centre of national worship. '!'be union of all the tribes under" the man of God's choice," the conquest of Jerusalem, the defeat of the Philistines, prepared tbo way for the great enterprise; and to it David was impelled by a truly theocratic spirit. "This act had ite root in David's truly pious feeling, was the living expression of his gratitude to the Lord for his favour, and aimed at the elevation and concentration of tbe relio-ious life of Israel" (Erdmann). 4. The truths and principles symbolized by the ark ;re fully embodied in Christ and Christianity (Heh. ix. 11). It may, therefore, be regarded, generally, as representing the true religion; and its restoration from "captivity" a. religious reformation ( see 1 Sam. vii. 2-6). In the going forth of the king at the head of" all Israel" f1:_om Jerusalem" to Baa.le, that is, to Kirjath-jea.rim, which belonc,ed 0 to Judah (twelve miles distant), to bring up thence the ark of God," we observe- I. AN EXALTED AIM. 1. The rendering to God of the hon()'ll,r which is his due, by open acknowledgment of his supremacy, proper reverence for his great Name, cheerful obedience to his requirements. The religious life of a. people is not only expressed in a. proper regard for the ordinances of public wO'T'ship (1 Sam. i. 3), but also greatly pro- moted thereby. When these are neglected, corrupted, or negligently performed, there can hardly be a. higher aim than to make them attractive and pure, and induce a. worthy performance of them. "0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness ! " (Ps. xcvi. 9). 2. The realization of closer communion with God, and the reception of the blessings that flow from such communion-mercy and grace, righteousness and strength, safety and peace. "True religion can never be the affair of the individual alone. A right religious relation to God must include a relation to our fellow-men in God, and solitary acts of devotion ca.n never satisfy the wants of healthy spiritual life, which ea.Us for a. visible expression of the fact that we worship God together in the common faith which binds us into a religious community. 'rhe necessity for acts of public and united worship is instinctively felt, wherever religion has a social influence, and in Israel it was felt the more strongly because Jehovah was primarily the God and King of the nation, who had to do with the individual Israelite only in virtue of his place in the commonwealth" (J. Robertson Smith, 'The Prophets of Israel'). 3. The fulfilment of the purpose of God concerning his people-that they may be holy, united, prosperous, mighty, and" show forth his praise" (Isa. xliii. 21). "0 Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity" (Ps. cxviii. 25). "The next great step of David (after the conquest of Jerusalem) was the re-establishment of the national religion, the worship of Jehovah, with suitable dignity and magnificence. Had David acted solely from political motives, this measure had been the wisest he could adopt. The solemn assembling of the tribes would not only cement the political union of the monarchy,; bnt also increase the opulence of his capital and promote the internal commerce of the country; while it brought the heads of the tribes, and indeed the whole people, under the cognizance and personal knowledge of the sovereign, it fixed the residence of the more eminent of the priesthood in the metropolis" (Milman). II. AN ENEBGETIO LEADER. 'rhe enterprise was initiated, inspired, accomplished, by David, whose anxious thought on the matter is alluded to in P11. c=ii. (written subsequently), 'Jehovah's resting-place.' "Remember, 0 Jehovah, to David A11 his he.re.ssing oares, Who sware to Jel.iove.h, Vowed to the Mighty One of Ja.cob: • I will not come into the tent of my house, I will not go up to the couch of my bed, I will not give sleep to mine eyes, Nor slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find a ple.oe for Jehovah, A dwelling for the Mighty One or Je.oob.' Lo I we heard of it at Ephre.tah, We found it in the fields of the wood. Let us go into his dwelling, Let us bow ourselves before bis footstool. Arise, 0 Jehovah, to thy rest, Thou and the ark of thy strength."
II. SAMUEL, (Ps. cu:xii. 1-S.) . 162 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [ OH, VI, 1-23,