August 27, 2021
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Reading along with us in 1 Samuel? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 6 (NIV)
The Ark Returned to Israel
1 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, 2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”
3 They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”..........Continue Reading
The Philistines are still putting wealth before obedience and relationship to God. They don’t understand God’s ways so they figure gold will help put them back in good standings with the God that has punished them so severely.
In contrast the first thing the Israelites do is sacrifice the cows and be sure their handling of the Ark is proper calling the Levites to handle it….however not all of them were so obedient and lost their lives for their need to peek!!
1 Samuel 6
1 Samuel 7
1 Samuel 7
When you are not connected to the God of the heavens, than you are left with trying to figure things out on your own. And one is particularly lacking when you are trying to figure out what that God wants because you clearly see that you have made Him mad. So the Philistines make some logical connections….if He has sent tumors and rats to plague us, maybe it means that He wants representations of them….and the more valuable the better. Pretty silly when you see the Israelites response to receiving the Ark…animal sacrifice is the right protocol. So the Ark is returned to Israel and there is much rejoicing. And the judgement that comes on the men that look inside the Ark is fitting and it is surprising that the Jews are surprised by it. God does not allow the holy to be treated as common. That is a principle reenforced throughout the Old Testament. So they and us don’t need to question “who can stand in His presence?” It is the ones who follow the right protocol and respect the things of God with the appropriate honor. SO grateful that faith in Jesus makes us worthy in the age we are in!!!
I was thinking of how the Israelites receive the ark with gladness and they sacrifice the cows…but then they peak into the ark. Then I was thinking of our treatment of our relationship with Christ. Do we take advantage of His goodness, mercy and forgiveness? We offer our worship, but then still entertain sin…or worse, actively participate. Even though the world seems kind of frightening right now, I am thankful for the intensity it has given me to desire to share the gospel, seek and share His truth, look for and long for His appearing.