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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
the twelve tribes, counsellors, a Secre tary of State, a tax collector, besides the two prophets, Gad and Nathan, and the priests, Abiathar and Zadok. David was of a deep religious nature, a lover of music and a poet. The center of the religious life of Israel was the Tabernacle, and the cen ter of the Tabernacle the Ark and Mercy Sea,t. It was a central point of meeting, a means of unity, the visible expression of the presence of God. He was with them in their midst, their God, their strength, their defender,— a right eous Ruler, ruling righteously. ' The blood-sprinkled mercy seat, over shadowed by the cherubim, expressed God as providing for sinful men pardon and forgiveness and that the way of access was by blood. The ark was a symbol of the Lord Jesus. It was composed of wood and gold,— the humanity and divinity or our Lord. The wood was incorruptible, as was His body. The gold represented the divine nature of our Lord. The law was under the mercy seat. In His humanity the Lord Jesus kept perfectly the law. (Ps. 40:8). For seventy years the ark had been in partial neglect. Its home had been in Shiloh, placed there by Joshua. It was still there at the close of the period of the Judges. (1 Sam. 1:3). Eli’s sons carried it into the battle against the Philistines, hoping for God’s help, hut God refused to reward their wickedness in that way. (1 Sam. 4:3, 5). Israel was defeated and the ark captured. (1 Sam. 4:11). It brought trouble to the Philistines. Dagon fell before it and the people were smitten with sickness wherever it went. (1 Sam. 5:1, 2, 6, 9, 12). It was finally restored to Israel (1 Sam. 6:1, 11, 19; 7 :2). Jerusalem had been made the center of royalty. The ark must find its rest ing place in association with the kingly power of David. What would a capital be to Israel if God were not in the
midst? David desires to publicly ac knowledge God as the center of power in the new order of things. His desire is holy, righteous. He recognized the fact that Israel was backslidden, that they had neglected God, and he had a holy zeal for God’s presence in their midst again. (1) BREAKING GOD’S COMMAND, VS. 1-5. David calls for a gathering. He means well, but his method is wrong. There is no record of his seeking God’s will and way. He confers with flesh and blood and not with God. (Psa. 53:4). (1 Chron. 15:13). “For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.” The order of God concerning the ark is given in Num. 3:27, 31; 4:15; 7:9; 10 : 21 . The lesson here is one of contrast be tween God’s way and man’s way. David ignored God’s way and took the way of the flesh. He followed the Philistines’ plan. (1 Sam. 6:7-12). The Philistines had not the mind of God. They had respect for the ark, but knew no other way. David should have known better. There is great danger in borrowing heathen ideas for the service of God. God wili be enquired of. God will be hon ored. The first, great duty is to find out what is God’s' plan. Will we ever learn If this plan were followed the church could be revolutionized in a day, as well as our own lives. But, instead, human methods and maxims are arrayed against God’s direct commands; human agencies are coveted; the world’s ways are fol lowed. Why not spend more time in waiting upon God in prayer? We always do things faster and better if we pray and wait upon God. Had David followed the example of the simple lesson of the child? (1) Surrender to God’s will. (2) Seek God’s wisdom. (3) Serve in God’s way.
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