Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-10-03
David Brings the
Ark to Jerusalem
Susdsy School Lesson for Oct. 4, 1908
Specially Arranged fer This Paper


with thanksgivinE and into his courts
with praise. PISA ,m Io0.4
IAME--Eithcr p O. 1858 (USshcu. OF
lec by revised chronology OF the Assy-
ran Epouym Cauons. Prof Bcccher
points out the fact that David's reign OF
81 years I'm Jerusalem is divided up into
three periods A period OF war and
conquest about ia years O. 4 period Of
rest and upbuilding. about seven years.
- A period or domestic troubles. about
y years This lesson probably belongs
20 the second period. OF Co "a period OF
vest during the conquest. But the exact
order or events is not easily obtained
from the narrative.
PLACED The ark had been for a
iong time az kirjath- iearim. about IL
miles west OF Jerusalem. TN the valley OF
Sorek twhere Deiilah lived. a valley
"illn leads up from the Palestine Coun-
Try toward Jerusalem CD At house OF
Jerusalem.
DAvrD's CoUNsELoRs -AhithopheI.
very shrewd man Nathan. the proph-
ct. and Joab. his chief general
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Long Period OF Decline.-For
20 years the ark as the center OF re-
hgious worship had lain in partial neg
!ect Soon after the settlement OF the
Israelites in Palestine Joshua de-
posted the ark at shiloh. 20 miles
north OF Bethel Josh. 1S:1). IL was
stu there az the close Of the period
OF the Judges q Sam. 1:3); and Sam
uel lived at shiloh with Eli. The sons
ot Eli had carried the ark from Shi-
lob into a battle against the PhlHs-
tines. hoping that God would give
them the victory for the sake Of this
symbol OF his worship But God did
not reward wickedness in that way.
The lsraelites we're defeated. and the
Philisunes captured the ark. But the
Lord would not permit them 20 retain
It. Their idol Dagon. fell before g.
The people were smitten with severe
sickness wherever the ark was sent.
Finally II was restored 10 Israel. and
sent up the Sorek valley as far as
hrjathjearim. IT. miles southwest OF
Jerusalem, in tho house OF Abinadab
on the hill a sam 7:I). who put Il
under the charge OF one OF his sons.
The neglect Of the ark and its separ.
alton from It's place in the tabernacle
az Shiloh. with one high priest follow
ing Saul and another David. shows 20
what low and divided state religion
had fallen I'm Israel under saul The
neglect OF the means OF religion. OF
places OF worship. and set times for
devotion IS generally accompanied by
decline IN the spirit OF religion. Il
is both "a sign OF the decline and
means toward &c.
V !. Again" For a different pur-
pose from the former gatherings for
war Thirty thousand representa-
uves OF the whole people. According
20 Chronicles they came as far as
from Shihor go miles south OF GAIA.
and from Klamath IN Lebanon. $50
miles north OF Jerusalem. The restor-
alton must be national act. or Il
would lose much of its unifying power.
The joyful procession and the re-
igious enthusiasm We're married by
an act Of disobedience where q good
thing was done in q wrong way.
The first error was committed by
transporting the ark by a cart instead
OF in the way ordained by God Mum
bers a.. The ARK was 20 be carried by
Levites
The next error grew out Of this first
one. The Jagged bridlepaths OF those
parts are not al all adapted for
wheeled conveyances." and when The
procession had reached Nachon's
threshing floor. the oxen shook" the
ark, were throwing it down" and
90 "Uzzah put forth his hand TO the
ark OF God" 10 keep il from falling
20 the ground. II he had carried the
ark as he was commanded. he would
not have been tempted 10 this second
disobedience.
V. Z. And the anger OF the Lord
was kindled" Not passion. but rath-
er indignation-that feeling which
makes him hate sin and compels him
20 punish IL. Al that was loving and
good in God was aroused against the
act And God smofs him there"
Why this severity? G) u was a di.
rect, double d sobedience (2) The
wrong was enhanced by the fact that
81 was committed by a man who as a
son of Abinadab had been with the
ark, and should have known the law.
CD II was a public disobedience in
matters of religion. II was a desecra-
ton OF the holiest symbol Of their re-
ligion Il was needful at the outset to
prove 10 the people the necessity OF
exact obedience. and hence the careful
study OF Gods law.
Note OF encouragement. ]. There
was real encouragement ia the fact
that God was so careful Of the religion
of the Jews that he expressed by his
act the value OF religion, and i'm
pressed II so deeply on their hearts.
2. The blessing that rested upon the
family Of Obed-edom through the pres
ence Of the symbol OF religion in his
house was a foretaste and a promise,
and a prophecy OF what It would be TO
the nation.
A fuller description OF this festival
procession is given in / Chronicles Is
and IS.
1T was the greatest day OF David's
life It's significance in mis- career is
marked by his own preeminent posi-
ton-conqueroT. poet. musician, priest.
an fa1f -,