The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-29
LESSON FOR MAY 80
BRINGS ARK TO JERUSALEM.

GOLDEN TEXT was Slau WHEN theS |
said unto me, Let us go unto the house
Of the Lord.-Psalm 1221.
This event probably occurred b. Z.
1912, in the twenty-second year OF
David's reign. 1t would be good
plan to assign to various pupils such
subjects as: (a) What the ark was
and how it came to be lost; Cd
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? Cd
Michal? Cd How Jerusalem came to
be the seat of government.
I. 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 was
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 Ct Sam. 6:1-1S) in their mode
of transferring the ark rather than TO
have it carried upon the shoulders or
the priests Josh. $3.50. Preceded by
David and the house Of Israeli l. e.,
leaders of the people and all others
present, they began the return jour-
ney from the house of Abinadab.
u. The Ark Retarded, w. 6-11.
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 two 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 well-meaning
| people into trouble, along with their
friends, also. The ark was the sym
Dol of Gods presence, and men had
20 be taught to revere his holy name
and his glorious presence (see last
clause v. p. Uzziah's sin was the sin
If irreverence. He seems not to
have sensed the invisible God in his
visible abode. The result struck ter
ror into the heart of David and the
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. e-1s.
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 us. The
ark contained the law of God, al
Christ enshrined the will Of his Fa
ther. Over the law was the blood
sprinkled mercy seat where God me
his people lex. 25:1S-22). In Chris
we find our mercy seat where W.
meet God. Though this ark brough
Judgment to Uzziah it brought bless
ing to Obed-edom ". 12). Even 81
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 rict
ly blessed. II Christ is really In GU
hearts we will be blessed, and Chris
abideth forever. 1t has been sugges
ed that Obed-edom was only heathe
by descent, a Gittite ". IL, see chal
ter 15:19), but he welcomed the pre-
ence of God in his home. The hal
| penings in his house were quickl
II noised abroad, and soon David's fes
and pique gave way to 10y" ".
R. W, for this time David brougi
up the ark into the city of Jerusalei
in the God-appointed way, accor
II panied by sacrifices and dancing. Tn
III dancing was not of kind to find fau
with, nor was 1t merely demonstr
ton designed to attract attention.
say that the presence of God, or
Il the Holy Spirit, depends upon son
sort of physical emotion, holy jun
ing. frances, and the like, is untru
for it is not In accord with the teac
ing of the Bible. Note this dancil
was before the Lord" Most mode
dances seem to be advanced by Sata
as the results so we'll demonstra'
| Whenever any emotion is evidenc
in connection with religion, someo
III is ready to raise an objection.
II L ahiaRfinn
III David's own household. Michal e
III denced her fathers disposition
churlishness, and in her reproach
David evidently forgot SauPs lack
dignity when he lay naked amons t
prophets q Samuel 1920.
~. The Psalm of Praise, Ps.
In the Jewish synagogue this PISA
III Is recited at the carrying back Of I
book of the law to its shrine, and
III the Greek church at the consecrati
iii of the church. The twenty-seco
psalm presents the suffering Saw
III the twenty-third presents the rii
III Savior as the shepherd caring for
iii leading his sheep, and the TWEEN
fourth tells of the refgning, glorif
III Lord. The whole earth is Jehova
III ". u and no incident better teacl
II the converse. viz, that he is God
III the earth and not a mere tribal de
III He founded and established"
III and all the fullness," and they t
III dwell therein" are his by creative {
iii redemptive right. Since we bell
to him we owe him worship and 81