ADULT STS LESSON 198_DIVINE JUDGMENT FOR DESECRATION OF THE ARK
MEMORY VERSE
“And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you”(1 Samuel 6:3).
TEXT: 1 Samuel 5:1–12; 6:1–21
On capturing the ark, the Philistines immediately “brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod”, one of their five strong cities, and placed it beside their god, Dagon. It was customary in all nations then to dedicate the spoils of war to their gods, so they thought it was proper to bring the ark into Dagon’s shrine. Recall that David deposited the sword of Goliath in the house of God (1 Samuel 21:8,9). When Saul was killed in Mount Gilboa, the Philistines put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth (1 Samuel 31:9,10).
Obviously, they placed the ark beside Dagon with a feeling of triumph and as a mark of subjection, submission to it and a humiliation to the God of Israel. But God defended His name and glory and proved that He could not be compared with any other god.
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8).
To their shock, “…when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD…” Determined not to accept this reality or to prove that it was a coincidence, “they took Dagon, and set him in his place again” (1 Samuel 5:3).
To their utter humiliation, “…when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him” (1 Samuel 5:4).
It is utter abomination to equate the God of heaven with idols of this world. There is only one God and beside Him, there is no other. He sometimes allows the wicked to triumph for a while so that He will prove His power and glory (Job 20:5). This lesson focuses on the aftermath of the ark seized by the Philistines and the judgment it brought upon their idol and inhabitants of the cities where it was taken.
RETRIBUTION ON ASHDOD AND GATH
(1 Samuel 5:6–10; Jeremiah 50:2; Ezekiel 6:4,6; Micah 1:7; Exodus 9:3; Deuteronomy 28:27; 1 Samuel 6:5; Psalm 78:66; Acts 13:11)
The sojourn of the ark in the house of Dagon taught the Philistines that their victory over Israel was not due to the supremacy of their god over Jehovah, but God’s permission to teach Israel some lessons.
“But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof” (1 Samuel 5:6).
Apart from the humiliation of Dagon, the Lord went ahead to punish the Philistines for their insolence. Rather than repent from their sins, they chose to move the ark from Ashdod to Gath and then to Ekron. The downfall of Dagon did not teach them enough lessons.
It is not good to wait until there is a justly deserved penalty for sin before one repents. The best time to amend one’s ways is now (2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 3:15; 4:7). Instead of repenting, many sinners choose to change church or relocate to another city.
The hand of the Lord was described as being “heavy upon them” and “against the city”. The destruction His hand sent among them progressed from great to a deadly one. Many of them died while the rest of the people were struck with emerods in their secret parts. ‘Emerod’, severally translated ‘hemorrhoids’, ‘piles’, ‘boils’ or ‘tumours’, refers to an infectious type of plague in the groin that may be inflamed and very painful. The pains were unbearable and widespread throughout their coasts.
The Lord has promised that He would wound the head of His adversaries and those who do not recognise His lordship. Even if they seem to prosper in wickedness, His judgment will eventually catch up with them (Psalm 68:21). Indeed, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
Thus, God would have honour, even out of the revolt of the people. The fall of Dagon before the ark is a demonstration that Satan will certainly fall before the kingdom of Christ and that truth will surely triumph over error.
“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20).
RETURN AND RECEPTION OF THE ARK IN ISRAEL
(1 Samuel 5:11,12; 6:1–18; Job 34:31,32; Acts 3:19; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Titus 1:5)
As it was obvious to the Ashdodites that the presence of the ark was the cause of the plague, they relocated it successively to Gath and Ekron, two other chief cities of the Philistines. But the same plague broke out and raged fiercely, so that the lords of the cities could think of no other solution than to send it back to Israel as quickly as possible.
“So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there” (1 Samuel 5:11).
Finally, they realised that their so-called spoil of war had turned out to be their undoing. They must hastily return it to its place. Some people retain objects and loots that continue to be objects of reproach and spiritual leakages in their lives. As long as one keeps stolen goods, church money, someone else’s spouse (Genesis 20:7,17) and refuses to make restitution, there is danger.
Continued resistance to God’s will only causes increased misery. Following seven months of unbroken divine chastisement, the Philistines consulted with their priests and diviners and were advised to return the ark to its place. But they had to contend first with such questions as, “What shall we do to the ark of the LORD?” and how they should “send it to his place” (1 Samuel 6:1,2).
