During the reign of King David, he wanted to bring the ark of God back from Kirjath Jearim, where it had been “since the days” of Saul (1 Chron. 13:1-3). They planned a celebratory time of great joy, including making sure that they secured “a new cart” upon which to transport the ark (13:7). Why does the Bible give us the detail that it was “a new cart”? The fact that they transported the ark on a cart at all demonstrates their disobedience. Why tell us it was “new”?
The Bible does not say this, but sometimes wording used in the Bible makes the mind turn. Perhaps they had reasoned among themselves, “Let’s find the very best cart that we can! No expense will be spared! It’s for the ark of God, after all!”
You know that its “newness” and beauty did not matter one iota! Wrong is wrong, no matter what it looks like! Perhaps that’s part of the lesson we are to learn. If our service to the Lord looks good to us but not to Him, then disastrous consequences await (Matt. 7:21-23)!