“O path which no eagle knoweth, no vulture’s eye hath seen,
Where never the lion goeth, nor the fierce lion’s track hath been:
Were I with the trespass laden of a thousand worlds beside,
Yet by that path I enter, the blood of the Lamb who died.
From the depths of the doom and darkness ascends that wondrous road,
Which leads the heart of the sinner up to the heart of God.”
From MS of the 14th Century.
THE day of David’s anointing or coronation as king over all Israel had been a time such as the nation had never seen before, and has probably never seen since. Even Solomon’s first coronation day was not to be compared with it, for that was confined to Jerusalem as far as the guests were concerned. All the chief men throughout the land—from Dan even to Beersheba—came with one heart to Hebron to anoint David king over them. Over three hundred thousand men of war were assembled there, and with others—the families and friends from all parts of the country—made a “great host” For three days they remained there with the king, royally entertained, “for there was joy in Israel.”
Jerusalem was taken not very long after David was made king, and some time was necessarily spent there. Then came the war with the Philistines, but all the while one thought was in the heart of the monarch, and that was to bring the ark of God—the ark of the covenant—home to himself in Zion. Nothing was so dear to the heart of David as the presence of Jehovah typified by the ark.
He was inspired of God we know to write the prophetic utterances in his beautiful psalms; but though he may not have been fully conscious of the far-reaching character of what he wrote, yet he expressed the desires and feelings of his own heart in them. When he says, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple,” he is telling out the one great longing of his soul. God knew this, and so, spite of all his deep failure in the time of his prosperity, he was granted the desire of his heart, and allowed to be the one distinguished man who should bring the ark of God to its resting-place on Mount Zion.
He would not do this as a mere act of kingly power. He desires that all his people should share in his joy, and enter into the blessedness of having the symbol of the presence of Jehovah in the midst of them as a nation.
Whatever prosperity might be granted otherwise, there was something lacking as long as the ark was not in its rightful place. David felt it must be where the chief center of government was, in the royal city. He had the faith that appropriated the real source of blessing—the presence of God; and king though he was, he knew himself as nothing there, save for the love and grace that was everything to him. With this one desire he gathers all the elders of the nation and chiefs of the army together, and consulted them and all the congregation of Israel as to bringing the ark of God to them to Jerusalem. Strangely enough he does not consult Jehovah at all about it. He doubtless knew the desire was given of God, and so did not ask for guidance as to the way in which it should be carried out, and this was a great mistake. His own thoughts led him utterly wrong.
His people had been of one mind with him as to recovering the presence of the ark to them as a nation; they desired nationally to own that Jehovah was their God, but not one of the priests or Levites was sufficiently acquainted with the law of Moses as to the service of the sanctuary to be able to tell the king what ought to be done. From one end of his kingdom to the other—to those of his people who had gone to the borders of Egypt on the one hand, and to Hamath on the other—the royal proclamation went out inviting all to Jerusalem to take part in what the king probably felt was the most important event of his reign. And he was right.
When all his subjects had been gathered to Jerusalem, they go in what must have been a magnificent procession to Kirjath-jearim, the place where the ark had remained ever since it had been brought back from Beth-shemesh, where the Philistines had left it nearly a hundred years before. Kirjath-jearim, about three miles from Jerusalem, is now only a miserable village, but with traces left of former greatness. David may have obtained the stone used in his buildings from this place, and its immense quarries could even now supply the city with vast quantities.
To the house of Abinadab David now goes, and the ark is joyfully carried from the place where it has so long remained. We wonder, as we read of its being put upon a new cart, what could have made the king use this mode of transit. That the Philistines should do so was natural, and allowed of God, for they were heathen who knew no better. That His own people should so forget the reverence due to God was another matter altogether, for He had given explicit instructions to Moses and to His people through him how the ark was to be carried. The joy of Israel at seeing the ark was doubtless real. At any rate, we know that of David was. Still, joy in itself is no proof of our being in the secret of God, and if not, is misleading —as we see here.
Everything seemed to go right at first, but at last the oxen who drew the new cart stumbled, and then Uzzah, the son of the man in whose house it had been, put his hand to the ark to steady it. Then we read, “And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah, and He smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.” This was a sad and terrible check to the rejoicing of the king and his people, and if only Jehovah had been inquired of might not-indeed, never could-have happened. The neglect had ended in irreverence, for the natural heart cannot ever conceive the true way of drawing near to God. That all there should have been deeply distressed was inevitable, but we are told that “David was displeased.” It is not said he was displeased with himself-yet that would have been the only righteous anger.
