BIG IDEA:
GOD PROTECTS HIS HOLINESS BY CURSING THOSE WHO FAIL TO APPROACH HIM WITH THE PROPER FEAR AND CAREFULNESS
REVIEW:
Remember what the ark of God symbolizes:
– His Presence
– His Power
– His Favor – but only when approached with fear and carefulness
I. (5:1-12) THE PHILISTINES LEARN NOT TO MESS WITH THE ARK OF THE HOLY GOD
A. (5:1-7) God’s Curse on Ashdod and the House of Dagon
1. (:1-2) The Philistines tried to put the Ark on Display as a Trophy of Victory –
Initial celebration of their possession of this important trophy
2. (:3-5) Idols Cannot Stand Before a Holy God
a. The destruction of Dagon
b. The humiliation of the priesthood of Dagon
3. (:6-7) The Philistines Paid a Heavy Price for Profaning the Sacred
B. (:5:8-9) God’s Curse on Gath
1. (:8) Decision to Try a Different Approach = switching cities
Key decision makers in the land wrestling with the tough question:
“What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”
Conclusion: bad karma in Ashdod; we should have better luck in Gath
2. (:9) Same Curse from God
Philistines were not very bright … but they were starting to wake up and get the message. No waiting for council decision this time; just send it away and let the problem rest on the next city. No attempt at a solution
C. (5:10-12) God’s Curse on Ekron
1. Fear of God much more immediate –
Did not even want to receive the ark; wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible
2. Same Curse from God
3. Attempt at a Solution – Return the ark to Israel
II. (6:1-12) THE PHILISTINES TAKE CARE TO RETURN THE ARK TO ISRAEL IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER
Transition (:1) Seven Month Problem
“Now the ark of the Lord had been in the country of the Philistines seven months.”
A. (:2-3) Proposed Solution: Try to Appease the God of Israel
B. (:4-9) Details of Preparation: Demonstrate a Softened Heart of Repentance
1. (:4-5a) Details of the Guilt Offering
“five golden tumors and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines”
Blaikie: “The idea of presenting offerings to the gods corresponding with the object in connection with which they were presented was often given effect to by heathen nations.”
Appleby: “Presumably the mice are seen as the cause of the plague they’ve been experiencing. There may have been a plague of mice that accompanied the outbreak of tumors. In fact it could have been that this plague was something like bubonic plague that we now know is carried by rodents and that shows itself in tumours or boils.”
2. (:5b-6) Intent and Spirit of the Guilt Offering
a. Designed to Give God Glory
“you shall give glory to the God of Israel”
b. Designed to Appease God and Remove the Curse
“perhaps He will ease His hand from you, your gods, and your land”
c. Designed to Demonstrate a Softened Heart of Repentance
Warning against Hardening their Hearts
Cf. how the language and ideas hearken back to the plagues inflicted against the Egyptians and to God’s hardening of the heart of the unrepentant Pharoah.
3. (:7-8) Details of Transportation – Logistics
Keil: “The new cart and the young cows, which had never worn a yoke, corresponded to the holiness of the ark of God. To place it upon an old cart, which had already been used for all kinds of earthly purposes, would have been an offence against the holy thing.”
4. (:9) Testing the Root Cause – Chance vs. Sovereign Judgment
Wanted to know whether or not they had guessed correctly that their problems were a result of direct judgment from the God of Israel in connection with their possession of the ark
Appleby: “They want to check whether in fact it is God who’s behind this disaster. They figure that if it isn’t God who’s done this, then, being milk cows, they’ll simply turn around and go looking for their calves. But if God is behind it then he’ll lead them back to Israel. Well, the cows head straight up the road to Israel leaving their hungry calves behind. The ark is on its way home.”
C. (:10-12) Execution of the Plan / Verification of Their Strategy
III. (6:13 – 7:2) THE ISRAELITES LEARN NOT TO MESS WITH THE ARK OF THE HOLY GOD
A. (6:13-18) Joyful Reception of the Returned Ark (Witnessed by the Philistines)
1. (:13) Surprised by Joy
2. (:14-15) Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices to the Lord
3. (:16) Mission Completed for the Philistine envoys
4. (:17-18a) Symbolism of the Five Tumors and Mice
5. (:18b) Memorial
“The large stone on which they set the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.”
B. (6:19 – 7:2) The Israelites Learn a Painful Lesson
1. (:19) Judgment Against Profane, Presumptuous Curiosity
(Note: it would seem that the text has an error here with respect to the number slaughtered. Ryrie: The number in the LXX (Greek O.T.) and the writings of Josephus (Anti q. 6.1.4) is 70.”
Hamby: “But once the ark arrived in Beth-Shemesh it should have been covered, it was not suppose to be seen by anyone except the high priest. The people did not do this even though they knew and for the cost for this error of judgment will be high.”
Young: “In Josh 15:60 it is called Kirjath-baal, indicating possibly the presence of a sanctuary there. Earlier it was a city in the Gibeonite league.”
2. (:20) Reawakening of the Fear of God
– Understanding of His Holiness
“Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God?”
– Understanding of His Transcendence
“And to whom shall He go up from us?”
– Understanding of our own Sinfulness and Brokenness
creating the need for Reformation under leadership of Samuel
3. (6:21 – 7:2) Preparation for Reformation – 20 year transition period
a. Assumption of Responsibility
City of Kiriathjearim willing to receive the ark along with solemn responsibility to care for it in appropriate fashion.
b. Re-establishment of Priestly Role
c. Broken-hearted Seeking after the Lord
“and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord”