1 Samuel Chapter 6 Chronological Bibe Study of David Post 8

This story continues with the Philistines in a quandary about what to do with the Jewish "Ark of the Covenant".   The ancients believed that their gods played a role in their victories or losses in battle.  The "Ark" was a spoil of war, but when they tried to degrade the God of Israel, by bringing it into their Temple of Dagon, the people would find the image of Dagon lying down on his face before the "Ark".   Not only did this happen, but the city and outlaying area around the city was infected with boils and mice.  The people demanded the "Ark" to be taken out of their city.  When this story was acted out in three of the five city-states that made up the Kingdom of the Philistines, they decided to get rid of the "Ark".  The Philistine leadership was not sure that the "Ark" caused the pestilence or was it coincidence?  But how to prove it??  This was the dilemma, they asked their wisemen for an answer.  They decided to look at how the God of Israel had shown His Power over the Egyptians, they believed they need to make an appeasement offering to the God of Israel, for taking the "Ark".  But what??  They decided to make gold images of the boils and mice to go with the "Ark".  The Philistines placed the "Ark" on a wagon and had two milk cows that had never been yoked to pull the "Ark".  These cows had given birth recently, they were separated from their calves.  This was done to make sure that the "Ark", if it wanted could go back to Israel or not; without any outside help.  A group of members of the Philistine leadership would follow the "Ark" and see where it goes.

The "Ark" made its way directly back to Israel.  It is very easy for us to read these stories, and not think what they have to do with us.  I taught these stories, without thinking of what they mean today.  We think we are so smart, with all the technology we have today.  But inside we are still the same people.  The Philistines knew that the "Ark" could not stay with them, but how to get rid of it??  Notice the "Ark" of God showed the Philistines, that the God of Israel was the only True God!  The Philistines acknowledged this by making the appeasement offering and sending it with the "Ark"; but yet they continued with their idol worship.  How many times has God made Himself real to you, and you still refuse to believe in Him??  This seems to be very strong in our human condition.  We will see the Israelites also will have trouble treating God with the respect He deserves.  This is the same struggle all of us have to deal with.  Can you just learn about God without trying to follow Him??  Can you really go back to how you were after you have met God??  Will you follow, or be like the Philistines??  It is up to you!!            

1 Samuel Chapter 4 and 5 Chronological BibleStudy of David Continued Post 7 Comment on Chapters 4 & 5

We have seen the Israelites battle the Philistines, and the Israelites lose the "Ark of the Covenant" and a very large defeat that sent the Israelites running back to their homes.  Traditionally, nations fight with each other for land, and power.  The Israelites lost a lot, that is true; but the Philistines lost in this battle also.  This is what makes this story of war between nations different than most.  It is this difference, I want to look into.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, Israel is governed by God as a Theocracy, this relationship between God and Israel is different from any other country's relationship with God.  God was disappointed with Israel, because they had not remembered what and how much God had done for them in the past.  Eli and his family had forgotten that their position of High Priest demanded certain responsibilities to God and man. They were negligent in both aspects.  They stole from God, and they took liberties with respect to the people of Israel.  They did not teach the people to respect, fear and honor God.  Fear of God is important, because He is the Only One, who has the power to save or damn people.  As your relationship with God grows, you realize that God is love, but even so we have to live within His Will.  This is very hard for us to do, because we will always tend to do what is against God's Will.  It is this precisely that keeps us focused on the fact, that without God, we all have a one way ticket to hell.  If Eli's family had a better relationship with God, they would not have let the Israelites take the "Ark" to the battlefield.  The Israelites were at fault also; if they had taught their children the statutes taught in the Torah, they would not have thought the "Ark" could be used as a secret weapon.  When ever the "Ark" was at the battlefront, it always led the Israelites into battle.  The Israelites had already engaged the Philistines in battle before they thought to bring the "Ark" to the battlefield.  If the Israelites believed that God rules their lives, they would have asked God for help first before going into battle.  They would also have known that the "Ark's presence" is not the same as having God's OK on the battle.  Wars can be used by God to exact His Judgment on the parties involved.  God's Will is always just, and could go against His Promised People.  We need to remember this also; it is just as true today as it was then.
The Philistines were also losers, this is harder to see because they were the victor's on the surface.  The ancients believed that their gods either won or lost the battle for them.  They reasoned, for us to win, our god has to be the stronger of the two.  We will learn n these chapters that is not always the case.  The Philistines brought the "Ark" to the temple of Dagon, the god of the Philistines, it went to Ashdod first, because it was the main City of the 5 City states that made up the nation of the Philistines.