Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-31
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

War has a tendency ito divide man
from man, group from group, interest
from interest" which makes the
morrow of victory full of difficulties.
The only reason that we have re-
manned as a people the United States
of America has been due, not to war.
but the religious tie that binds us
into unity as people. While there
exists differences of expression of our
religious ideals and life, America at
the core has always been and is a
Christian nation. The unity of
common faith has under the provi-
dence of God made us, in spite of
differences in the past between the
number of citizens composed of men
from every nation. in name and real
ity "the United States" that stands
today, as in the past, the hope of
the world for permanent peace
among the nations of the earth based
upon liberty and justice"
David, the seasoned warrior, having
succeeded in twice defeating the Phil
istines SO that he destroyed their
power over Israel, turned his mind
toward unifying the nation. He rec
ognized that the only way that he
could cement Israel and Judah into
strong national unity was through
their faith in Jehovah. In his trials
David had learned the value of the
presence of the Lord, so out of deep
religious motives. as well as profound
political policy. he determined to
bring up to Jerusalem the ark. that
symbolized the presence of jehovah
During the closing days of Samuefs
life it had been carried into battle and
lost. The PhilistineS were forced by
md
throughout the reign of Saul and his
son the ark had remained in the
house of Abinadab in the city of the
woods" about eleven miles southwest
of Jerusalem. David decided to bring
the ark from its obscurity and neg
lect to Jerusalem and make the CAPT.
tai both a religious and political CEN
ter for the nation.
Some have considered that David
made a mistake in seeking to give the
ark. which was symbolical of Jeho-
vah'S presence with His people. 1t is
true that for long time they had
moved without the aid of the sacred
mbIem, that symbolized Gods pres
ence and promises, or covenant rela-
tions with His people. There was
to the worship of the ark instead of
it's guiding man to worship Jehovah
in sincerity and truth. The people
had followed it dryshod across the
Jordan and before it the walls of
Jericho had fallen. Spiritual religion
without forms is ideal. but as long as
men are as earthly as they are there
win always exist the need of the
help of symbols.
David did not make any mistake in
trying to unity the religious life of
the nation by bringing up the ark
His plans are worthy of commenda-
ton, for they reveal the spirituality
of the hero king, who, as soldier
statesman and singer. always tried to
recognize the spirituality of religion
and the supremacy of Jehovah. He
was anxious to promote revival of
the worship of the God of their faith
ers by popular movement. This
met the approval of the elders of the
tribes and his plan was participated in
by the leviteS, priests and people. He
hoped as a result to cement the ma
ton into living religious power
that would remain prosperous and
permanent because they made their
spiritual life and service supreme.
He nInde one fatal mistake when he
neglected to follow the strict rules
which God had commanded concern
ing the removal of the ark He
thought that he could improve the
old way and save time by having the
chest hauled in place of being car
ried. He adopted an improved plan
from the heather, for the Philistines
had used cart when they returned
the ark. The pagans have a venera-
ton for new things. Great emphasis
is laid in the east upon the use of new
things. The colt upon which Jesus
rode was one wherein never man
sat" and his tomb was a newly made
one which had never been used be-
fore. The cart was new yet the meth
cd was old and contrary to Gods
word, Many a person thinks today
that the modern faith they have
adopted is new, when it is merely a
revamping of some ancient heather
cult, which is contrary to the Scrip
lures.
Every person who attempts to carry
on a religious service by substituting
some other way for the plans of God
will fail. He who tries to perform
the Lords work different from the
manner that He has ordered is apt
to meet with the fate of UZZah. whose
impulse was probably all right in his
own thought, but it cost him his
life David quit his efforts without
seeking the cause of Gods displeas
ure Many a follower of the Lord
Jesus has abandoned Gods work be-
cause he could not have his own way,
even when his methods were con-
trary to the word of the Master.
Several months later, when the
king learned of the wonderful pros
perity that had come to the Gittite,
Obed edom. the heather by descent,
who had been one of David'S Philis-
tine bodyguards after the ark had
been welcomed by him. the king COM
menced to study the Scripture to learn
the cause of his failure. When God Is
sgelcomed into QUE lives prosperity