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Long before David's time, the ark of the Lord had been almost forgotten by the children of Israel. The first thing, therefore, for David to do was to find the ark; for it was a central portion of the Divinely-ordained ceremonial. But I am not going to talk so much about David finding the ark as to think of some who are in the condition in which I once was, when I desired to find God. I longed to meet with Him in the person of Christ, in His own appointed way, but I could not find Christ. My heart was dark, my eyes were holden, and I looked everywhere but in the right place.

I. My first remark will be that, LIKE DAVID, WE WISH TO FIND THE ARK, THAT ARK BEING CHRIST.

1. Now, concerning that ark, the first point to be noted is that it was covered with a golden mercy-seat, which was the place of forgiveness when it was sprinkled with the sacrificial blood. Those who came to it, through the high priest, knew that God had accepted them, and forgiven their sin. You and I know that we can never meet with God except at the mercy-seat, which is Christ Jesus the Lord. Christ made an atonement, a propitiation, for our sin; He "offered Himself without spot to God." By the way of His pierced body, that rent veil, is the only means of access for a sinner to a holy God.

2. The ark was a throne of grace. God sat there, as it were, upon a throne of mercy; and to us, to-day, the Lord Jesus Christ is the throne of grace. God in Christ Jesus is our reigning God, stretching out the silver sceptre of His mercy, and accepting all who come unto Him.

3. The ark was the place of God's manifestation. As much as could be seen of God's glory was seen between the cherubim; and if thou wouldst see the glory of God, thou must look into the face of Jesus Christ.

4. There were within the ark three notable things, — first, the tables of stone, which God had ordered to be placed there for preservation; there was, next, the golden pot with manna, and then there was also Aaron's rod that budded. Now, if you come to Christ, you will find in Him all that these things represented, and all that you want.

(1)  There is preserved the complete, vindicated, and honoured law.

(2)  Spiritual food.

(3)  The rod of Christ to rule us.

II. Knowing what we do about Christ the ark, WE DESIRE TO FIND HIM.

1. David thirsted to find this ark immediately, and so much in earnest was he that he said, "Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house," etc. Oh, when it comes to this pass, — that you must have Christ, then you shall have Christ!

2. Next, David sought the ark most reverently, for he recognized it as being a token of the presence of "the mighty God of Jacob"; and you and I must seek Christ reverently.

3. But while David thus sought very reverently, yet observe that it was with intense desire that he might receive this ark when once he found it. And, oh! if you want to find Christ, let it be with this desire, "Oh, that He may come and live in my soul, and be my own personal Christ! I do not want merely to hear about Him, to be taught about Him; I want to have Him, and, if He is to be had, I will have Him. If there is grace beneath the sky for a poor sinner, then I, the chief of sinners, will not rest until I find rest in Him."

III. Knowing what this ark is, and then desiring to find it, WE HAVE HEARD WHERE IT IS: "Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah." "We heard of it." And is it not a blessed thing that we have heard about where Christ is? Some here present have long heard of Christ, and you are always hearing about Him; is it not time that you should get further than merely knowing and hearing, and should intensely seek until you find him?

IV. The next words are, "WE FOUND IT." You remember the learned Grecian who, when he had made a discovery while in the bath, leaped out of it, and ran down the streets crying, "Eureka! Eureka! I have found it! I have found it!" Oh, those are the best words in my text, "We found it."

1. David said that he found it "in the fields of the wood"; that is, where he did not expect to find it. Have not many of us found Christ where we never thought we should find Him?

2. In the case of David finding the ark, it was not only where he could not have expected it, but it was in a place that was despised, — a rustic place, — "in the fields of the wood." Perhaps the Lord may lead you to some very plain minister, without any polish, or talent, or ability. I knew one who found the Saviour down a saw-pit, and another who found Him in a hay-loft.

3. "We found it in the fields of the wood" may perhaps mean that you will find Christ where you lose yourselves.

V. "WE WILL GO": "We will go into His tabernacles."

1. Now that we have found where Christ is, and we can go to Him, we will have Him. We will go to God in Christ: "we will go into His tabernacles." It is a blessed thing to see a soul on the go towards God when Christ becomes the Way.

2. "We will go into His tabernacles," and we will dwell there. We will dwell with God; we will get back to the Father's house where there is "bread enough and to spare," and there will we stop. We will go to learn of God, we will be the disciples of Christ. We will go, and we will go at once.

VI. And then the last word is, "WE WILL WORSHIP": "We will worship at His footstool."

1. In lowly reverence, we will bow ourselves down in the very dust, for we are but dust and ashes even when we are saved.

2. "We will worship at His footstool"; that is, with deepest solemnity, for even His ark, His temple, is but the footstool of the great King.

3. But let us worship there with great joy. His "saints shall shout aloud for joy"; and, as they bow at his footstool, it shall not be as slaves, but as His chosen and accepted ones.

4. Let us also bow there very gratefully, blessing God that He has brought us to His feet.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

WEB: Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar: