MAY 4

The Ark of God rested in the House of Obed-Edom for three
months. During that time, David prepared a place for the Ark of God
and pitched a tent. David had learned a very pointed lesson
regarding the Ark of God. He had learned that only the Levites were
allowed of God to carry the Ark. This time they moved the Ark
according to God’s specific instructions. The former failure had
taught them to do things “according to the Word of God.” The Levites
sanctified themselves and carried the Ark of God upon their
shoulders with the staves as God had commanded.

This was a great time of praise and singing. A tremendous
procession followed. And so the Ark was brought to Jerusalem and
placed in the midst of the tent. Remember, the Ark was an Old
Testament symbol of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ
is in the midst there is always divine blessing. This time of great
rejoicing is only symbolic of the greater time of rejoicing when the
King sits down upon the throne of David in Jerusalem and rules and
reigns with His people for 1,000 years. Chapter 16 records a
thanksgiving
Psalm delivered by David. It is a
Psalm that looks forward to the kingdom of heaven on earth, when all
the nations acknowledge Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of
lords. That day is yet future, but the coming of the Lord is the
blessed hope of the church.

After David had placed the Ark in the tent in Jerusalem, he
became deeply concerned about the building of a permanent house for
the Lord. Although David was not allowed to build that house, this
was the beginning of the dream realized in the construction of
Solomon’s majestic Temple. The Davidic covenant is also recorded in
chapter 17.