CENTRAL THOUGHT
Aligning with God’s will, plan and purpose remain the only way for an individual to receive and enjoy God’s blessings.
TEXT: 1 CHRONICLES 13:1-14; 15:1-16.
INTRODUCTION:
We saw in the first part of this lesson how the children of Israel assumed that the presence of the Ark of God with them in the battlefield would guarantee them victory despite their life of sin. They learned the hard way that God cannot (and should not) be taken for granted. They were defeated in the battle and God allowed the Ark of the Covenant to be captured by the Philistines. Thus, believers today should learn from their experience that we cannot make a practice of sin and expect God’s presence to remain with us. The responsibility is ours to walk before God in holiness so that His presence with us can continuously be guaranteed.
In this second part of the lesson, we will discover what befell the Philistines while the ark was with them. They soon found out that the God of Israel is the Almighty God and He alone deserves worship. The experience of the Philistines forced them to carry the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel on their own. Let us prepare our hearts to appropriate the truths derivable from this lesson.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1) HOW DID THE PHILISTINES TREAT THE ARK OF GOD AND WHAT WAS GOD’S REACTION TO THEIR ACTION? (1 SAM 5:1-12).
When the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they brought it first to the city of Ashdod. In Ashdod, they brought the Ark to the house of Dagon, the god of the land and set the Ark of God by it. It appears by their action that they were equating the God of Israel to the god of their land. They went to sleep but when the priests and the people of Ashdod woke up in the morning, they found to their amazement that Dagon, their god “ was fallen upon his face to the earth before the Ark of the LORD….” (1 Sam 5:3). The people, rather than understand the inferiority and nothingness of their god before the Almighty God of Israel, decided to set Dagon in his place again. When they woke up the following morning, they found out that a worse thing had befallen their god. “…. Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hand were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him” (1 Sam 5:4).
Apart from what befell Dagon, it is written in Scripture that the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod. God destroyed them and smote them with hemorrhoids. Sickness came upon Ashdod and its environs (1 Sam 5:6).
The people of Ashdod cried out that the Ark of God cannot stay with them. The Lords of the Philistines met and decided to take the Ark of God to the city of Gath, A worse situation befell the people of Gath. (See 1 Sam 5:9)
The Ark was then taken by the Philistines from Gath to Ekron. The “Ekronites” cried out saying “… they have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people” (1 Sam 5:10). They therefore “….sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city, the hand of God was heavy there. And men that died not were smitten with the hemorrhoids; and the cry of the city went up to heaven” (1 Sam 5:11-12).
There is a lesson for everyone to learn from all that happened. God is more than able to “fight” His own cause even when His children disobey Him. It is written in Scripture “ If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful, He cannot deny himself” (2 Tim 2:13). God proved this to the Philistines. They had to learn that the God of Israel is the Almighty God and before Him, and at the mention of His name, all knees must bow ( Phil.2:10). He alone deserves worship.
QUESTION 2) EXAMINE HOW THE PHILISTINES RETURNED THE ARK OF GOD TO ISRAEL AND NOTE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE ARK OF GOD ARRIVED IN ISRAEL (1 SAM 6:1-21, 7:1-2).
It took the Philistines seven months to learn their lessons and conclude what was the best thing to do. The wise men of the Philistines advised them to return the Ark of God to the land of Israel.
In doing so, they were advised not to return the Ark of God empty but that they must send with it a trespass offering. They reasoned that if they gave a trespass offering and experienced healing, that will bring a confirmation that they had sinned against the God of Israel. The wise men of Philistia warned the people not to harden themselves in heart to resist the God of Israel, as did Pharaoh and the Egyptians who were destroyed (1 Sam 6:8). They made a new cart for the Ark (1 Samuel 6:7-9).
Dake’s commentary on the above verses says “ This test by the Philistines was a wise one if they were to prove beyond doubt whether God was really punishing them. If two milch cows having their calves shut at home would go on their own accord direct to Israel with the cart that would be proof enough. Philistines would then have to acknowledge that, the hand of the God of Israel had been against them. (1 Sam 6:8-9). The test was carried out and the cows went straight for Israel and that regardless of their lowing for their calves every step of the way (1 Sam 6:10-12). This truly proved the supernatural more than anything else. Imagine two cows going thus of their own accord about 20 miles under these circumstances”.
Israel welcomed the ark with great joy. Bethshemesh was on the border between Judah and Philistia. The people of Bethshemesh rejoiced when they saw the Ark of God. “The same supernatural and invisible force that caused the cows to leave their calves and go of their own accord to Judah also caused them to stop at this certain place near a great stone in the field of Joshua, a native of Bethshemesh. The men of the place rejoiced to see the Ark and sacrificed the two cows as a burnt offering to God using the wood of the cart (1 Sam 6:15). Levites took the Ark, the gold emerods and mice and put them on the great stone (1 Sam 6:15). Eventually, the Ark of God was taken to Kirjath-jearim and placed in the house of Abinadab. Eleazer his son was sanctified to keep the ark of the LORD (1 Sam 7:1-2).
QUESTION 3) HOW DID DAVID BRING THE ARK OF GOD TO JERUSALEM AND WHAT HAPPENED
ON THE WAY? (1 CHRON.13:1-14).
