07: Who is able to stand before the Lord, this Holy God? ( 1Samuel 6:1 – 7:1)

Though the Ark returned to Israel, the people of Beth Shemesh dealt with it presumptuously and were struck by the Lord. The Israelites nor the Philistines could not stand before the Lord.

👉 Read 1Samuel 6:1 - 7:1

Q1. What advice did the priests and omen readers give regarding the return of the ark to Israel? (3-4)

“Be sure to return it with a guilt offering.”

“don’t send it away empty” They were deeply concerned about how they had offended God by treating the ark as mere plunder. To atone for their offense, they offered a guilt offering to God. Their reverence for the ark stood in stark contrast to Israel’s presumptuous and irreverent behavior toward the Lord. 

Do you feel sorrow before the Lord for your past presumptuous life that offended Him? Then, what guilt offering have you brought to the Lord? 

Q2. What were their guilt offerings?

gold sores and gold mice: the images of the plagues. 

The act of sending the gold images with the ark implies the following. First, it acknowledges God’s power in striking them with plagues. By sending these offerings away, they hoped to remove the hand of God that had afflicted their towns and people. Also, gold itself works as an offering.

Q3. “You should (         ) the God of Israel. (           ) he will release his grip on you, your gods, and your land. Why harden your (          ) like the Egyptians and (          ) did.” 

“You should ( honor ) the God of Israel. ( Perhaps ) he will release his grip on you, your gods, and your land. Why harden your ( hearts ) like the Egyptians and ( Pharaoh ) did.” 

These words of the Philistines sound like an admonishment toward the Israelites who didn’t honor the sovereign Lord by presumptuously bringing the Lord’s ark. 

Compare the attitudes of the Philistines and the Israelites: The Philistines said, “Perhaps He will” (1 Sam 6:5), while the Israelites declared, “Let’s take ... It will save us” (1 Sam 4:3). The Israelites attempted to manipulate the Lord, putting Him in a position where He would be compelled to save them. In contrast, the Philistines acknowledged the Lord’s sovereignty and left the outcome to Him. They reasoned, “Even if we send the ark back with guilt offering, He may not cease plaguing us. Even so, this is all we can do. We humbly seek His pardon.” This is how to honor the Lord. “"But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected." (Daniel 3:18)

“Why harden your hearts.” After the failure of the era of the Judges, the Book of Samuel reveals the core issue: the people’s hearts were hardened, pursuing their own desires and idols instead of being fully devoted to the Lord. This marks a turning point, as the Bible begins addressing the condition of the heart and emphasizes the Lord's search for those who align with His heart. (1 Sam 2:35, 16:1, 7)

God speaks to the Israelites and Bible readers through the mouths of the Philistines, showing how He often uses unexpected individuals to deliver His message. When Joshua was afraid, the Lord reassured him through Rahab’s words. God confirmed Gideon’s victory through the Midianites’ dream. Balaam, a pagan prophet, declared God’s covenantal care for Israel. God affirmed David to protect him through Abigail’s wise words. These examples reveal God’s ability to speak through unlikely messengers to guide His people. 

Q4. How did they discern if the disaster had come through the God of Israel? (7 – 9)

If the two cows, untrained to bear a yoke and separated from their calves, went straight to Israelite territory, it would confirm that the disaster was caused by the God of Israel.

“bellowing more and more” (12) The cows were compelled to go in that direction despite their instinct to return.

Q5. When the ark first arrived at (             ), they rejoiced. The Levites placed the ark on (               ) and they offered the cows as (           ). The five leaders of (            ) watched while their (             ) were made and returned home. 

When the ark first arrived at ( Beth Shemesh ), they rejoiced. The Levites placed the ark on ( a big stone ) and they offered the cows as ( burnt offering ). The five leaders of ( the Philistine ) watched while their ( guilt offerings) were made and returned home.

The Bible implies that the Philistines participated in offering sacrifice to the Lord. They provided the cart as firewood, the cows as the sacrifice, and the guilt offering. The five representatives of the Philistines were there. The Bible lists the names of the five towns. The Philistines, as a nation, presented offerings to the Lord. The Israelites, in turn, presided over the sacrifice and offering as priests. This scene foreshadows the eschatological fulfillment of all nations coming to worship the Lord in Zion.

Q6. Why did the Lord strike them to die?

They had looked into the ark of the Lord.

“Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God?” Note that the name “Beth Shemesh” means ‘the house of the Sun,’ alluding to the town being known as a worship place for the sun god. Presumably, The people of Beth Shemesh tried to deal with the Ark as if they had dealt with other gods. However, the Lord was not like other gods. There is no other god like Him. He is the One. This is the meaning that the Hebrew word ‘holy’ conveys. They meant, ‘This God is so different from other gods, we can’t handle this. Please take this away from us.’

Meanwhile, in the Abinadab’s house, they consecrated Eleazar to guard the ark, which is a proper way to serve before the Lord, the holy God. 

The story of the Ark’s exile both encourages and warns us. Though the Israelites lost the Ark due to their own fault, the Lord Himself orchestrated its return to Israel. Even though His name was humiliated by Israel's defeat, the Lord ultimately glorified Himself. Here are the warnings: despite His name being defamed, the Lord is willing to risk His reputation to let His people face defeat and teach them a lesson. For the sake of His people's spiritual growth, the Lord is even willing to go into exile. The Lord is not someone who can be manipulated, like the Genie from Aladdin’s lamp.  

First, we must never attempt to coerce or manipulate the sovereign Lord. Second, we must consecrate ourselves when approaching Him, for there is none like Him.