Not only was he displeased, but he was afraid of God, and said, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? Again it is carried into the house of a private individual, and this time into that of an alien from Israel, a Gittite named Obededom. Three months does it remain there, and they were three months of such blessing as Obededom had never known before. God will not let the sign of His presence remain in the home of anyone who rightly values that presence without bestowing large blessing. If the king—God’s chosen one—fears to receive the ark, the man whose house is opened for it shall learn what a God of grace Jehovah is. “It was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God.”
This seems to have impressed the king with the sense of his own wrong way of acting three months before. Though we are not told of it, he probably did inquire of God now, for we find him assembling the priests and Levites to Jerusalem, and commanding them to sanctify themselves for the service of the sanctuary according to the law given by Jehovah. He tells them, “because ye did it not at the first, Jehovah our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.” His dread of God gone, in the sense of His grace, and owning the wrong doing of the previous attempt, David now again calls all Israel to him. This time it is not merely a joyful bringing again of the ark, but the priests and Levites are there in the solemn recognition of the holiness of God, and that Israel is to be a worshipping people.
The joy is not less—it was really deeper—for worship is mingled with it, and God has His rightful place in the heart of the king, as, without any mark of royal dignity, and clad simply in a robe of linen, and with a linen ephod, he takes the place of a Levite as one devoted to the service of Jehovah. The ark is brought out of the house of Obed-edom, borne by its staves upon the shoulders of the Levites, who also were clad in white linen robes. We hear nothing now of the men of war, though they were there; the priests and Levites are those who are prominent, as they who were ordained of God for the sanctuary and its service, in which the ark had its chief place. When the Levites had borne the ark a short distance an offering of seven bullocks and seven rams was offered, for God helped the Levites.
There is no sad interruption this time to the praises and joy of David and his people. Jehovah shows Himself to be with them and owns their act. This was probably the happiest time of the king’s whole life. His royal dignity remains, but he shows how he esteems his place as the servant of God—to carry out His purposes in making Zion the center of His government upon earth—as greater than even his kingly throne. “Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah “with every sign of joy and gladness, and it was set in the midst of the tent that David had prepared for it, to be there till the temple was built, where it was finally to be put.
Then the burnt offerings and peace offerings were offered, and after that David blessed the people in the name of Jehovah. It is very beautiful to see how he takes the place here of a man whose chief object is God, and whose delight is not only to be in His presence himself, but to lead others to seek it too. He thinks of every one of his people, and to all—both men and women—is dealt “a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.” The Levites who were appointed to their service were left there before the Ark of the Covenant to minister according to the ordinance, and the priests were to remain before the tabernacle at Gibeon. The time had not then come when everything was to be put in order, but David rightly felt that to have the Ark of the Covenant in Zion was the greatest blessing that could then be conferred. He could look on and see by faith the One whom it typified —the Christ, the true David, who will yet be a king and priest upon His throne, in the day when the glory will not be a transitory gleam, but forever and ever.
The psalm which David gave to Asaph, chief of the singers, to be sung on this day of bringing up the ark, is very beautiful as we get it in Chronicles 16. One verse is specially suited to all who love the same Lord—“seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.” It reminds us of the one thing that the Apostle Paul desired, “that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” Whether David or Paul, each knew that the whole secret of real blessing is in knowing God.
Great as was David’s satisfaction at having the ark of God established in Zion it does not satisfy him. He feels ill at ease at living in his royal palace of cedars when the sign of the covenant is under curtains. He speaks of this to Nathan, the prophet, who said to him, “Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.” Here the prophet speaks hastily, for the same night the word of God came to him, saying, “Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah, Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in.” For this was what the king had in his mind.
Then follows a very wonderful message to David from God Himself, and in it he is told that his son shall build the house of God—where the ark shall be—and his throne shall be a lasting one. He is told, too, that Jehovah has been with him all the time since he was called to be Jehovah’s servant, and that He would build David a house. It was wonderful grace, and the king felt it to be so. He must go to the place where Jehovah “dwelleth between the cherubims” to respond to this and pour out the deep, grateful love of his heart. To the tabernacle he goes, and there in a rest that is founded upon the love and mercy of Jehovah he sits before Him. We are allowed to hear his words, for the Spirit of God has recorded them for us. “Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in Thy sight, O Lord God; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? And what can David say more unto Thee? for Thou, Lord God, knowest Thy servant. For Thy word’s sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou done all these great things, to make Thy servant know them.... And now, O Lord God, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as Thou hast said. And let Tthy name be magnified forever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee.... and with Thy blessing let the house of Thy servant be blessed forever.”
