The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER q:

subject: David Brings Up the Ark, =
Sam. vi, 1-12-Golden Text, Psa. s4-4
Memory Verses, IL, 49, Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
I. The joyful procession Tvs. l-5). !, 2.
again" A former gathering was at He
bron when David was anointed king.
Thirty thousand" Representatives Of the
whole people. David called for the chief
men and sent notice throughout the whole
land to the inhabitants everywhere, espe-
ciallv to the priests and Levites, to as
semble together to assist in this important
work. Read Chron. l3. "Ark of God"
Notice the deep reverence in this phrase.
The ark did not belong to David or Israel;
Better. as in R. ", (Which is called by
the Name. even the name of the Lord Of
hosts" "Dwelleth between the cherub::
inns" "That sitteth upon the cherubim." :"
r.. V. "Cherubim" is the Hebrew plural
form Of cherub. The cherubs represented
Gods presence.
3-5. "Thev set the ark of God upon a
new cart" This was contrary to the legal
requirement (Num. 7:9), according to
which it was always to be carried by. the
Levites and yelled or covered from sight.
In this case Israel probably. initiated the
Phoenic;an or Philistine custom. In this
ders. The Phoenicians had sacred carts
on which they carried their gods about,
and The oxen were secured to Baal. Glib
eah." A hill of Kirjath-iearim called by
that name. "Uzzah and Ahio." Probably
inc grandsons of Eleazar, the son of Abina-
dab. VINO were set apart to keep the ark.
event before" While Uzzah walked at
tee side, Ahio went before the oxen to
guide and manage them, as the Basques
nay be seen at the present day doing in
the south of France. Before the Lord" !"
The ark symbolized Gods presence. and
those who went before the ark are referred
to as going before the Lord. "1nstru.
nents." The whole procession, David at
the head moved forward with music, song
and dance Il Chron; 1879: .n, ;,
inr-foor" A fixed threshing- floor, which
foor dan. 2:35); and therefore probably
took hold" His conduct indicated
irreverence and presumption. The Levites
were forbidden to touch the ark on pain
Of death Mum. 4:l5-2O). "Oxen stum-
bled." The roads are very rough in Pal
estine, and the ark was evidently about
took held of it. Anger of the Lord"
feeling which makes Him hate sin and
compels Him to punish it. "For his error"
The error consisted in touching the ark,
which. as the symbol of Gods presence Il
Sam. Ar, none could look into (Nnm.
4:2O; Sam. 6:l9). much less lay hold Of
without peril of life. For transportation
purposes it was first covered up by the
Levites to whom it was committed, and
that with faces covered Mum. 4:l5, 2O)
and carried on slaves. But supposing that
it had been overturned. would not Uzzah
have been as liable to punishment for suf.
fering that as for taking forbidden means
have been punishable for adopting mode
OF conveyance which exposed the ark to
such an accident. but not for omitting
what he was forbidden to do in order to
prevent that accident. "There he died"
The reasons for this severity were: ~
That it grew out of q procedure which
was in direct violation of an express statute
(Num. AIS: 7:9) which required that the
ark should be carried by Levites. David
and those in care of the ark should have
known this law. 1t is quite possible that
in his delight in restoring the ancient
religion, he forgot the law, and felt that
Tile WoIh itSeu was 30 Soou anu sioilouS
as to make amends for any neglect as to
the way of doing it. (2) Uzzah, who had
long had charge of the ark. should have
been familiar with the law forbidding him
to touch it. Possibly long familiarity with
the ark had bred careiessness and irrever-
cnce for the sacred symbol. .(3) Uzzah
stood in a representative position. What
he did was public. in the sight of all the
people. 1t was fragrant violation of Gods
command 1t was needful at the outset to
prove to the people the necessity of exact
obedience, and hence of careful study of
Gods law. A neglect now would lead to
greater neglects, to any changes individuals
might be inclined to make. and thus the
sacredness and teachings of the divine in
stitutions of religion would be lost.
and chagrned at the sudden and unhappy
interruption Of the triumphal procession.
He was not angry against God, but with
himself for neglect and carelessness in al.
lowing the ark to be removed in this wav.
Made breach" Violently interposed in
a sudden stroke OF divine JUDGMENT. "Pe-
rez.uzzah." The word Perez" oc
"breach," conveyed to the Hebrews the
idea of a great calamity. Afraid" Fear
or terror followed his anger, lest the judg:
ments of God were not yet ended and
would be extended to himself and people.
He saw that he had not followed the direc-
tions of the law and prepared his people
for the solemn undertaking. "How shall"
etc Had David asked this question sooner
it would have been better. He now eX-
sees the necessity of reverence and devo'
ton il his conduct.
III. The blessed household Tvs. l0-l2).
1912. Would not remove. Not for the
present, fearing he might make some other
mistake. "Ho1se Of Obed-edom." Very
near tie citv. He was 4 Levite Of the
stock Of the Ko-ahites, which was a branch
of the family of kohath. The Lord
b'essod." etc. .TosephuS asserts that during
this interval Obed-edom passed from pov.
erty to wealth, and that all who saw his
household, c. heard the report OF his
wealth. were agreed in considering him
specially favored hv the Lord. David
went" Read l Chron. CHAPTERS Is. l6.
the law. and now he was prepared to bring
the ark to Jerusalem in proper manner.
". The ark enters Jerusalem Tvs. l3-
10}. This was the greatest day in David's
life. It was 4 turning point IN the history
o? the nation. At every few rods of the
march the procession would halt. and
there we're religious sacrifices at every
halt. "The ark advanced like the chariot
Of a great conqucror, ascending the
sacred hill of triumph" There were
summoned to assist at this ceremony the
high priests Zadok and Abiathar. the heads
of the six Levitical families, with large
comnany of their relatives. and many from
all the tribes of Israel There os Mers shanaS MUSIC
his kRs!y earb for TIL. priestly ephod and
Joined heartily in TIC music. Psalm "a is
supposed to have been suns. when The pro.
cession was entering Jerusalem.