YOUTH STS LESSON 198 DIVINE JUDGMENT FOR DESECRATION OF THE ARK
MEMORY VERSE:“But “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).
TEXT:1 Samuel 5:1–12; 6:1–21
The battle between Israel and the Philistines led to the death of over thirty thousand Israelites including Hope I and Phinehas, Eli’s sons (1 Samuel 4:2,10,18–20). Despite Israel’s defeat, the capture of the ark and the death of the priests, God was still concerned about His honour and glory.
The Philistines took the ark to the house of Dagon (idol). The Philistines exalted Dagon to the same level with the almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Through this act, they committed sacrilege and desecrated the Ark of God. This means disrespect, dishonour and disregard for God.
But God who would not share His glory with anyone defended Himself. First, Dagon fell before the ark of the Lord. The next day, the priests of Dagon set it up again and before dawn, it was broken into pieces. Apart from these, the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod. They were destroyed and plagued with emerods.
Question 1: What was the divine punishment of the Philistines?
The punishment was on both small and great. God punishes young people who live in sin. Examples include Er (Genesis 38:7), Onan (Genesis 38:8–10), Absalom (2 Samuel 18:9), Reuben (Genesis 49:3,4), Simeon and Levi (Genesis 49:5–7), Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 4:11), etc.
The only way to escape divine judgment now and in eternity is to turn to God in repentance and faith in Christ.
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation” but “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (Hebrews 2:3; 2 Corinthians 6:2).
The Philistines were idol worshipers. Therefore, they consulted their diviners for steps to follow in returning the ark to Israel. What they did was a guess work as they were not sure. It is only God’s counsel that is sure. God in His mercy guided the ark back to Israel.
DISRESPECT TO THE ARK OF GOD
(1 Samuel 5:1–5; Exodus 20:1–7; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 10:1–7,14; 1 John 5:21)
“When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon” (1 Samuel 5:2).
Without the fear of God, the Philistines took the symbol of His presence to Ashdod, the house of their god. They set the ark by Dagon. In the morning, Dagon fell before the ark of the Lord. This means the ark had the presence and power of God to defend itself.
On the second day, the priests of Dagon repositioned it. Again, it fell and its head and palms were cut off. It is important to note that by placing the ark of the Lord side by side with Dagon, they committed sacrilege. They dishonoured God.
Youths who do not have the fear of God misbehave in the church. They show lack of reverence for holy things. We should learn from Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, who misused holy things and suffered eternally.
As Christian youths, we should reject the tendency to worship idols of any form. God’s command is clear:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
Question 2: In what ways do some youths worship idols today?
There are various forms of idols and mode of idolatrous worship today. These can be in the form of wearing of the crucifix, praying through Mary, the mother of Jesus, hanging the picture of any saint (alive or dead) for worship, etc.
Whatever idol you have, God hates it. Repent today and flee from it.
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14).
Question 3: In what ways do youth disrespect God’s presence today?
“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear? Saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?” (Malachi 1:6).
Many youths today disrespect God by playing games, watching films, etc. on their phones while the service is on, others engage in immoral activities and disrespect leadership instructions. These ungodly acts is offensive to the Spirit of God.
In like manner, Christian youths are the temple of God.
“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Therefore, we must not put on dresses, or hairstyle that will not bring glory God.
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
DESTRUCTION THROUGH DEADLY DISEASE(1 Samuel 5:6–9,11,12; Hebrews 9:27; 10:31; 12:29; Revelation 20:11–15; Isaiah 1:18–20)
“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’ (verse 6).
The hand of the Lord can be upon someone for good or evil depending on the individual’s standing with Him. For the Philistines, it was for deadly destruction because of their disrespect and dishonour for Him.
They were smitten with a disease called “emerods”. Everywhere the ark of the Lord went – Ashdod, Gath or Ekron, there was a great plague upon them.
“And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts” (1 Samuel 5:9).
There is no sin that will go unpunished before the Lord. Some youths think that since judgment is delayed, they will continue in their evil ways.
“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).
Remember that God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
“And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven” (1 Samuel 5:12).
The cry of the people went up to heaven. This will be similar to the time of the final judgment when the cry of sinners will go up to heaven. The warning of God comes to youths today. Repent and return to God. This is the only way to escape His judgment.
Within months, the ark of the Lord brought unutterable plagues and destruction on the Philistines. Both their gods and people received a share of it. Therefore, the elders of the Philistines decided to send the ark back to Israel.
Question 4: What is the solution to the problem created by Sin?
The only divine solution to the problem of sin is to return to God in repentance and faith in Christ.
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will hav mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6,7).
