THEOSISPhilaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
David was filled with dread and exclaimed, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" Rather than bringing it into his dwelling, he chose to leave it in the house of Abeddar. This incident troubled David, despite the fact that he was not responsible for the high priest's failure to uphold the divine statutes. It seems he recognized, in this individual case, the broader principle conveyed by Moses, who, speaking on God's behalf, stated, “In them that draw nigh unto Me I will sanctify.” Those who come closer to God and to the sacred spaces that symbolize His presence are vessels through which His holiness is most profoundly revealed. This holiness is beneficial to those who are worthy and unassailable to the unworthy.
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Moses approached God at Sinai, fasting and in purity, receiving the tablets of the law, becoming so radiant that the people could not endure the brightness of his face. Similarly, when Hosea approached the holy tablets, he did not grasp the tablets themselves but was merely in proximity, and the encounter led to his demise. Therefore, if one believes, humbles themselves, and clears their conscience, the sacred space of God can condemn sin while enlightening the believer; the opposite is true for the sinner who encounters judgment.
David possessed enough self-awareness and humility to recognize his own sinfulness and, consequently, he feared the holy presence that condemned wrongdoers. How, then, should we respond? Can we assume we possess more courage than the righteous David? Should we not share in his reverence for the Lord and ask ourselves, "How will the ark of the Lord come to me?" How can I worthy receive and keep close to me the dwelling of God and its sanctuary? Is it not sufficient, when able, to approach the temple and stand in its vicinity like the publican, offering up a prayer of repentance? And when unable to be physically present, should I not from my hidden place communicate with God as David did: "When I come and appear before the face of God," while nurturing my love for the sanctity of the temple with tears of yearning, for “tears are bread to me”?