The Philistines were ignorant of God’s ways and attributes. As a result, they had doubts regarding the source of the calamity. They never knew that their victory over Israel was because the latter had sinned against God. Rather, they ascribed their victory to their prowess and the power of their god. They were confused as to how disease and death could follow a resounding victory over Israel.
They never knew that the ark they had taken had the divine presence. Theirs was a combination of spiritual ignorance and confusion leading to reluctance in releasing the ark of God. On two previous occasions, they had asked this same question (1 Samuel 5:8,11) and were told, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not…” Rather than heed the counsel at once, they chose to assemble a third council of priests/diviners on the same issue (1 Samuel 6:1).
Believers and sinners alike should understand that prompt obedience to God’s will always attracts His blessings. Had they taken the counsel, many of their people would not have died. After God’s continuous chastisement, they finally accepted to return the ark.
Sinners should be warned not to take God for granted by hardening their heart. Sudden judgment can take them to hell if they refuse to repent and accept Christ.
“And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering” (1 Samuel 6:3).
The priests and diviners acknowledged that the Philistines had trespassed by taking the ark hostage. Their prescribed offering for the trespass were five golden emerods, five golden mice, a new cart, driven by two milch kine “which no yoke has come upon”.
Yielding to idolatrous inclinations, they urged the Philistines to make images of emerods and mice, but they strongly enjoined them to “give glory unto the God of Israel” in open acknowledgment of His sovereignty over all the earth and other gods.
The counsellors made allusion to the deadly consequences of rebellion by the Egyptians when asked to release the children of Israel from captivity. The Philistines heeded the counsel of the priests and diviners.
“And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods… and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh” (verses 10–12).
They carried out the detailed instructions and set the ark on the carriage to be taken to Israel. The ark was received at Bethshemesh, a city of the Levites. When the lords of the Philistines “had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day”.
The people of Bethshemesh rejoiced that the ark, which symbolised the presence, power and glory of God among the children of Israel, had returned. Believers must rejoice at the restoration of revival and God’s presence.
The counsel of the priests and diviners worked in this instance because God wanted the ark returned. The diviners drew inspiration also from their knowledge of history of God’s judgment on the Egyptians and urged their people to submit. Knowledge of His past judgment on the unrepentant should make believers untiring in soul-winning.
Christians are forbidden to consult diviners. Note that their counsel was a clear departure from God’s command on the mode of conveyance of the ark, yet He had mercy on them; only His chosen and holy priests are to bear the ark (Numbers 4:15; Deuteronomy 31:9).
On the other hand, when King David attempted to carry the ark on a new cart, God smote Uzzah and he died (2 Samuel 6:3,6,7) because He expected them to have complied with His word (Deuteronomy 17:18–20). But David later realised this truth and warned that:
“None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order” (1 Chronicles 15:2,13).
Believers should endeavour to do all things decently and in order.
REPERCUSSION FOR RIDICULOUS CURIOSITY
(1 Samuel 6:19–21; Exodus 19:21; Numbers 4:15,20)
“And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter” (verse 19).
Though God overlooked the improvised use of a new cart by the Philistines in returning the ark to Israel, He would not condone similar ignorance from those to whom He had committed His word. Thus, the Scripture rightly warns:
“That servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes…” (Luke 12:47,48).
The men of Bethshemesh, with the priests, were expected to know the law of God concerning the handling of the ark. A Christian servant is expected to “Study to shew himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Besides, all believers should be careful not to overstep the boundary of grace or breach the demands of God during celebrations or festivities like the people of Bethshemesh. The Scripture enjoins us to be sober, watchful, prayerful and godly in readiness for the Lord’s return (Philippians 4:5).
The main content of the ark is God’s law or word. The Scripture is as immutable and unconquerable as God Himself. Paul the apostle affirms this truth to Timothy that “…the word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). At the time of the early Church, the word of God grew mightily and prevailed (Acts 19:20).
God’s presence and power in His word will continue to prevail as it did among the Philistines. We must not begin to pry into unnecessary spiritual matters for things that are not commanded in the Scripture due to curiosity.
The Bible says:
“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
Questions for Review
- What led to the capture of the ark by the Philistines?
- What can we deduce from the way God allowed the capture of the ark?
- When is the best time for a sinner to give his or her life to Christ?
- What do we learn from the way the Philistines waited until they were severely punished before returning the ark?
- Does God’s acceptance of the heathen priests’ counsel imply that believers should consult or listen to idol worshippers?
- What must we do to know God’s commandments and how to please Him?
- Mention some lessons from the chastisement on the men of Bethshemesh.
