1 Sam
6:19-21 (ESV) And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they
looked upon the ark of the Lord. He struck seventy men of them, and the people
mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great blow. 20 Then the
men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy
God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?" 21 So they sent messengers
to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have
returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you."
NOTE: Apparently, no
one knows how to handle the ark. The Philistines, to their credit, add a guilt
offering (for having taken the ark) that cost them some gold. On the other
hand, ten small gold images of tumors and rats was a cheap gift. Also, God hates
images and God is not appeased by man's works. The Israelites, who know better,
sacrifice thank offerings but then treat the ark as a curiosity, trying to peer
into it. Both groups feared the ark, but neither understood holiness. If they
had, they would have kept their distance and immediately called the priests to
move the ark. Normally, the ark was hid behind a thick curtain in a very dark
room in a dark tent. It was seen only once a year by the high priest, unless
the tabernacle needed to be moved. The curtains and coverings were a protection
for the people. God did not reside in the ark, but his name, and consequently,
his glory did (not in totality, only in representation). The people clearly
lack instruction, as all the people at the end of the period of Judges did.
Samuel will be God's instrument to change that. Eli and his sons are dead now.
Samuel's opportunity is just beginning. This story stands as a stark contrast
to their forefathers handling of the ark and the people who stand at the end of
the period of Judges.
We treat God
similarly today. We fear him, in a sense, but we truly don't understand his
holiness. And so we are curious but we really don't want to know him fully. We
really don't want to be holy like him. We just don't want him to interfere in
our lives, unless we are in trouble. Otherwise we live our lives with God at
the side and pretend that he is at the center. But he is not, and only when
disaster strikes do we realize our error and arrogance.
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