The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-09
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

School Lesson Appointed for July
10, 1896.
Subject. The Ark brought to Jerusalem
| 2 Sam., :1-l2.
s,udy the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
| indicated above.I
INTRODUCTION.
THE ARK BORNE FROM GIBEAH TO PEREZ
UzzAH.
We find two accounts of the transfer of the
! ark from Gibeah; to wit 2 Sam 6 1-5, and
| Chron, I3: Is Both of these reports should
be carefully read and compared.
Tine.
we date the lesson A. NJ. 1862, or b. c. 1912.
! Hence we are carried back nearly 5000 years.
David had been King 10 years; seven at Heb
| ron and three at Jerusalem.
| Place.
Ninety-nine years before our lesson the ark
was at Shiloh. l Sam, "A. In time of
! desperation the IsraeIites sent for the Grk and
! had it borne to the field of battle that i might
|
] Sam, 4 g. At that time Hophni and Phin-
cas- sons of Eli, accompanied it. 1t was seized
| and carried off by the enemy. ] Sam, 4: IL.
| 1t proved curse to them and they were at
! length glad enough to get rid OF il. They en-
! dured its presence for seven months. ] Sam,
6:1. The ark was then taken to Kirath.
| jjearim. l Sam, 6:2l; I'll. That was %
years before Saul became King. The ark re-
manned during all its reign of 40 years. Acts,
l3: 81. Baslc of Judah q Sam, ~ is sup
] posed to be the same as kirjath-bsal of JOS,
Is 80. Bale is another form for Baalah, as in
Chr, ID g. and JOSH Ii o, 10. And Kirjath-
| jesrim was another name for Gibcab. 1t was
about five miles northeast of Jerusalem. 1t is
also called Jeba. Hence the following are
names Of the same place-Baale, Baalah, Kir-
iath, jearim Kirjath-baal, Jeba. Gibeah was
in the tribe of Benjamin. 1t was the birth
place and home of King Saul, and his Capital
while King l Sam. 10: % The paragraph
which we study, TO wit, 2 SAM 6: l5, carries
US from Baale or Gibeah to Perez uzzsb, place
probably ir the suburbs or outskirts of Jerusa-
lem. vs.
Circumstances.
Davr, had become settled as King Of the
Tsraelites. During the reign Of Saul the Ark
had been neglected. We read that once in an
emergency he recalled the existence Of the
Ark, and wanted the sacred symbol of Gods
presence Sam. Ii Is. David declared that
it was ignored during the reign OF Saul. l
Cb., IL g. Jesses son wanted to rule, not rs
in a monarchy, but "a in Theocracy. He
therefore desired the exaltation of religion.
He led off in grand reformation. Inspired
with the thought he called together the repre-
sentative men of Israel, including the priests
and Leyites, and held a consultation. He told
them of his wishes and asked their opinions.
They all agreed that the Government should
not ignore God, worship, religion. The
thing right in the eyes of all the people"
l CHI, Is: H. But read verses Ia. David
could see that the secret Of Saul's failure was
selfdependence. He wished for a reign more
successful, and wise enough to that
governmental, civil, material advancement
could not be secured with God left out of con-
sideratiOn.
DdriFs Purpose.
The King wanted the Ark brought up to
Jerusalem. His experience had taught him
the need Of divine aid He declared that the
Lord delivered him from the paws of the lion
and the bear, and that his hope in Staying Go
Hath rested on q consciousness of Gods assist
ance. / Sam, 81 He believed the same
divine power needed by him as King.
For a description of the Ark, see Ex, % 10
%; 26:3i; 81 10; 1913, 90, 81 1t was
made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It's
length was two aud one-balf cubits breadth
one and one-half; hight, one and one-half 1t
tables of s-one on which Moses received the
decaog, Aaron's rod that budded, and golden
pot OF mama. On each end of the cover there
was the figure Of chcrub. with wings ex-
tended the top, called the Mercy-seat.
Notice particularly the manner provided by
which the Ark could be carried There
ring on each corner to wit, two rings on each
side, through which two slaves could be in
serted, with ends extending before and behind,
enabling person to go before aud another in the
rear as between the fills of a carriage, or tho
handles Of wheeharrow. It's proper location
was the Holy Of Holes. Ex., 26 81. 1t was
made at Mt Sinai, and carried all through the
wilderness during the 40 years of the wander
ings of the children of Israel. twas called the
Ark Of the Testimony the Ark Of the Cove
nant, the Ark of God, and the Ark Of the Lord
IL was the symbol of Gods presence, AMI so, the
place OF prayer. At its side men, through
their repre5eu tative (the High Prest) offered
their petitions to Heaven. For about 70 years
il had been at Gibeah in the family OF Abina-
dab.
David was determined to secure the Ark
aud have it put into suitable tabernacle at
Jerusalem. He made the occasion matter of !
national concern. He stirred up all the Israel !
ties on tho subject. He went after it i'll grand /
state, having retinue of representative men |
from every point OF his Kingdom. l Chr, |
1875
TIC Ming OrNfE was respectful
easily gave up object little esteemed. The |
people, led 10y David, set out from Gibeah for
Jerusalem, having the coveted Ark.
We notice the method of conveyance 1t is |
singular that respect was paid to the plan
ordained by God as TO the method Of carrying |
the Sacred Chest. All through the wilderness /
tho Ark was carried by persons holding the
shafts or slaves passing through the rings on
the sides Of the Ark. Bnt now, when it is to
be taken only few miles. arrangements are !
made for it TO be carted instead of carried.
We would think the idea was Phlistinean.
We remember that when the Phlistincs
turned the Ark to the lsraelites they put IL OH
a new cart, and had il drawn by kline. / Sam,
6:7. No wonder, however, that they deviated
from the Plan prescribed by Moses. But it is
curious that David did not recall the divine
directions. The plan of having neW cart
showed great respect. God should have the
first, best, freshest. The two sous of Abiuadab
accompanied the procession. They took charge
OF the wagon or cart Oxen were used V. g.
The spirit of the occasion is noticeable. See
verses 5. 10 I4-l6, and Chr. 1873; IL ~ 30
There were joy, glaaness. music, singing, dane
ing shouting A goodly number If musical
instruments were used-harps. psaltories tim
bres, comets, cymbals trumpets Render
Z" even" ". 81 also. The Revised Version
reads with all manner of instruments made
Of fir (cypress) wood and with harps," etc.
c,,u1.oI;ous