther, Martin, and Helmut T. Lehmann. \u201cSermon at the Dedication of Castle Church, Torgau 1544.\u201d In Luther\u2019s Works. 51: Sermons: 1<\/em>, edited by John Doberstein, American ed., 333\u201354. Saint Louis, Mo.: Concordia Publ. House [u.a.], 1959. 337<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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