The full answer is yet to come to this prayer of the king; but when we read his words, “The king shall joy in Thy strength, O Jehovah; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips,” we see that though this was truly the expression of his own soul at the time, yet it could only be really fulfilled in the coming day of glory. He goes on to say, “His glory is great in Thy salvation: honor and majesty hast Thou laid upon” him. For Thou hast set him for blessing forever: Thou hast made him exceeding glad with Thy countenance” (Psa. 21: 1-6). As a prophet—and David was this, as we are told in Acts 2:3030Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (Acts 2:30)—he was inspired to look on and see the glorious reign of Him who, though He owned the title of “Son of David” when He was here in His work of revealing the heart of God to sinful man, is yet the Messiah of Israel—Jehovah—the true God.
When Jonathan, Saul’s son, was slain on Mount Gilboa he left a son named Mephibosheth. After David was firmly established on the throne, and the ark of God was on Mount Zion, the thought of Jonathan and his family came to his mind, and he inquired of his servants whether any of them still lived. An old servant of the house of Saul is brought before him, and the king asks, “Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, lame on his feet.” This was just what David delighted to hear. Nothing was more pleasure to him than to show kindness to the son of Jonathan for his father’s sake. So Mephibosheth is sent for and comes to the king, and finds himself received with such love and kindness as he may have had little of before. Henceforth his home is to be in the king’s palace, for he is to eat bread continually at David’s table, as one of the king’s sons. All the land of his father is restored to him, and Ziba and his sons serve him. It was no wonder that this generous kingly treatment won the heart of the son of Jonathan, nor that the king had a faithful adherent in him from that time; and David loved him for Jonathan’s sake.
The Philistines though often conquered had not been driven out of the country; now the king subdues them so far as to take Gath, the district and the towns belonging to it out of their hands, so that they no longer have a place in Judah, but are driven back to their own country. The Moabites also are subjugated and become tributary to him, and then the land of Syria, with its beautiful city of Damascus—one of the oldest cities in the world—also owns his sway, and the Syrians are made servants to David. Other nations come and own his dominion—some are conquered in war, but far and wide Israel’s king is victorious, and immense spoil of gold and silver and brass is taken by him. With none of this does the king enrich himself—all is dedicated to Jehovah, for he has ever in mind the thought of the house or temple of God that his son is to build, and all the spoil is to be used for that.
All this time the various wars did not prevent David from carefully and faithfully seeking the good of his people. “He reigned over all Israel, and executed justice and judgment among all his people,” and as long as he did this, as long as he sought the divine guidance, he was kept in the path of faith. “Thus Jehovah preserved David whithersoever he went.” Sorrowful is it to read soon after this time of David staying behind in Jerusalem when the day came for his army to go out to war. He gave himself up to a time of ease as he may have thought, but Satan soon sees this and finds it not difficult to lead him into sin that embittered his whole life after.
Nathan the prophet is sent to him to tell him of the Lord’s displeasure at the grievous crime he had committed, and to awaken him to repentance. We are thankful to find that this is done, and confession made by the king; but Nathan, while telling him, “Jehovah path put away thy sin; thou shalt not die,” yet goes on to warn him that because of his sin the sword will never depart from his house, for he had despised Jehovah in committing it. Evil should rise up against him out of his own house—before all Israel. Alas for David! Henceforth little but sorrow and trial had he as far as his domestic life was concerned. His perfect confession and repentance restored him in conscience and heart to the favor of Jehovah, but he had to submit to the punishment of the evil—for God never condones sin in His people—for all the rest of his life.
His own words tell us of his repentance as nothing else could: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.... Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psa. 51:1-3,16-171<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.>> Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (Psalm 51:1‑3)
16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:16‑17)).
David looked beyond the mere outward law which ordained sacrifices and offering, and saw what the spirit of it was. He was right in his thought then, but what would his thanksgiving have been could he have known, as we do now, what that one offering of the Lamb of God has wrought? The depth of blessedness in the knowledge that that perfect offering has not only put the sin away, but the sinner too! Could he have known what Paul did when he said, “I am crucified with Christ,” death had ended him as to what he was in himself! But there was more: “nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). Could David have known this his joy would have been too deep for words.