The ark spent twenty years in Kirjath-jearim. When David was crowned King, he consulted with the people and they all agreed to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem. They did it with joy, happiness and rejoicing. “And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with trumpets” (1 Chronicles 13:8). However, they acted contrary to God’s law. Instead of the priests carrying the ark as provided for in the Law of Moses (Ex 37:5; Num4:15, Deut 10:8), a new cart was made to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, something happened. Uzzah one of those to drive the cart carrying the Ark of God put forth his hand to hold the cart because the oxen stumbled. The outcome of his action was that “the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and He smote him, because he put his hand to the ark, and there he died” ( 1 Chronicles 13:10). Uzza acted contrary to the law of God.In Nub 4:15-20, Levites were forbidden to touch the ark on threat of death. This was the first instance of the execution of the law perhaps being the first time it was broken (1 Chron.13:10).
QUESTION 4) DISCUSS HOW DAVID AND THE ISRAELITES RETRACTED THEIR STEPS TO BRING THE ARK TO JERUSALEM?
1 CHRONICLES 15:1-4, 11-16, 25-28
Learning from the previous experience that led to the death of Uzza, David now made adequate preparations in line with God’s instructions for the return of the Ark of God to Jerusalem.
David made “Houses in the city of David and prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched for it a tent.” After this, David then reminded the people that “…none ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto Him forever” (1 Chronicles 15:1-2).
Therefore, David assembled the priests and Levites and requested them to sanctify themselves in preparation for the return of the ark to Jerusalem. David told the leaders of the Priests and Levites “…Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did not at first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for we sought Him not after the due order, so the Priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders, with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 15:12-15). David further spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding by lifting up the voice with joy (1 Chronicles 15:16-24).
Thus, having made adequate preparations in line with God’s instructions, David and the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands went to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obededom. They did it with joy, singing, dancing and rejoicing (1 Chronicles 15:22-28). Verse 28 reads, “ thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpet, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps”.
QUESTION 5) DISCUSS SOME OF THE WAYS WE MAKE SIMILAR MISTAKES TODAY LIKE DAVID AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL?
God has always required that proper instructions be followed in seeking Him, worshipping Him, praying to Him and in carrying out every part of His program. No man has a right to expect God to break His laws or act in any way contrary to His own word for the individual’s benefit. It is therefore always an exercise in futility to try to change God’s requirements.
However unfortunately today, it appears that God’s requirements in worship, prayer, service in His vineyard, offerings etc are being replaced with the traditions of men. We seem to be “teaching for doctrine the commandments of men” (Matt 15:9) and thereby “making the word of God of none effect” (Mark 7:13) in the lives of people.
The prayer pattern in many churches today has changed. The focus is on Satan and an imagined enemy whose death is even desired. This is a great deviation from the pattern of prayer taught to us by the LORD Jesus (Matt 6:9-15) and from the teachings of the LORD in scripture (Matt 5:44-45; Rom 12:19-21). No wonder the same prayers are repeated in every prayer meeting and there seem to be no answers.
In the same manner, although people may not want to accept this, worship in some places focuses on human beings. It is still true and worthy of note that God will not give His glory to or share His glory with anyone.
The class can discuss others. Are we following God’s instructions in showing love to one another, in the way we dress, in the company we keep? Are the deviations from His pattern not serving as hinderances to our walk with Him and to the answers to our individual/ corporate prayers?
QUESTION 6) WHAT ARE WE EXPECTED TO DO TO MAINTAIN GOD’S STANDARDS?
Like David and all Israel did, we must acknowledge our deviations, repent of them and resolve in our hearts to do things the way God wants us to do them. We must deliberately return to His word and follow His prescriptions on how we ought to conduct ourselves in our homes, neighborhood, church, society, business/ workplace/ office, etc.
Also in line with God’s instructions, we must teach our children, youths and teenagers the word of the LORD (Deut.6:4-8).
The time has come when we all should ask for the old paths of holiness, righteousness, etc and let us begin to walk in them (Jer.6:16). The believer must not be overtaken with the greed/covetousness prevalent in today’s society. As a matter of urgency, we must begin to re-emphasize the truth that “…. Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content…” (1 Tim.6:6-10).
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
David and the Israelites searched God’s word and followed the instructions written in it as it relates to the Ark of God. In so doing, they repented of their sins, corrected their errors/mistakes and returned to the path of obedience to God. The results for them included joy, blessing, rejoicing etc.
God’s word remains the same from generation to generation and His standards are unchangeable. It is a dangerous thing to come up with human and modern ideas that are not in line with the word of God. Like David and all Israel (in today’s lesson) the onus is on us to repent of our deviations and return to God. If we do so we too will experience joy, rejoicing, blessings etc. in our lives.
MEMORY VERSE:
PSALM 119:89
“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Mon: GOD IS GREATER THAN ALL.
1 Samuel 5:1-12.
Tue: THE ARK RETURNED TO ISRAEL BY THE PHILISTINES.
1 Samuel 6:1-14
Wed: CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING GOD’S INSTRUCTION.
1 CHRONICLES 13:1-14.
Thu: THE ARK BROUGHT TO JERUSALEM IN LINE WITH GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS.
1 Chron.15:1-28.
Fri: SOME THINGS TO DO TO MAINTAIN GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS.
Deut. 6:4-8; Jer. 6:16; 1 Tim. 6:6-10.
Sat: LOVE AND SEEK GOD ALWAYS.
Matt.22:37-38; Matt.6:31-34.