The Carlisle independent., 1915-05-27

said unto me, Let us go unto the house of the Lord.-Psalm 122:1
 This event probably occurred B. c. 1042, in the twenty-second year of David's reign. It would be a good plan to assign to various pupils such subjects as: ta) What the ark was and how it came to be lost; (bl Where it had been since the days of Joshua; Co What occurred to it while In possession of the Philistines; (d) Who was Obed-edom? (e) UZziah? (f) Michal? (g) How Jerusalem came to be the seat of government.
 l. The Ark Recovered, w. 1-5. 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 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. 3:3). 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 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 (Num. 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 bol of Gods presence, and men had to be taught to revere his holy name and his glorious presence (see last clause V. 9. 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 TOT into the heart of David and the people, and the ark was left in the house of Obed of Edom for period ot three months. David's improved plan" was a proved failure.
 III. The Ark Restored, w. 9-1o. 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 type of Christ, who is Immanuel, God with us. The ark contained the law of God as Christ enshrined the will of his Fla. ther. Over the law was the blood his people (Ex. 25:1S22). In Christ we find our mercy seat where we meet God. Though this ark brought judgment to Uzziah it brought bless ing to Obed-edom (v. 12). Even so Christ bringsSudgment or joy accord ing to our treatment of him. Obed- edom so piously cared for the ark that both he and his household were rich ly blessed If Christ is really in our hearts we will be blessed, and Christ abideth forever.
 w. The Psalm of Praise, Ps. 24. Tn hn ch alrr1 is recited at the carrying back of the book of the law to it's shrine, and in the Greek church at the consecration of the church. The twenty-second psalm presents the suffering Savior; the twenty-third presents the risen Savior as the shepherd caring for and leading his sheep, and the twenty fourth tells of the reigning, glorified Lord. The whole earth is Jehovah's (v D and no incident better teaches the converse, viz, that he is God of the earth and not mere tribal deity. He founded" and "esta blished" it, and all the fullneCs," and they that dwell therein" are his by creative and redemptive right. Since we belong to him we owe him worship and serv- ice-and servant is one who stands V. 3. The conditions of fel- lowship with Jehovah are clean hands and pure heart" (v. 4, those who deal with honesty and reverence. Vanity" and ''idolatry" are frequently synonymous terms.
 The first and the fourth condition relate to others, the second and the third to ones inner life (see l John 1:6, D.
 The reward Of acceptable worship and service is blessing from the Lord" (v. D. In verse eight we find Israel's great name for God first used in the Psalms.
 He is gloriously strong, this Lord of the hosts of heaven.
 In I Cor 2:S, Jesus who was cruci- fled is called the Lord of Glory." Even so our coming King is strong and Mighty" and will prove himself mighty in battle (see Rev. 19:19-2D.
 When he, the King of Glory, leads captivity captive all of his followers