Obey the Lord today, and you will be at peace with your Creator now and in eternity.
DIVINE WAY FOR RESTORATION OF GOD’S ARK
(1 Samuel 6:1–21; 5:3–6,9 11–12; Judges 13:1; Hebrews 13:8; 2 Samuel 6:3; Romans 12:1,2)
“And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months” (1 Samuel 6:1).
From the moment the ark of God was captured, the Philistines were in one problem or the other; their god also was not spared (1 Samuel 6:5). The plague affected their health, their god, the source of their strength and their economy.
They thought that with the passage of time, the plagues would cease and they could have perpetual possession of the ark. It is a common practice for sinners to assume that things will get better while they continue in their sins. They change approach to sin without turning away from it.
Punishment for sin cannot be wished away. It is only true repentance that can remove it. The plagues of Egypt would have been fewer if Pharaoh had not hardened his heart. Israel suffered for many years for staying long in sin. What God require from sinners is total repentance (Jeremiah 18:8).
The Philistines were idol worshipers. Therefore, they called for their diviners (wise men).
“And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the Lord? Tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place” (1 Samuel 6:2).
They were counselled to give a trespass offering which was an indication of acknowledgment of their sin. They were to use objects of their plagues as materials for the offering. These were five golden emerods and five golden mice each representing the number of their lords.
Question 5: Who is our trespass offering today?
Youths should remember that the Philistines were idol- worshippers. Therefore, their objects of worship were contrary to what God prescribed for the Israelites (Leviticus 5:6).
Likewise, it should be noted that Jesus Christ has been made our sin offering. Sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Sinners must repent and accept “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Jesus as Lord and Saviour before they can be saved.
The diviners warned them against hardening their hearts like Pharaoh.
“Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?” (1 Samuel 6:6).
This generation of the Philistines were not born when Pharaoh and the Egyptians were plagued but they knew that God could still repeat the same thing if they hardened their hearts. God of yesterday is the same today and forever. He never diminishes in power.
What He did in time past, He can still do today. Therefore, messages preached by men of God in the past are as valid as the present time; testimonies of power as of old should stir up our faith; failure to repent will bring God’s wrath; and if we repent, we shall receive His mercy.
The wise men then prescribed a procedure which included provision of a new cart to convey the ark to Israel. This were a mere guess work. Our God is a God of certainty. He is Omniscient and knows everything. All we need do is to rely absolutely on Him.
The men did as the priests directed. They made a new cart, tied two kine to it that had never borne a yoke, and shut up the calves at home. They laid the ark upon the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the golden images representing the sickness.
Then they turned the kine loose to go their own way without any guidance or any hand to drive or to lead them. The kine took the straight way to the land of Israel, and went along the highway, drawing the cart behind them.
They did not turn to the right hand or to the left. They did not seek to find their own homes or calves. The lords of the Philistines went after them until they came to the borders of the land of Israel. They were glad to see the departure of the ark from their territory.
The kine went on their own for over eight miles without human guide and stopped at Bethshemesh. It was supernatural.
Question 6: What assurance can Christian youths get from the way the kine were guided to Israel?
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not” (Isaiah 58:11).
The cows did not miss their way or turn back to the land of the Philistines. We can confidently say that as long as we are being guided by the Lord, we cannot miss God’s purpose and plan for our lives.
God that guided ordinary kine to their destination will safely guide us to our heavenly home.
“And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley:…” (1 Samuel 6:13).
Though Israel was passing through hard times because they were under the control of the Philistines at this time, they were not idle.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Youths should be profitably engaged during holiday or when waiting for admission. While at school, they should be studious.
“…And they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it” (1 Samuel 6:13).
Seeing the ark made them rejoice because it was a sign of restoration to them (Psalm 126:1–3).
The cart stopped at Joshua’s field in Judah on a stone. This was one of the cities assigned to the sons of Aaron. There, the Levites and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offering to the Lord.
The joy of the people of Bethshemesh was shortlived.
“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” (1 Samuel 6:19).
Question 7: From verse 19 of our text, what can we learn from God’s dealing with people?
The sin of the people of Bethshemesh is that they looked into the ark of God contrary to His original instructions and this led to the death of 50,070 people.
God is impartial in His dealing with people. Wherever sin is found, He deals with it, whether in the church or secular world. Therefore, no one should use religion as a cover for sin.
Also, we are expected to stop at the revealed knowledge of God rather than seeking hidden knowledge from strange sources. Such actions lead to backsliding and serious problems.
Instead of finding out the reason for the affliction, they were angry and sought ways to get the ark out of their territory. They called on the inhabitant of Kirjathjearim to come and fetch the ark.
