Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-17

LESSON III, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JULY 10.

lxxxiv, documentary by the Rev. ID. Nj.
stearns.
1. Again David gathered together all
the chosen men of Israel, 30, OO0." In |
Chron. xiii, ,, it is written that he gath
cred all Israel from Egypt to Hemath, and
1t is also written in verse l of that chapter
that he did this after consulting with his
captains and LEADERS, His habit was to
inquire of the Lord Oh Sam. V, 10, 23).
but this looks like reliance upon the wis
dom of man rather than upon God. See
Ps. xxxvii, D; Prov. iii, 5, q, 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 cherubim" Baale of Judah is Kirjath-
jearim (see margin), whore the ark had
been in the house of Abnadab in the hill
since the Philistines had Scnt it home in
the new cart Il sam. VIII u; probably over
30 years, for it was there long before saul
was anuintod king and he reigned 10
years (Acts Kill 2D. The ark was the
special symbol of the presence OF God, and
when it was first mado lie told Moses that
He would commune with him from above
the mercy seat, from hotwecn the two
cherubim les. XIV, 22). ~ that it was
the place of meeting and Of communion
between God and man. 1t was wundruus
type of Christ as the end Of the law for
righteousness ana as the atOnement for
our sins.
3. And they set the ark Of God upon
new cart" 1t was well enough for the
Philistines to do this for they had no in
structions from God as to His pleasure,
but Israel had commands from God that
the ark should be borne upon the shoulders
of the Levites set apart for that purpose
(Num. iv, "a, 20; vii, 81. David also knew
this well Il Chron XIV % but, leaning
upon human wisdom, he was for the time
turned from The wisdom of God. We
must lean wholly upon God in all things
i, 3. And David and all the house Of
Israel played before the Lord. 1t was a
joyful procession, and it was seemingly to
the glory of God, for were they not prais
ing Him and bearing His ark triumphant
ly to place prepared for it in the Holy
CityY 1t was grand display in a good
cause, but it was not according to Gods
command, and however well thing may
look, and though it may seem to be for
Gods honor yet if contrary to Gods way
it is simply disobedience, and His word
concerning it is, "Who hath required this
at your handy" lisa /, 12.) AS one has
said, 1.-THE work of the Lord must be done
in Gods way else it cannot be for His
glory"
=. "Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark
of God and took hold of it, 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 manifest disapproval of this way
of doing things, for the trouble began
with David's not inquiring 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 blythe people of God today
to carry on what they call the Lord work.
When Israel adopts Philistine methods
rather than God : ways trouble is sure to
follow, SO when the church tries to follow
the world in the amusement or entertain
ment business to get the world to go 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 n
Goliath and thus keep ahead till some
David comes in the name of the Lord and
overcomes the defiers of God,
Z. And the anger Of the Lord was kin
died against Uzzah, and God smote him
there for his error, and there he died by
the ark of God" One would think that if
there was place of safety on the face Of
the earth it would be by the ark of God
and yet there Uzzah died. There is no life
but in the way of Gods commandments
s, 9. "And David was displeased, " And
David was afraid. Displenscd with the
Lord and afraid of the Lord. How unlike
David How unlike the man who, in the
name of the Lord, had slain Goliath How
great the contrast between one walking
humbly with God and one with some per
son or plan between them and God!
David's great thought that day was to get
the ark of the Lord to himself at .Jerusa-
lem, as appears from this ninth VERSE
His thoug>.t WAS not so much God 5 glory
and Gods way ns David's glory and Da-
vids 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 sore hearts and misunder-
standings, not easily healed, because of at
tcmpts by the people of God to adopt
worldly ways. l know of one church in
which their last fair or festival was held
about Ii years ago, and in that church
there are to this day breaches unhealed be-
cause of jealouSies or misunderstanding
at that time. | do with my whole heart
believe that festivals and suppers, amateur
thoatricals, special music by unsaved peO-
ple-in fact, the whole entertainment bust
ness-in the house Of God must 20 along
with such teaching as the fallibility Of
Scripture, the larger hope, no hell, Jesus
Christ our example only and not our sub
stitute, as being samples Of the work Of
the wicked one and not of the spirit ol
God
l IL. And the Lord blessed Obed edum
and all his household" This is the rec, rd
concerning the homo where the ark rested
for three months. When tho Lord .leSLs
is honestly and simply received into the
heart, such one beoomes u child Of God