Tuesday 12th March 2019 - Daily Reading:
1 Samuel 6 - Great Responsibility by Becky White
Two groups of people have dealings with the Ark of God in this chapter: first, the Philistines, a pagan nation, and then the Israelites, the chosen people of God.
Both have reason to treat the Ark with great respect. The Philistines have experienced the displeasure of God and are taking great pains, according to their own customs, to put right their error in taking the Ark and to somehow make amends with a guilt offering. The Philistine diviners even referred to the Egyptians and Pharaoh as an example of what to avoid!
The Philistines have stolen the Ark, moved it around their territory, and then sent it back to Israel on a cart. It is unlikely that they have followed the Lord’s strict rules about how the Ark is to be carried, moved and stored. Yet, it is the Israelites whom God chooses to punish for handling the Ark with disrespect.
Why is this? Is it because the Israelites should have known better? Despite their rejoicing at the return of the Ark, their burnt offerings and their sacrifices, God still expected the Israelites to obey his strict instructions. They were the custodians of the Ark, and their responsibility was a serious one.
Through the way he deals with both the Philistines and the Israelites, the Lord makes sure that they learn what he wants them to understand. The Philistines gain an appreciation for the sovereignty of God, and the Israelites are reminded of the importance of their covenant relationship with God. The Lord deals with each of us as we need, and as he wills. This is something it is good to remember as we grow in community with each other.