The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 166

place. The ascent of the ark into "the city of David" may be regarded as: 1. A termination of a state of things that bad long prevailed, in which the relation of tl,o people of Israel to their Divine King was interrupted, his service neglecteil, their power unpaired, Even the early military successes of Saul were followed by disaster, dis- sen~ion, and civil strife, which had been only recently healed. Once more there was rest (1 Ohron. xxiii. 25). 2. An inauguration of a new era: the more manifest and abiding presence of Jehovah among his people, the more general recognition of bis sovereignty, the organization of a worthier and more attractive form of worship, the more complete union of the tribes under the Lord's Anointed (Messiah), and the victorious expansion of bis kingdom. "It was the greatest day of David's life . . . . It was felt to be the turning-point in the history of the nation. It recalled the great epoch of the passage through the wilderness. David was on that day the founder 1 not of freedom only, not of religion only, but of a Church, a commonwealth" (Stan Jey). 3. A representation (a type, or at least an emblem) of the comiog of "Messiah the Prince" in his kingdom; either, more generally, in bis whole mediatorial course from his :first advent to his :final triumph, or, more specially, at his ascension "far above all the heavens, that he might :fill all things" (Eph. iv. 8-10). " Thou ha.et ascended up on high, Thou hast led captives captive," etc. (Pa. Ix viii. 18.) I. A GLORIOUS 0ONSUMMATION, " And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place," etc. "This is my rest for ever," etc. (Pa. cxxxii. 13, 14). To this occasion may be reforred Ps. xxiv., 'The King of glory entering his sanctuary.' "The earth is Jehovah's, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein. . . . Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place?" (Ps. xxiv. 1-6.) It is here declared that the proper preparation for co=union with God is moral purity, not merely external pomp (vers. 9, 11; Ps. xv.; Isa. xxxiii. 15, 16). The former part of this grand choral hymn was probably sung on the way to Zion; the latter on enterin"'0 the gates of the venerable fortress and city of Melchizedek. " Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates, And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, That the King of glory may come in. Who is, then, the King of glory f Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. " Lift up your heads, 0 ye g11tes . • • Who is, then, that King of glory f Jehovah of hosts ; He is the King of glory." (Ps. x.xiv. 7-10.) "Amidst the glorious wave of song and praise, the ark was placed in the tabernacle.• So Christ (in whom the Divine and human king a.re one) has entered the heavenly Zion, dwells with men, and prepares those who receive him, in faith and love, to dwell with him for ever (Heb. x. 12, 22). II. AN AC0EPTABLE SACRIFICE. "And David" (as head and representative of e. priestly nation, Exod. xix. 6) "offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah;" the former expressive of self-dedication, the latter of thanksgiving, pr[l,jse, and joyous fellowship with God and one another. At the close of the service of dedica- tion ho instituted a regular "service of song in the house of the Lord" (see Hengsten- berg, 'On the History of the Psalmodic Poetry'), due in part to the influence of Samuel and his prophet-associates (1 Sam. xix. 20), but having him for its-real author, and receiving its mightiest impulse from his sublime compositions. He was a prophet as  170 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [ OR, VI, 1-23.