Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-02-17
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ACCORDING TO THE
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Commentary Prepared IN An Inter-
esting Way by Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns


some of its other titles. and when we
recall that IL was the principal vessel
In the tabernacle and the only one
of all the tabernacle vessels that con
tinued to he used in the temple OF
Solomon. that il was made specially to
lie Il receptacle for the two tables OF
the law. that over its blood stained
lid or mercy seat and between the
~hetubm the glory OF the Lord was
revealed. ana that from above the mer
cy seat the Lord commuucd with
Moses. we must he persuaded that this
vessel had wonderful Significance.
And when we read in Rev. xi. 10. OF
the temple of God I'm heaven being
opened and there being seen in II the
ark Of Ills Testament we stand In still
greater awe before this holy vessel.
Ii Is mentioned forty times In the
books OF Moses and twenty-eight times
in Joshua. chiefly In connection with
the crossing OF the Jordan In our
lesson chapter and those following II
is mentioned thirty seven times. so thnt
We can easily See that the interest cen
ters upon IL.
Lesson verse shows us Israel smit
ten before the Phllistines. and we
think that We hear again the words OF
Joshua. 20 Lord. what shall ! say
when Israel turneth their backs before
their enemiesi" Josh. vii. 81 But as
then. SO now. IL was because OF sin In
the camp. As the elders considered
the present defeat they did not seem
to think that the difficulty might be
with Israel. nor did they turn to the
Lord. but said. Let us fetch the ark
Of the covenant of the Lord that IL
may save MS verse 81. The presence
Of the ark caused Israel 10 shout with
great shout. and when the Ihlistines
| understood that IL was because the
ark was come into the camp they said
that God was come into the camp. he
gods that smote the Egyptians. On
the part of both Israel and the Philis-
tines II seemed like pure superstition
The latter knew no better. but for Is
rael TO put confidence i'm the ark rather
than in the Lord reminds us of their
worship Of Aaron's golden calf and
away beyond the time Of this lesson.
their worship OF the SERPENT OF brass
! I'll Kings xviii. ~.
Is il not the same today with those
who think there is any benefit in the
mere reading OF chapter in the Rible
or saying Il prayer, or taking the com
munion. or in any religious formality:
Il Anvthinu that 10 hpurf 4
! ing with the Living God is only form
OF superstition. The Philistines were
stirred to great fervor by the cry of
their leaders. BE strong: quit your.
selves like men and fight verse 81.
and the Lord delivered Israel into their
hands so that 10000 were slain. in
Guiding ELS two sons. and the ark of
! God was taken VERSES 10. III. Poor
old Eli waited with fear and trembling
! for tidings from the battle. and when
he heard the sad news and that the
| ark OF God had been taken he fell
of his seat backward and broke his
neck and died. He was ninety eight
years old and had Judged Israel forty
years verses 70 1Sl. think that while
outwardly II was broken neck II may
have been inwardly n broken heart.
In the same day IL seems as II Prime
has wife was also taken away verses
| 1922, so that great calamity came
| TO the house OF Ell In one day Ill 34,.
Thus suddenly have great events trans.
pired again and again, and so shall 1t
be at the end time.
| The story Of the ark In the hands of
| the Phllistines chapters aud vii
makes us think of Jerusalem. bur
densome stone for all people. and that
all that burden themselves with II shall
| be cut In pieces ,Zech. xii. 81. The
Philistines found the ark very griev-
Gus thing to have IN their midst. and
after a few months wi. II they were
! glad TO send II back to Israel. The
story Of the new cart and the two milk
cows tied to ii. with their calves shut
up at home and the COWS taking the
straight way TO Beth Shemesh. lowing
as they went. but not turning aside to
the right hand or 10 the left wi. 7.l2l.
Is wonderful record OF the hand of
the Lord upon dumb beasts and brings
to mind the dominion over all sheep
and oxen, beasts of the field. fowl OF
the air and fish OF the sea that has
had some foreshadowlngs all the way
along. but will be fully seen when the
kingdom comes Ps. wifi. GO: Heb. II.
8, o..
The men OF Beth Shemesh rejoiced
greatly TO welcome the ark. and they
offered burnt offerings and sacrifices
unto the Lord. but they made sad
mistake when they ,ouked into the
ark. and they suffered greatly for IT,
As we said at the beginning Of this
study, the ark was made 10 keep the
holy law OF God. which Israel could
not keep. The blood sprinkled upon
the mercy seat from year TO year 0Lev
XVII told OF the demands OF the law
met by a substitute. even Christ, the
end OF the law for righteousness to
every one that believeth rom. x, A.
| II ito pQVar tvua pnr could hn he tho