The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-18


Education.
CONTEXT.-After the account of David's
prosperity. as in last lesson. the sacred writer
records the increase of his family och. V. 1850
ike other Eastern kings. he practiced polygamy
ard took him wives and concubnes,' becoming
the head of numerous household. This fact is
stated without approval. The divine law of
rage is the same in all ages but Davids con-
duct must be judged in the light of the times in
which he lived This reference to family mat
tors is followed by recital of exploits in
Learning that Jerusalem had been taken. the
Prilistines came up to battle. Repulsed they
came again and defeated och V, 1920
Having conquered the strongest nation east os
the Jordan. Israel devoted its energies to in
ternal affairs. David conceived the purpose of
bringing the ark OF the covenant to Jerusalem
lex. XIV, So Captured by the Philistines and
returned. it had been twenty years in Kirjath-
Jearim. Baal of Judah.
HONOR.-David gathered together at Kirjath-
Jearim thirty thousand chosen men of Israel
This vast representative congregation had no
military significance; there would be no need of
force. Primarily IL was intended to honor the
ark. the sanctuary OF GODS presence. Made
by Moses four hundred years before. its very age
as well as its associations also entitled it to
reverence. Moreover. the popular approval was
desired for it's removal. Many thousands had
Jearim. In its transfer to the national capital IL
proposed to make that the center and seat
of public worship. Hence. these thousands pres
ent to participate would afterward go into ali
parts of the land TO report. Such appeals TO the
favor of the people attended the whole course of
Jewish history. Il Kings viii. - They
indications of the dignity with which revealed
religion invests the Individual. David's zeal on
this occasion was afterward celebrated. Psa.
cxxxii, 4. 81
EsCoRT.-when the people were assembled at
Kirjath-Jearim the ark brought the
house of Abinadab and placed on a cart made
for the purpose. The sons of Abinadab. Uzzah
and Aho. were appointed to drive the cart, the
latter going before. and the other behind or at
the side. These two men had probably been
sccrate6 TO keep the ark in the place of their
brother. Eleazar q Sam. vii. u. first appointed,
supposed then to be dead. The great process
sicn-comprisng the king. his counselors the
elders, the nen of war-moved away eastwardly
miles. might have been covered in four five
hours, and the head OF the column might have
reached the capital the rear was leaving
Abnadabs house. The whole OF the way would
thus have been filed with moving mass of
people one OF the most notable professions OF
history. Its significance far exceeded any tri-
umphal march of a victorious general returning
MUSIC.-While tending his fathers focks Da-
vid cultivated the harp. and his skill in its
brought him cary fame and introduced him into
the service of Saul. Il Sam. xvi. 3D. His
youthful tastes carried 10 the throne. He
introduced all manner of musical instruments
into Jerusalem and into the palace. All this he
turned to religious account q Chron- vi. 81,
dering public worship delight. So this
casion, the harp the psaltery the timbrel the
cornet and the cymbal were played, as the ark
and its royal escort moved toward their destna-
ton tic David himself was among the musicians
10 express the gad-ess Of his heart in melody
The text implies Verse D that the people united
with him, forming a grand orchestra. as they
passed along the way. kind OF festival. No
shouts of laughter. no boasts of personal achieve
OF the mighty, was heard. but the sweet tender
sounds that echoed the hearts emotions and
RAsHN Ess.-At Nachon's threshing floor the
procession suddenly halted Uz7ah. one of the
keepers of the ark. had been instantly smitten
with death. This sad event regarded a
rer OF the death or some incident not recorded
indicated the Divine displeasure. The precise
inferred. The oxen. who were hauling the ark.
stumbled and caused il u shake, and Cssafl put
cut his hsnd to steady i There should have
| followed the example of the Philistines Il Sam.
| Priests. Mum iv: Cd The terrible death may
may be that Uzzah had become careless and
irreverent. partly because OF this mode of hand
itn eonnetson NTH il s eyseeSan he OF ns
| have INDUCED in familiarity, not longer to he
ns aSu In Se sne e' OF
| FEARING.-The purpose TO carry the ark TO
1 JtfuSAleTl was ab1nuCneu. In the presence OF
1 tie dead David confused and afraid. He
lad reason TO think that TO some extent he also
was involved. Was God pleased with his under
| tfAing? Ought the ark 10 be removed? Had the
| right method been employed? Such questions
Aould naturally arise n the mind OF the kim
! as he sought for explanation OF this disaster.
4 How often In this life good men find themselves
| and their projects overwhelmed by mysterious
/ interpretations OF Providence. There was nothing
| fer David 70 do but to wait and learn the vii.
| OF God The ark therefore carried aside 20
the house or OSed-Edom, the Gtttife IL Chron.
/ xiii. ~. q Levite of the family Of Kohath en-
titled 30 receive It. Then the people dispersed 70
their homes Ordinarily would be greatly
disappointed at the failure OF a measure fo
publicly announced. Did David lose prestige
| with the peopie7 Were they disposed 70 criti-
else him or to question his leader ship The
Scripture does not answer
BLESSING.--The entrance Of the ark into his
home proved immensely profitable 20 Obed-Edona
The very act OF placing IL there mark OF
cnhdence and distinction that gave him ma
tional honor. Besides. the ark was the sanctuary