The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-01
David Brings Up the Ark.

David Brings up the Ark.
In that restoration of the Hebrew
monarchy which David effected with
consummate skill, the re-enthrone-
ment of Jehovah was the last step.
The golden ark, which was recog niz-
ed as Jehovah's throne, was TO be
set up in the new capital of the re-
united kingdom.
The matter was submitted to gem
eral convocation of the people, gath
cred from the whole territory, from
the sands of the desert to the SHOWS
of Lebanon. Thirty thousand attend
ed-some coming a distance of two
hundred and fifty miles. 1t was a
peoples parliament, like those which
used to gather on the banks of the
Rhine. The kings motion was car
ried with enthusiastic unanimity. 1t
was a splendid religious awakening,
a revival farreaching in its effects.
But the irreligion of seventy years
bore its deadly fruit in the very midst
of this national reformation. This
neglect and consequent ignorance of
the law led to q fatal error. A right
thing was done in wrong manner.
There was only one way to carry the
ark. The Levites, with averted faces,
were to thrust the gold-covered rods
Z bronub 4ha rOI1aD pipCS on tho Sides
of the ark, and having evolved it in
its curtains to lift it to their should
ers. But both the ark and the law
had been so long neglected that this
minutely-prescribed method was en-
tirely forgotten.
The cart and the oxen were the ad-
option of heather expedient. tiled
to familiarity with the sacred pail
adium, wholly out of keeping with
the very object which it was designed
to conserve. That object was the
deep impression upon the national
mind Of the absolute holiness of Jeho
yah. The method of conveyance dis
counted the sanctity of tn liz II
made it scarcely more than a military
trophy grazing triumphal procession
on a national gala-day.
This error must be corrected, the
sancity of the ark restored, and this
contempt breeding familiarity rebuk
| ed. Some never-to- be forgotten lesson
must be given in the sight of all the
people. The costly, lovely, signifi
cant shrine topples and is on the
point of falling in dishonor and ruiz
upon the earth. In direct obedience
to the explicit command of God, witt
which he and all the others ought tt
have been familiar, Uzzah puts ou1
his hand, catches the ark, and sets il
upright upon the cart. That is merely
the elimination of a process which
has been wrong from the start, an(
the whole of it is the inevitable out
come of a half century of iTreligion.
1t is not that one act-which an!
person nearest at hand would hav,
that which is punishable. The irrelig
ious familiarity of the whole peopl
is suddenly and permanently checked
by an awful judgment. Uzzah is il;
substitute in suffering. His offense
no greater than that of the king
priests, and people. His death is de
signed to be exemplary.
The triumphal procession is chang
ed into dead march. No one is il
doubt as to cause. The spot becam
sadly-historic ground, and bore it
significant name for generations
David cried in grief: How shall tn
ark come to me?" That was tn
question he ought to have asked il
the beginning. Had he done so. dealt
and delay would have been avoided
1t is distinctively said that an awe O
Jehovah filled the king from tina
hour. 1t filled the nations hearts a
well.
Israel was put on probation tire
months. Scriptures relating to tn
ark were searched. There was n
further question as to how the ar
was to be carried. In the ninety day
it rested in the home of Obed-E doI
his phenomenal prosperity was
standing evidence of the blessing tn