Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-28
LESSON FOR MAY 30
BRINGS ARK TO JERUSALEM.

pan " assign 70 various pupils such /
subjects as: (a) What the ark was
and how it came to be lost; 90
Where it had been since the days of
Joshua; (c) What occurred to it while
in possession of the Philistines; (d)
Who was Obed-edom? (e) Uzziah? 81
be the seat of government.
l.. The Ark Recovered, w. is. David
realized that while God was the
God of all the tribes, still there was
no visible religious center; there vas
the consequent danger of %confound-
ing the local place of worship with
that of some local Baal (god) and the
possible breaking up of the national
reliance upon Jehovah. Where Kir-
Jath-jearim was is not definitely
known, but perhaps it was eight or
ten miles west of Jerusalem. The ark
had lodged here for perhaps seventy
years. David and they that were with
him followed the example of the Phil
istines q Sam. 6:1-1S) in their mode
of transferring the ark rather than to
have it carried upon the shoulders of
the priests Josh. $3.50. Preceded by
David and the house of Israel" i. e.,
leaders of the people and all others
present, they began the return jour
ney from the house of Abinadab.
II. The Ark Retarded, w. Gil.
They had reached one of the open
places used as a threshing floor when
the oxen slipped and the cart was
shaken. Uzziah, one of the TIVE into
whose charge it had been placed, laid
hold of the ark to keep it from fall
ing. Why was he slain therefore? We
have already suggested the reason.
How to carry the ark was plainly writ
ten mum. 4:5-12; 7:9). Neglect of
Gods word gets many wellmeaning
people into trouble, along with their
friends, also. The ark was the sym,
Dol of Gods presence, and men had
to be taught to revere his holy name
and his glorious presence (see last
clause v. p. Uzziah's sin was the sin
of irreverence. He seems not to
have sensed the invisible God in his
visible abode. The result struck ter
III IlbO lAC AOGLI VI DdVlu II Ii
people, and the ark was left in the
house Of Obed of Edom for a period
of three months. David's Improved
plan" was a proved failure.
III. The Ark Restored, W.. s-19.
David, by thus abandoning the ark.
seems to have resented the Judgment
of God, yet he must have realized
that God had sufficient cause for his
acts. The ark is a type of Christ.
who is Emmanuel, God with Is. The
ark contained the law of God. as
Christ enshrined the will of his Fa-
Their. Over the law was the blood
sprinkled mercy seat where God met
his people lex. 25:1S-22). In Christ
we find our mercy seat where we
meet God. Though this ark brought
judgment to Uzzian it brought bless
ing to Obed-edom ". 12). Even SO
Christ brings judgment or joy accord
ing to our treatment of him. Obed'
edom so piously cared for the ark tina,
both he and his household were rich
ly blessed. If Christ is really in oul
hearts we will be blessed, and Christ
abideth forever. 1t has been suggest
ed that Obed-edom vas only a heather
by descent, a Gittite (v. II, see chap
ter 1910, but he welcomed the pres
ence of God in his home. The hap
penings in his house were quickly
noised abroad, and soon David's feal
and pique gave way to Joy" ". l.
r. W, for this time David brough
up the ark into the city of Jerusalem
in the God-appointed way, accom-
panied by sacrifices and dancing. Thi'
dancing vas not of a kind to find faul
with, nor was it merely a demonstra
ton designed to attract attention. II
say that the presence of God, or o
the Holy Spirit, depends upon som
sort of physical emotion, holy jump
ing. frances, and the like, is untrue
for it is not in accord with the teach
ing of the Bible. Note this dancin
was before the Lord" Most moder,
dances seem to be advanced by Satar
as the results so well demonstrate
Whenever any emotion is evidence
in connection with religion, someon
is ready to raise an objection. 1
this case the objection came froI
David's own household. Michal ev
denced her fathers disposition {
!: churlishness, and in her reproach
, David evidently forgot SauTs lack
1 dignity when he lay naked among tn
! prophets Il Samuel 1920.
! w. The Psalm of Praise, Ps. 2
J t., +ho Jouicb w roC11o this OSal]
] is recited at the carrying back of tn
] book of the law to its shrine, and j
1 the Greek church at the consecratlo
1 of the church. The t~wenty-secon
| psalm presents the suffering Savior
| the twenty-third presents the rise
i Savior as the shepherd caring for an
4 leading his shee and the twent
fourth tells of the reigning, glorltie
{. Lord. The whole earth is Jehovah
: ". u and no incident better teacht
= the converse, viz, that he is God
:. the earth and not a mere tribal deit
He founded and Established"
and all the %fullness," and they th'
dwell therein" are his by creative ar
L. redemptive right. Since we belor
Il to him we owe him worship and ser
ice-and a servant is one WI
it stands ". 81. The conditions of fl
lowship with Jehovah are "cle;
hands and a pure heart" ". A., tho
IN who deal with honesty and reverend
st Vanity" and "idolatry" are frequent
- synonymous terms.
The first and the fourth conditit
relate to others, the second and Il
rs third to ones inner life (see Jol
Id 1:6, ..
Is. The reward of acceptable worsh
. and service is blessing from Il
Lord" ". 81. In verse eight We Ill
r Israels great name for God first US
~ in the Psalms.
u He is gloriously strong, this Lo
of the hosts of heaven.
In I Cor. 2:S, Jesus who was cru
fed is called the Lord of Glory Ev'
u SO our coming King is strong al
Mighty and will prove himst