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452
The Beginning of the End
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.
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.
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.
[358]
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:
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
A band of singers and players answered:
Who is this King of glory?
From another company came the response: