The Ark Brings Blessings to Those Who Love the Lord

Feeling that his own heart was not entirely right with God, and seeing what had happened to Uzzah, David feared the ark, worried that some sin might bring judgments on him. But Obed-Edom welcomed the sacred symbol as the promise of God’s favor to people who obey. All Israel watched to see what would happen in his home. “And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.” David was led to realize as never before the sacredness of God’s law and the necessity of strict obedience.BOE 357.1

At the end of three months he decided to make another attempt to move the ark, and this time he was very careful to carry out the directions of the Lord. Again a large crowd gathered around the home of Obed-Edom. With reverent care the ark was placed on the shoulders of men appointed by God, and with trembling hearts the vast procession set out. Sacrifices were offered, according to David’s direction. Rejoicing now took the place of trembling and terror. The king had laid aside his royal robes and dressed himself in a plain linen robe as worn by the priests. (This robe was sometimes worn by others besides the priests.) In this holy service David would take his place before God on the same level as his subjects. Jehovah was to be the sole object of reverence.BOE 357.2

Again the music of harp and cornet, trumpet and cymbal, floated heavenward, with the melody of many voices. “Then David danced before the Lord,” keeping time to the measure of the song.BOE 357.3

David’s dancing in reverent joy before God has been used to justify modern dancing, but in our day dancing is associated with indiscretion and partying. Morals are sacrificed to pleasure. God is not an object of thought in these places, and prayer would be out of place. Christians are not to go after amusements that weaken love for sacred things. The music and dancing in joyful praise of God when the ark was moved did not have the faintest resemblance to the corrupting influence of modern dancing. One exalted God’s holy name; the other is a device of Satan to cause people to forget and dishonor God.BOE 357.4

The triumphal procession approached the capital, then a burst of song demanded that the watchers upon the walls throw open the gates of the Holy City:BOE 358.1

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.BOE 358.2

A band of singers and players answered:BOE 358.3

Who is this King of glory?BOE 358.4

From another company came the response:BOE 358.5

The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.BOE 358.6

Then hundreds of voices, uniting, swelled the triumphal chorus:BOE 358.7

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.BOE 358.8

Again was heard, “Who is this King of glory?” And the voice of the great multitude, like “the sound of many waters,” was heard in rapturous reply:BOE 358.9

The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Psalm 24:7-10BOE 358.10

Then the gates were opened wide, and with reverent awe the ark was placed in the tent prepared for it. As the service ended, the king himself pronounced a blessing on his people.BOE 358.11

This celebration was the most sacred event yet in the reign of David. As the last beams of the setting sun bathed the tabernacle in holy light, the king’s heart was uplifted in gratitude to God that the blessed symbol of His presence was now so near the throne of Israel.BOE 358.12

But there was someone who saw the scene of rejoicing with a very different spirit. “As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.” She went out to meet him and a torrent of bitter words, sharp and cutting, poured from her mouth:BOE 358.13

“How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”BOE 358.14

David felt that Michal had despised the service of God, and he answered: “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” In addition to David’s reprimand, the Lord also added rebuke. Because of her pride and arrogance, Michal “had no child to the day of her death.”BOE 358.15