Study In1 Samuel

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Let God Be GodChapter 5v1- 6v16

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IntroductionThe loss of the Ark of the Covenant

symbolised for Israel the fact that God had begun to withdraw his presence

and protection from them. The Philistines captured the ark and

took their prize home, housing it in the temple of their god Dagon. They

wanted Israel's God to pay homage to Dagon and to show that Dagon had harnessed the power of the God of

Israel. They had unwittingly started a contest in which Dagon didn’t stand a chance

cf. Isa. 41v7.

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The Omnipotence of GodGod laughs at the proud boasts of men

and at the thought that they could overcome him [cf Ps.2].

The French Philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau boasted that by the end of the

C19th, thanks to the influence of the enlightenment, Christianity would be buried and interest in the Bible non-

existent. What a remarkable irony to find that less that 100 years later the Bible

Society in France had as its headquarters in the house that once belonged to

Rousseau!

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Imagine the reaction of the Philistines when they discovered their idol Dagon prostrate before the ark. They could not bring themselves to conclude

that Dagon was bowing down before Israel’s God. Did they explain the incident away as an “an accident, an earthquake, just one of those things!" When Dagon was found prostrate on a second occasion [needing a gallon of Evostick to put it back together] v4, they still could not bear to think that the God of Israel was responsible!

Some people constantly re-assemble their flawed religious thinking only to be confronted with greater and greater evidence of its futility.

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The Omnipotence of God

Because we live in a moral universe there is often a clear connection between

catastrophe and moral and spiritual wrongdoing. The sinful action of men produces a reaction from a holy God.

The Philistines refused to recognise God's laws of "cause and effect" and were

unprepared to draw the obvious conclusions about the temple incident.

Therefore God widened his area of interference in their lives and introduced

what may have been an outbreak of bubonic plague in the city v6.

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The Holiness of God

The initial response of the Philistines was merely to change the geographical

location of the ark. They refused to believe that the God they had defeated

in battle could be responsible. They were reluctant to give up their trophy

and certainly did not want to admit that Dagon was impotent.

Evil may have victories but they are all short lived. When God chastens his own

people he is also concerned to say something to the surrounding nations

cf. Ezek. 36v23

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The Folly Of Man

The Philistines, soon weary of playing pass the parcel decide to return the ark

to Israel with appropriate gifts - an attempt to atone for their guilt. It has

been said that, 'mercy alone is the ground of God's pardon but mercy

requires restitution.' Restitution is an aspect of sin and

forgiveness that believers today tend to ignore cf. Lk. 19v8. Revival among the people of God is often expressed in a

readiness to make restitution.

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The Wisdom Of Man

Note the Philistines place the ark on ‘a new cart’ 6v7 - not a shoddy second hand affair! The ungodly can often have a greater sense of guilt than God's backslidden people and

are often more extravagant in their repentance and attempts at restitution!

Why did the Philistines behave as they did? They learned the lessons of history! They

didn't want to experience the same fate as the Egyptians [v6]. They recognised, that

resisting God would not prevent him from achieving his purpose but only make their

own lives more unbearable.

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The Wisdom Of Man

A Test DevisedBut the Philistines are still not absolutely sure that it was God's hand that had been against

them and so they devise a test v9. It would be a remarkable thing if two cows that had calved

were prepared to leave their young. Even more remarkable is the fact that, despite having no

experience of the yoke, they pull the cart in the same direction. And even more remarkable was to choose the more demanding route towards the highlands of Beth Shemesh and Israelite

territory. Note that exposure to the raw power of God did

not result in the Philistine's conversion! How many people have said, ‘If only I’d first hand evidence of God’s power then I’d believe’.

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Exposure to JudgementThe return of the ark caused great rejoicing in

Beth Shemesh. The people prepared sacrifice and showed a sufficient understanding of the God’s

Law to call the Levites in to handle the ark [Num. 4v5]. However, festivity is turned to tragedy when a group of men looked inside the ark - something forbidden by the law [Num.4v15-20]. Were they

motivated by curiosity, familiarity, or irreverence? God's judgement upon his own people is more

instant and severe than that experienced by the Philistines. There is a principle of judgement that argues, the more light we have the more culpable

we are if we refuse to act upon it.

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God's awesome judgement on the men of Beth Shemesh had the effect of

producing a holy fear in the whole community 6v20 cf. Acts 5v11.

Like the Philistines the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh thought God was too hot to

handle and so began their own game of pass the parcel. Some people prefer the

comfort of sin to the comfort of holiness! Rather than distance themselves from

their sin they choose to distance themselves from that which symbolised

God’s presence in their midst.

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Exposure to Judgement