The rejoicing and the blessing which were now the portion of those who came to David, were to be shared; others must be brought in till none were left out. What a change all this was from the great display of man, together with the absence of true happiness while Saul reigned!
From "Shihor of Egypt"-the river Nile, or possibly the "river of Egypt" which was the southwest boundary of Palestine, to the "entering of Hemath" (noted city and district in the north of Syria), at the extreme north of Israel's borders, all are gathered together to bring the ark of God, symbol of His presence, from Kirjath-jearim.
Years had passed since the ark came to Kirjath-jearim. Much longer than forty years before, when Eli was priest, and Samuel the prophet a child, the unfaithfulness of the priesthood led to the taking of the emblem of the presence of God by the Philistines to the house of their god (1 Samuel 5), and though it did not (nor could it) remain there, there was not faith in Israel to give it its due place, until Saul was removed, and David on the throne.
But though there was desire after God's glory, and that He should be honored in the land, there was a lack of obedience to the Word of God on David's part, which brought on divine displeasure.
Observe David's word in chapter 15:11-13 when he had been exercised by the occurrence of chapter 13:10.
Obedience to the Word of God is surely a little thing for the believer, who owes God for everything, to yield to Him, yet how many Christians question, in our day, if they need to follow it fully, and decide that they will perhaps in some, or in most respects, but as to other things concerning which clear direction is given, it does not suit them to follow the written Word. To such, it need hardly be said, there is great loss. The reader would do well to read carefully the twenty second and twenty third verses of 1 Samuel 15 in this connection.
David's failure here cannot bar God from blessing His people, and He still blesses, even when full obedience is not yielded Him. Obed-edom and his family tasted the blessedness of the presence of God which David wished for, but through disobedience had not obtained.