The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-10-11

THE ARR TAKEN TO ZION.
LESSON u, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATlotlAL SERIES, OCT. IS.
Text Of the Lesson, II Sam. vi. l-l2-Com-
init Verses II, i2-Golden Text. Palms
lxxxvii. documentary by the Rev. d.
M. stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per.
mission Of h. 8. Hoffman. publisher, Philadel
phia.l
David being now king over all Israel, and
having taken the stronghold Of the Jebusites,
which up to this time had been continued
disgrace In their midst, he at once thinks OF
the Ark Of God, pitches tent for 1t in
Jerusalem ". IN and proceeds to bring it
thither.
l. "Again, David gathered together all the
chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand"
The previous chapter tells III its closing
verses Of the gathering Of Israel to defeat
their enemies the Philistines, and how David,
on two different occasions and by different
methods, successfully overcame them, being
guided by the Lord in answer to prayer
CHAP. v, 1928; but this is a gathering not
to overcome enemies, but to rejoice in the
Lord; and it was held after due consultation
with the captains Of thousands and hundreds
and every leader Il Chr. xiii, l-5)
2. "And David arose, and went with
all the people to bring up
from thence the Ark of God" The mar.
gin of this verse, and also Chr. xiii, 6, says
that they went to Baalah, that is. to Kir-
jath-jearim; the ark had been here in the
house of Abinadab since the time when the
Philistines sent it home in new cart drawn
by two milk cows, leaving their calves shut
up at home 1t had been with the Philistines
seven months, the Tabernacle being at Shiloh,
from whence theark had been taken. 4 Sam
iv, ~ (which is called by the Name, even
the Name of the Lord of Hosts that stitch
upon the cherubim." R.V.) Here is the most
intimate association of the Ark with the name
Of Jehovah; it is a wondrous type of the
Lord Jesus Christ as the end of the law for
Righteousness to every one that believeth
from. x, ~; as our mercy seat or propitia-
ton for sins compare Heb. tx, 5, and Rom. iii,
Is, R. V. margin); and as one with His
church. the light and glory Of earth
in the days of the New Jerusalem. The
wood and gold are suggestive Of the hui
manity and divinity Of Christ; the mercy
seat is explained by the passages already
given; the tables of testimony, safely kept in
the Ark, speak of Him who came to fulfill all
Righteousness, and of whom it is written: II
delight to do Thy will, o my God; yea, Thy
law is within my heart" FPS. xl, 81, while the
thought that the cherubim represent the
church, His body, is sufficiently established
by the fact that they were beaten out of the
same pieces of gold which formed the mercy
seat Ex. XIV, 10, margin). That Israel saw
all this significance in the Ark we do not pre-
tend to say, nor do we think it. It may be
that their principal thought was simply that
this holy vessel was symbol Of the presence
of their God, the Lord of Hosts who dwelleth
between the cherubim q Sam. Nv, 4; II Sam.
vi, Q; II XII. xix, Is; Chr xiii, g. Ps
Xxx, l.; xcix. l.; lisa. xxxvii, 49,. But surely
It Is, time that the church Of Christ with all
her light should know more than she seems
to about this, the most wonderful and signif-
can't vessel Of all Scripture.
Z 8. And they set the Ark Of God upon a
new cart" David failed to inquire Of the
Lord In this matter, else We should not have |
had this sad record. He knew better, for hear |
6im Then David said, none ought TO carry I
Ehe ark Of God but the Levites, for them hath |
The Lord chosen to carry the ark Of God, and |
10 minister unto him forever q Chr. xv, q.
4, "Ahis went before the Ark; and David
and all the house of Israel played before the
Lord on all manner Of instruments" It was
! grand display and in good cause, and the
man who would dare to find fault simply be-
cause the Ark was in a cart drawn by oxen
instead Of being on the shoulders Of the Le-
vites would deserve to be called narrow
minded and a croaker; nevertheless he would
stand in the minority with God and be a
blessed man even though against the king.
g. "Uzzah put forth his hand to the Ark of
God, and took hold of it; for the oxen STUN
oled." Margin and R. w. The worst STUN
bic was on the part of David when he en-
oloyed this method, but that was not so
manifest nor did it seem to endanger the
'afety of the Ark as much as this stumble of
,he oxen. The danger Of wrong step does
not always appear at first, and the sin is often
made manifest only through failure on the
part of those not directly responsible.
Z. 1.-THE anger Of the Lord was kindled
against Uzzah, and God smote him there for
ais error" Uzzah signifies strength, and
strength is good thing, but the work of the
Lord is not dependent upon the strength Of
men; His strength is made perfect in our
and His work is accomplished not
~ the might or power Of man but by the
Spirit of the Lord of Hosts
8. ''And David was displeased." 1t is q
'ad affair when the servant of the Lord, be
le king or peasant, becomes displeased with
his Master. It shows how disobedience al.
ways leads to other sins and strikes at the
very root of fellowship with God A God of
Love can do no wrong, can by no means
make mistake, and the only right thing for
His children to do is to walk with Him in
cheerful submission David had no one to
blame but himself; had he done right this
would not have happened; and now that
Christening has come, he should have been
lispleased with himself, and have said, with
Eli: 1T is the Lord; let Him do what seem.
,th Him good"
9. "And David was afraid of the Lord
hat day." Another result of his sin, which
prayer and obedience would have saved him
rom. "There is no fear in love; perfect
owe casteth out fear; fear hath torment"
10, II. 1.-THE Lord blessed Obed-edom, and
II his household" David refused at that time
o have anything more to do with the Ark,