Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-07-14

Wnlcn leaQ 10 a ueclIne
of the religious life; the
means by which it may
be restored; the ways in
which the religious life is cherished and
strengthened and the blessings which
follow. The section includes simply the in
cident of the text. together with what David
did for the development of the religious SER
vices of the nation.
Historical Setting ime."-B. c. 1912.
six or seven years after David became king
all Israel.
|. Again" after the great assembly for
his coronation. David gathered together
after consultation with the leaders u Chron.
Is: Ia. Thirty thousand" representa-
tives Of the whole people. According to
Chronicles, they came far from Sh-
hor. fifty miles south of GAIA, and from
Heniath in Lebanon. 80 miles north OF
Jerusalem.
=. And David arose, and went
from Baale of Judah" The assembling at
BaGle is omitted. and the account begins
with the great procession il started on
its way with the ark. Baale is an ancient
name for Kirjath-iearin forest city, Il
Chron l3: o.. See Place. Whose name is
called" Better, as in II. ". which is
called by the name. "The Lord Wherever
in our version Lord is written in capitals
it is the translation of Jehovah. Lord of
hosts. The Lord Of all the forces in the
universe. organized to do his will-the hosts
of heaven and the hosts of earth, all the
forces and powers of nature That dwell
eth between the cherubm;' j. e.. the abid-
ing manifestation of whose presence was
from between the cherublm the symbolic
hguresl on the mercy-seat over the ark.
8. And they set the ark of God upon a
new cart" Probably from resemblance OF
the way il was brought from the Philisrines
to kirjathjearim q Sam. 8: -; but that
was by the Philistines who could have no
knowledge of the law. Brought il out of
the house of Abnadab;' in whose sons
care the ark had been placed Il Sam. :: II.
seventy years before. THAT was in G;beah:"
rather on the hill Il Sam. :: II.
.. And David and all the house of Israel
played" The Hebrew verb means to dance
10 music vocal and instrumental (See
Judg. l6: p, and Jcr. 80; 10; ] Chron.
10; S,-Cook. "On all manner of instru-
ments made OF fir wood The expression
is strange one. Probably should adopt
the reading of the parallel passage in 1
Chronicles. with all their might and with
singing. The Hebrew words are very SINH
lar. and the LXX. text supports the change.
Cambridge Bible. "harps:" David's IA
yorite instrument probably closely resem-
bling the modern harp. "Psalteries:" Tyres
or lutes, formed OF strings eight or ten,
strained over parchment. and probably
IeseUDlDS q guitar l1mBfclS seem To
have denoted primarily the tambourine. and
generally all instruments OF the drum kind
which were in use among the Israelites.
Comets" loud-sounding instrument
made of horn of a ram. Cymbals:"
brass Instruments of percussion. ~--
8. And when they came to Nachon's
threshing aoor.' Nachon means shifting
and the threshing floor was thus named
after this event, because here was the
shifting of Uzzah. In Chronicles lS .
il is called the threshing floor OF Chidon.
the Dart, the stroke with which Uz2ah was
smitten. The place is unknown. but prob
ably it not far from Jerusalem. ''Uzzah
put forth his hand to the ark of Cod TO
steady the ark and keep it from falling.
For the oxen shook it, by stumbling in
the rough road q Chron. 49, 81
Z. And the anger of the Lord was kim
died." not passion. but rather indignation.
And God smote him there the spot.
as with a flash Of lightning. See the Goth
Psalm which is connected in the Septuagnt,
by its title, with the removal of the ark.
For his error" an error which TO him was
a crime. And there he died" The rea-
for this severity were % That it grew
out of a procedure which was in direct vio-
lation of an express statute (Num. 4: Is:
Z: ~. which required that the ark should
be carried by Levites. David and those in
care of the ark should have known this law.
S. And David was displeased." With
God? II does not say so. With the break
ing up of his plans for which he had taken
so much pains: with the failure OF his
hopes; with the public rebuke of his con-
duct.
Q. "And David was afraid OF the Lord"
lie had rejoccd greatly in his zeal. but had
not been reverent enough. IL was well for
him to be afraid for time
10. 80 David would not remove the ark
lie feared 40 might ma p nj har
mistake. and that it would be best first to
learn all about duty Carried il aside into
the house of Obed-edom." A Levite belong
ing to the family of Kohath Il Chron. 20:
1, u.s. with Mum. 10: II, who appoint
ed TO have charge OF the tabernacle and ark
Mum. 4: AZ. IL was not more than three
four miles from Jerusalem. The Git
tite:" i. c., Gathite. so called because he
was native of the Leyitlcal city Gath-rim-
mon.
IL. Continued three months"
Long enough for the lsraelites to learn their
lesson. And the Lord blessed Obed- edom.
and all his household" This would show to
all Israel that the ark itself brought bless
ing not death. The death came from dis
obedience. not from the ark. Another les
son was also taught. The ark Of the Lord
had been in the house OF Abinadab seventy
years. and we do not read of any particular
benediction falling upon that house.
~ And IL was told King David" etc.
The fact that God blessed the place where
the ark was impressed David with the truth
that. while It was dangerous to disobey God
yet it was the greatest blessing possible to
have near him the ark of God and his man
lfest presence. so David went and brought
up the ark of God" assembling the tribes
once mere. the most eminent priests. the
flower. OF the army. the princes and dgni-
tares. Into the city OF David with glad
A 81 doe 81. If is, ~
procession is given in l Chronicles, chap
tiers 10 and IT, Ii was the greatest day of
Dayids life. Its significance In his career
Is markell BY his own nrc- eminent positinn--