The Ark Returned to Israel

I Samuel 6:1–21
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The Philistines had a big problem on their hands with the ark of the covenant in their possession (v. 1). Having the ark was like having a hot potato. They called on the priests and the fortunetellers for their advice as to what they should do with it. The advice they received was that they should send the ark out with a trespass offering (vv. 2-4). There was a belief in many ancient religions that money could be paid to avoid divine punishment. The gift they decided to send consisted of images of tumors and rats and not something God had prescribed for a trespass offering (vv. 5-6) (Lev. 5:14-6:7).

The Philistine priests and diviners devised a test to see if God was really the one who was causing all the trouble (vv. 7-12). Two milk cows were hitched to a cart and were sent toward Israel’s border, carrying the ark of the covenant. The cows went straight to Bethshemesh. The cows which were hitched to the cart were obviously going against their natural instinct by leaving the calves at home. This was convincing proof to the Philistines that it was God who had caused their troubles.

The Israelites were so overjoyed to see the ark after seven months that they offered a sacrifice of the cows to the Lord (vv. 13-19). Unfortunately the people not only rejoiced at the return of the ark (v. 13) and offered sacrifices in worship (vv. 14-18) but they desecrated it by opening it and looking inside (v. 19). The ark was not just a box but to impress the people with the holiness of God and looking into it for mere curiosity was not permitted. Because of this many were struck dead. When the Philistines returned the ark to Israel, they put the ark on a cart and nothing happened to them because they did not know any better. However God judged the Israelites for the way they handled it because they did know better. From here the ark was taken to Kirjath-Jearim, which was located 10 miles west of Jerusalem on the road to Lydia. Eleazar was given the task of caring for it (vv. 20-21).

Application

The Philistines acknowledged the existence of God but only as one of many deities. Many people today want to worship God in this same way. I must never see God as just one ingredient in a successful life, when He is the source of life itself.