Both Rejoycing and Sorrrow

 1 Samuel 6:7-21

Have you wondered what the odds makers in Vegas would have put on this plan of taking two milk cows that had never had a yoke, and placing the yoke on them, and taking their calves’ home away from them?  No one would believe that could work, two milk cows that were not trained, would not work together it would be a disaster.

The world is always going to have an impossible plan that has almost 100% odds against it working.  But they were not going to take any chances if the milk cows did not go directly to Israel’s village.  They also knew that a dairy cow would not leave their calves behind, if all of this happened, then it was the God of Israel pulling strings.  Once all of this came together, it was clear to the leaders and priests of the Philistines that the God of Israel was God, and greater than Dagon the one they trusted.  They did not turn and put trust in God, no they wanted him out of town so things could be like they always were.

It sounds like they were doing what many of us in today's church does.  They were amazed at what God had done, but they already had a lot invested in a religious system with the little god Dagon.

The Philistine rulers followed the cart to the territory of Beth-shemesh, and we can assume this was the border between the two nations.  It left no doubt in the minds of these Philistine rulers that only God would have done this, so they went home. 

When God shows up His people rejoice, and that is what is taking place in Beth-shemesh.  It was harvest time, and they saw the cows pulling the cart, but that is not what brings the excitement, the ark of God is back!  So they remove the ark to a huge rock and the box with the gold tumors, one for each city of the Philistines and the same number of gold mice.  

Next, the people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.  It is the Levites that removed the ark of the Lord, along with the box containing the gold objects.  It also is of interest that Beth-shemesh is one of the cities appointed for the Levites, and though the offering was not a male without a blemish, it does not seem to have been a sin.

The ark of God was very holy, and God had given explicit instructions about moving it.  Look at Numbers 4:5-6, When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it. Then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin and spread on top of it a cloth of blue, and shall put in its poles.  

But it seems 70 men did not follow God’s instructions, and they looked upon the ark, and God killed them.  Now the people mourned for the men who God had killed and asked; who is able to stand before the LORD, this Holy God?  And they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark, of the LORD.  Come down and take it up to you.”

What amazing things happen when God’s people come in the presence of a Holy God, first rejoicing, then sorrow, and why, because they wanted to have it their way, and did not follow God’s instructions.  So we see joy turn to sadness and fear.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice