The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-15
SABBATH SCHGOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSUN FOR
JULY 10.
Lesson Text: 1.-THE Ark Brought to
Jerusalem," 2 Samuel vi, liz
Golden Text: Psalm lxxx1V.,
documentary.

12-Commentary.
/. "Again David gathered together all
the chosen men of Israel. 500 In l
Chron. Kill. S, it Is written that he gathered
all Israel from Egypt to Hemath. and II IS
also written ia verse of that chapter tnat
he did this after consulting with his cap
tains and leaders. His habit was to inquire
OF the Lord II Sam. V. 10, 2s), but TINS
looks like reliance upon the wisdom OF man
rather than upon God. See Ps. xxxvii.. B;
Prov. ill.,, S. G, for the right way in every
matter.
2. "To bring up from thence the ark OF
God, whose name Is called by the name OF
the Lord of Hosts that dwelleth between
the cherubip." Baale of Judah Is Kiriath-
jearim (see margin), where the ark had been
in the house of Abinadab in the hill since
the Philistines had sent 1t home In the new
cart q Sam. vii, y; probably over fifty
anointed king, and he reigned forty years
(Acts xiii. 21). The ark was the special
symbol Of the presence OF God, and when it
was first made He told Moses that He would
commune with him from above the mercy
seat, from between the two cherubim eek.
XXX, 22). 80 that 1t was the place Of meet
ing and Of communion between God and
man. It was a wondrous type of Christ as
the end OF the law for righteousness, and
as the atonement for our sins.
Sand they set the ark OF God upon new
cart" It was we'll enough for the Philis-
tines to do this, for they had No instructions
from God as to His pleasure, but Israel mad
commands from God that the ark should be
borne upon the shoulders OF the Levites set
apart for thai purpose (Num. w., "a. %; VII,
81. David also knew this we'll q Chron. xv.,
q, but, leaning upon human wisdom. ne was
for the time turned from the wisdom OF God.
We must lean wholly upon God in all things.
4, s. "And David and all the house OF Is
rael played before the Lord" 1t was q joy
full procession, and 1t was seemingly to the
glory Of God, for were they not praising
Him and bearing His ark triumphantly to
place prepared for 1t In the Holy City! II
was grand display in good cause, hut it
was not according to God g commar d, and
however we'll thing may look, and though
contrary to Gods way 1t Is simply disobedi-
ence, and His word concerning 1t Is, "Who
hath required this at your handS" Elsa. l.,
12). As one has said. "The work OF the Lord
must be done In Gods way, else 1t cannot be
for His glory" ,
6. "Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark Of
God and took hold OF 1t, for the oxen shook
it." The margin says that they stumbled.
This was the beginning Of the trouble that
day, or rather the beginning OF Gods mani
fest disapproval Of this way OF doing things,
for the trouble began with David's not In
quirlng of the Lord. Then came the new
cart instead of the shoulders OF the Levites.
This new cart Of David is very suggestive Of
all the worldly ways adopted by the people
Of God to-day to carry on what they call the
Lords work. Whom Israel adopts Philisttne
methods rather than Gods ways. trouble Is
sure to follow, go when the church tries TO
follow the world In the amusement or enter
tainment business to get the world to 90 to
church, instead OF giving herself to exalt
the Lord Jesus Christ and honor His word,
He will in due time manifestly disown the
whole thing. For every Saul that the peo-
pie OF God honor in their attempts to be like
the world the world will produce Goliath
and thus keep ahead till some David comes
in the name Of the Lord AMI overcomes the
defiers Of God.
7. And the anger Of the Lord was kin
died against Uzzah. and God smote him there
for his error, and there be died BY the ark OF
God" One would think that II there was a
place Of safety on the face OF the earth It
would be by the ark OF God, and yet there
Uzyah died. There Is no life but In the way
of Gods commandments.
8, 0. "And David was displeased,a "And
David was afraid" Displeased with the
Lord and afraid of the Lord. How unlike
David How unlike the man VINO, In the
name OF the Lord, had slain Goliath! How
great the contrast between one walking
humbly with God and one with some person
or plan between them and God! Dav1d's
great thought that day was to get the ark OF
the Lord to himself at Jerusalem, as appears
INF Thought nor
80 much Gods glory and Gods way as
David's glory and David's way. Thus the
intimacy between them was for the time
broken. and David lost fellowship with God.
10. $50 David would not remove the ark
OF the Lord unto him into the city OF
David" 1t was neither the first nor the
last occasion of sole hearts and miSunder-
standings, not easily healed, because OF at
tempts by the people OF God to adopt
worldly ways. I know of one church In
which their last fair or festival was held
about fourteen years ago, and in that church
there are to this day breaches unhealed be-
cause OF jealousles or misunderstanding
at that time. do with my whole heart
believe that festivals and suppers, amateur
theatrcals, special music by unsaved peo-
pIe-in fact, the whole entertainment busi-
ness-in the house of God must go along
with such teaching as the fallibility OF Scrip
ture, the larger hope, no hell, Jesus Christ
our example only and not our substitute, as
being samples OF the work OF the wicked one
and not of the spirit Of God.
II. "And the Lord blessed Obed-edom and
all bis household" This is the record con-
cerning the home where the ark rested for
three months. When the Lord Jesus is hon
estly and simply received into the heart,
such one becomes q child OF God (John l.,
12) and Is blessed with al spiritual blessings
in Christ (Eph. l., 81. made partaker OF the
Divine nature. and also OF the glory to be
revealed Il Pet. ", /; II Pet. l., a. Apart
from God there Is no blessing, but "Blessed
is the man that trusteth in Him."
IL. David went and brought up tho ark
of God from the house OF Obed-edom into
the city OF David with g.adness." The chill
dren Of the Levites bare the ark OF God upon
their shoulders, with the slaves thereon. as
Moses commanded, according to the word Of
the Lord This was latter the due order
II Chron. xv., 13. 15), but the former pro-
eeeding, which caused the trouble, had no
authority In the commands OF God, though
1t may have been seemingly more expedient
than sanctifying the Levltes to their work.
We now read OF burnt offerings and peace
offerings unto the Lord and Of the blessings
OF the Lord upon the people. All is well
when we are in Christ and walk in fellow
ship with Him.-Lesson Helper.