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brought out from the house of Abinadab and placed upon a new cart drawn by
oxen； while two of the sons of Abinadab attended it。
The men of Israel followed with exultant shouts and songs of
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rejoicing； a multitude of voices joining in melody with the sound of musical
instruments； 〃David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord 。 。 。
on harps； and on psalteries； and on timbrels； and on cornets； and on
cymbals。〃 It had been long since Israel had witnessed such a scene of
triumph。 With solemn gladness the vast procession wound its way along the
hills and valleys toward the Holy City。
But 〃when they came to Nachon's threshing floor； Uzzah put forth his hand to
the ark of God； and took hold of it； for the oxen shook it。 And the anger of
the Lord was kindled against Uzzah； and God smote him there for his
rashness；＇* MARGINAL READING＇ and there he died by the ark of God。〃 A sudden
terror fell upon the rejoicing throng。 David was astonished and greatly
alarmed； and in his heart he questioned the justice of God。 He had been
seeking to honor the ark as the symbol of the divine presence。 Why； then；
had that fearful judgment been sent to turn the season of gladness into an
occasion of grief and mourning？ Feeling that it would be unsafe to have the
ark near him； David determined to let it remain where it was。 A place was
found for it nearby； at the house of Obed…edom the Gittite。
The fate of Uzzah was a divine judgment upon the violation of a most
explicit command。 Through Moses the Lord had given special instruction
concerning the transportation of the ark。 None but the priests； the
descendants of Aaron； were to touch it； or even to look upon it uncovered。
The divine direction was； 〃The sons of Kohath shall come to bear it： but
they shall not touch any holy thing； lest they die。〃 Numbers 4：15。 The
priests were to cover the ark； and then the Kohathites must lift it by the
staves； which were placed in rings upon each side of the ark and were never
removed。 To the Gershonites and Merarites； who had in charge the curtains
and boards and pillars of the tabernacle； Moses gave carts and oxen for the
transportation of that which was committed to them。 〃But unto the sons of
Kohath he gave none： because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto
them was that they should bear upon their shoulders。〃 Numbers 7：9。 Thus in
the bringing of the ark from Kirjath…jearim there had been a direct and
inexcusable disregard of the Lord's directions。
David and his people had assembled to perform a sacred work； and they had
engaged in it with glad and willing hearts；
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but the Lord could not accept the service； because it was not performed in
accordance with His directions。 The Philistines； who had not a knowledge of
God's law； had placed the ark upon a cart when they returned it to Israel；
and the Lord accepted the effort which they made。 But the Israelites had in
their hands a plain statement of the will of God in all these matters； and
their neglect of these instructions was dishonoring to God。 Upon Uzzah
rested the greater guilt of presumption。 Transgression of God's law had
lessened his sense of its sacredness； and with unconfessed sins upon him he
had； in face of the divine prohibition； presumed to touch the symbol of
God's presence。 God can accept no partial obedience； no lax way of treating
His commandments。 By the judgment upon Uzzah He designed to impress upon all
Israel the importance of giving strict heed to His requirements。 Thus the
death of that one man； by leading the people to repentance； might prevent
the necessity of inflicting judgments upon thousands。
Feeling that his own heart was not wholly right with God； David； seeing the
stroke upon Uzzah； had feared the ark； lest some sin on his part should
bring judgments upon him。 But Obed…edom； though he rejoiced with trembling；
welcomed the sacred symbol as the pledge of God's favor to the obedient。 The
attention of all Israel was now directed to the Gittite and his household；
all watched to see how it would fare with them。 〃And the Lord blessed
Obed…edom； and all his household。〃
Upon David the divine rebuke accomplished its work。 He was led to realize as
he had never realized before the sacredness of the law of God and the
necessity of strict obedience。 The favor shown to the house of Obed…edom led
David again to hope that the ark might bring a blessing to him and to his
people。
At the end of three months he resolved to make another attempt to remove the
ark； and he now gave earnest heed to carry out in every particular the
directions of the Lord。 Again the chief men of the nation were summoned； and
a vast assemblage gathered about the dwelling place of the Gittite。 With
reverent care the ark was now placed upon the shoulders of men of divine
appointment； the multitude fell into line； and with trembling hearts the
vast procession again set forth。 After advancing six paces the trumpet
sounded a halt。 By David's direction sacrifices of 〃oxen and fatlings〃 were
to be offered。 Rejoicing now took the place of trembling and terror。 The
king had laid
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aside his royal robes and had attired himself in a plain linen ephod； such
as was worn by the priests。 He did not by this act signify that he assumed
priestly functions； for the ephod was sometimes worn by others besides the
priests。 But in this holy service he would take his place as； before God； on
an equality with his subjects。 Upon that day Jehovah was to be adored。 He
was to be the sole object of reverence。
Again the long train was in motion； and the music of harp and cornet；
trumpet and cymbal； floated heavenward； blended with the melody of many
voices。 〃And David danced before the Lord；〃 in his gladness keeping time to
the measure of the song。
David's dancing in reverent joy before God has been cited by pleasure lovers
in justification of the fashionable modern dance； but there is no ground for
such an argument。 In our day dancing is associated with folly and midnight
reveling。 Health and morals are sacrificed to pleasure。 By the frequenters
of the ballroom God is not an object of thought and reverence； prayer or the
song of praise would be felt to be out of place in their assemblies。 This
test should be decisive。 Amusements that have a tendency to weaken the love
for sacred things and lessen our joy in the service of God are not to be
sought by Christians。 The music and dancing in joyful praise to God at the
removal of the ark had not the faintest resemblance to the dissipation of
modern dancing。 The one tended to the remembrance of God and exalted His
holy name。 The other is a device of Satan to cause men to forget God and to
dishonor Him。
The triumphal procession approached the capital； following the sacred symbol
of their invisible King。 Then a burst of song demanded of the watchers upon
the walls that the gates of the Holy City should be thrown open：
〃Lift up your heads； O ye gates；
And be ye lift up； ye everlasting doors；
And t