1 Samuel 6
Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 6
The Phillistines thought that they had obtained a great prize of war when they captured the Ark of covenant, thinking they had captured the God of Israel. However they discovered to their dismay that they had not God in their hands but rather they were under the heavy hand of God, bringing a curse upon themselves as long as they had the Ark in captivity.
Doing some research on chapter 6 did open my eyes to many interesting points and important lessons.
The milk cows carried out the will of God
The Phillistines thought that they were punished by God, but they were not 100% convinced that the calamities that befell them are from the Lord.
Even in their act of sending the ark away, they made a test by using two milk cows which have never been yoked. By nature, the milk cows that have never been yoked would have resisted their yokes. Their instinct will also have not drawn them towards the land of Israel but back home to their own calves.
It is interesting to read that the cows were lowing as they went, meaning that they were not especially happy. The original hebrew word for lowing indicates an intense aversion. However, the cows still carried out the will of God and headed straight for Bethshemesh, and they did not turn aside to the right or left.
Have we resisted taking on our yoke for a long time? Do we incline to fulfil our desires instead of carrying out the will of God?
Thinking about the yoke reminds me of a sermon I heard called “You can live without stress”. It was the best explanation I have heard about what Jesus meant when He told those who are heavy laden to take His yoke, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Jesus is not telling us that He will take away our problems. Rather, Jesus compares Himself with an ox and tells us that he will be bound with us with the yoke (a yoke binds two oxen) and our burden will no longer be ours alone but becomes Jesus’ burden. Although the life of a Christian is not a bed of roses, we will never be crushed by the burdens we have because Jesus has taken it upon Himself too. Can we see the company of Jesus through our troubles? This is something I need to remind myself too…
God’s holiness vs man
The Israelites at Bethshemesh were careful to let the Levites handle the ark of covenant. Beth Shemesh was a priestly city (Joshua 21:16). But they were not careful enough, for they profaned God’s holiness when they looked into the ark of the Lord.
After God struck them, they sought to send the Ark to Kirjath Jearim, saying
“Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?”
They learnt the holiness of God in the hard way. Have we also learnt God’s holiness in the hard way before? If we had, do we repent or lament that the standards of God are too high? I read that in a strict sense, they had actually already gone against the command of God when they offered sacrifice to God upon receiving the ark. Firstly they offered female animals to the Lord, which was forbidden (Lev 1:3; 22:19). Secondly they made a burnt offering away from the tabernacle, which is against the command in Deut 12:5-6 (though since the ark of covenant was there, it might be said that the holy place was there). But above these, the command not to look into the Ark of covenant was far more serious.
Is the holiness of God a problem to us? We know for a fact that when men encounter the holiness of God, they are not necessarily attracted to it. Do we also want to distance ourselves from God’s holiness in order to escape His wrath? Or should we ask instead how we can be made right to face the holy God? Actually none of us are worthy to stand before the most holy God. Holiness is not earned by our own efforts; it is received. God invites us to share in His holiness after He has sanctified us. We can only do our part to resist sin as much as possible as not to let God down.
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Pet 1:13-16
One Comment
PS
Why did the Philistines make golden tumors and golden as their trespass offering to God?
1 Sam 6:5 “Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, your gods and from your land.
The Philistines offered the golden images of tumors and rats bec these were the source of their pain/sufferings. Don’t really understand their rational that by offering these objects, they could appease God.
It seemed more rational to embrace this superior God as their God than to send Him away, wasn’t it? But could they?
In Singapore, we have the freedom to accept Lord Jesus as our Saviour.
Lord Jesus came in the flesh to grant salvation to those outside the commonwealth of Israel (Eph 2:13 and 16)
When we dilly-dally to preach His good tiding of “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15), are we not taking His grace for granted?
(1 Sam 6: 6 “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?…”
Frankly was a bit surprised to read that the priests and diviners of the Philistines knew about the “Egyptians and Pharaoh”. Wonder how many Israelites could recall the great work of God the LORD in Egypt.)