In First Chronicles, chapter thirteen, verse fourteen, the blessed Obededom’s family because he undoubtedly received the ark with reverence and in obedience to God. What brought death to one man brought blessing to another. So far from being unlucky in the ark, its presence brings a manifest blessing, and David’s fears are present. But before he returns to his purpose, he commands proper inquiry. The priests must examine the holy book, and having learned from it where his former conduct was wrong, he assembles the people once again to carry the ark to its home.
When the ark had been in the house of Obed-edom for three months, and David heard that the Lord had blessed his place for the sake of the ark of God, he went thither and brought it up to the city of David with gladness. On this occasion, however, David adhered strictly to the instructions of the law, as the more elaborate account in the Chronicles clearly shows. He not only gathered together all Israel at Jerusalem to join in this solemn act but summoned the priests and Levites and commanded them to sanctify themselves and carry the ark “according to the right, as the Lord had commanded in the law of Moses, and to offer sacrifices during the procession, and sin songs, such as Psalms, with musical accompaniment. In the very condensed account before us, all mentioned is the carrying of the ark, the sacrificing during the march, and the festivities of the king and people. But even from these few facts, we see that David had discovered his former mistake and had given up the idea of removing the ark upon a carriage as a transgression of the law.
The difference between obedience and disobedience is knowing compared with unknowing, receiving good instead of misfortune.