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When David was safe and happy,
did he forget God, and begin to love worldly things better than holy
things? No; when all his enemies were conquered, and his kingdom
safe, the first thing he remembered was God's holy ark. The ark was
still at Kirjath-Jearim, in the house of Abinadab, who had kept it many
years; but David wanted to have it now in his own city Jerusalem; so he
went with many of his people, to Kirjath-Jearim to bring it back.
They came to Abinadab's house, and took out the ark, and put it in a new
cart; and Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, drove the cart. Then
David and all the people were very glad; and they went with the ark,
playing and singing for joy. After a little time, they came to a
rough place, and the oxen that drew the cart stumbled, and shook the
ark. When Uzzah saw the ark shaken, he was afraid it might fall, and
he put out his hand, and took hold of it. But Uzzah forgot how very
holy the ark was; he did not honor it as he ought, and God punished him,
and struck him dead directly. Many years before, God had punished
the men of Bethshemesh, because they looked into the ark; and so now God
punished Uzzah. He did not need Uzzah so irreverently to take hold
of the holy ark; He Himself could keep it safely. Uzzah's
death was a sad end to David's happiness. All the people were
frightened, and David said, he would not have the ark with him now.
Was he right not to want now to have the ark? No; he was wrong to be
so much afraid; God did not wish to frighten and trouble His people; He
only wished to teach them to honor and reverence His holy things.
But there was a good man named Obed-edom, who was not afraid to have the
ark; so it was carried to his house. Obed-edom was very happy when
he had the ark, because God's blessing came with it. All was right
at Obed-edom's house when the ark was there. When
David heard that God had blessed Obed-edom, he was no longer afraid of the
ark; so he went to the house where it was, and took it away; and the
priests carried it upon their shoulders. David had learned to be
more reverent, and to teach his people to be reverent too. When
the ark had gone a very little way, David offered sacrifices to God.
He asked for God's blessing first, and then he went on safely, knowing
that God was with him, David and all the people brought the ark home; and
the king was so happy that he danced for joy. The ark was put in a
tabernacle which David made for it; and then he offered sacrifices again,
and blessed the people, and gave them bread, and wine, and meat, and sent
them away. It was a happy, holy day at Jerusalem. Why were
they all so joyful? Because they had the ark with them again.
The feasting, and singing, and shouting, were all holy; the people did
everything that day in the fear and honor of God; and then they had His
blessing, and that made them happy.
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