30,000 Men

                30,000 men is the army that David brought together to go down and retrieve the Ark of the Covenant to be brought back to the City of David.  It is important to note that the battles had already been won.  He did not go down to defeat an army.  He was just bringing the Ark back to the City of David.  So why 30,000 men??  David wanted to make sure that nothing expected or unexpected hindered him from bringing the Ark back.  He did not take it for granted that there would be no opposition.  He prepared for the battle though he saw no enemy.

                The Ark of the Covenant is the place where God decided to confine Himself to for a period.  It was above the atonement cover of the Ark where the Spirit of God resided.  David was not going to get a box adorned with gold.  He was drawing closer to the Spirit of God.  And by taking 30,000 men we understand that he was prepared for battle.  He was ready to fight for the Presence of God. 

                The presence of God is not a thing that we control.  The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity.  The Holy Spirit is a person.  To fight to remain in His presence is to fight the spiritual battles that keep us from Him.  But to enjoy all the Presence of God has for us, we must make it habitual to fight for  His presence.  We fight against stress, worry, and sin.  Our battle is a spiritual one where victory is found by holding on to our faith no matter how difficult the situation.  Fight!  Prepare for battle!  The Enemy is doing all he can to distract us from the Holy Spirit.  Fight against temptation, wounds inflicted by those who should have loved us, and apathy. 

                When David was able to bring the Ark back, He danced.  Too many of us never lose our self in the goodness of God because we don’t fight for His presence.  We go through life distracted and experience God just occasionally.  Fight and stay with Him.  He will fill us to overflowing with the goodness and love of God, and we too, will dance before Him!