Good morning,
Where do we put our trust?
The Philistines return the ark of the covenant to Israel. The men of Bethshemesh offered a burnt offering to the Lord. The men of Bethshemesh chose to open the ark and look inside. God killed 50,070. The men of Bethshemesh requested the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim to fetch the ark to themselves. It resides there 20 years.
The ark returns to Bethshemesh
“And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.” (1 Samuel 6:13)
Burnt offering offered
“And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the Lord.15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord.” (1 Samuel 6:14-15)
Even though Levites were present, the burnt offerings were not done as prescribed by Jewish law.
Jews living at this time were living in idolatry and not for the Lord. It would be 20 more years before they would repent and begin to serve God.
The men of Bethshemesh look into the ark of the Lord with disastrous consequences
“And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us?” (1 Samuel 6:19-20)
The Levites and men of Bethshemesh knew better to open the ark to look inside. It was forbidden. “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Numbers 4:15)
The ark is relocated to Kirjathjearim
“And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us?21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the Lord; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.”
Again the ark, used improperly, was a cause for death and destruction. Israel was not worshipping God. The Levites were not teaching the people the law.
The ark resides in Kirjathjearim 20 years
“And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.”
Sin has its consequences. Failure to read the law, obey it, to serve God, caused a separation between God and Israel.
Tomorrow we will see how Godly repentance changes the consequences.
Are we walking with God or apart from Him? During our down time with COVID-19, this would be a great time to get into God’s word and get right with Him.
Don’t be like Israel!
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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