The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 6:13,
"Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight."
When the ark was returned by the Philistines to Israel, the people of Beth Shemesh (the town it was returned to) "rejoiced at the sight." I suspect there must have been celebrating with shouts of joy, dancing, whatever it was that expressed the Israelite's joy. I also noticed that earlier, when the ark was brought from Shiloh to accompany the Israeli army into battle, as it arrived at the camp, there was likewise a rejoicing, "all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook." It was an uproar that even the Philistines heard!
Joy, rejoicing, celebration! And yet, the people had turned from God himself to worship with their "foreign gods and the Ashtoreths" as mentioned in the very next chapter! A celebration of the arrival of God's ark... but they had turned to other gods. Where was their celebration of the Lord himself? Seems to be missing altogether to me. The ark itself had become an idol.
While the pope of the Roman Catholic Church visits our nation today, I see much celebration, a "whole lotta hoopla!". Folks are all excited to see the leader of that church in our country today.
"Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight."
When the ark was returned by the Philistines to Israel, the people of Beth Shemesh (the town it was returned to) "rejoiced at the sight." I suspect there must have been celebrating with shouts of joy, dancing, whatever it was that expressed the Israelite's joy. I also noticed that earlier, when the ark was brought from Shiloh to accompany the Israeli army into battle, as it arrived at the camp, there was likewise a rejoicing, "all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook." It was an uproar that even the Philistines heard!
Joy, rejoicing, celebration! And yet, the people had turned from God himself to worship with their "foreign gods and the Ashtoreths" as mentioned in the very next chapter! A celebration of the arrival of God's ark... but they had turned to other gods. Where was their celebration of the Lord himself? Seems to be missing altogether to me. The ark itself had become an idol.
While the pope of the Roman Catholic Church visits our nation today, I see much celebration, a "whole lotta hoopla!". Folks are all excited to see the leader of that church in our country today.
But, where is the hoopla, where is the excitement, where is the celebration over Jesus Christ? Where is the enthusiasm to read our Bibles to know him better? Where are the excited crowds earnestly rejoicing in Jesus Christ?
Some may attempt to persuade us that the excitement over the Pontiff's visit is really an excitement that accrues to the Lord. Sorry, I'm not buying that. No more than the idolatrous Jews who celebrated the ark.
Just sayin'.
How wonderful it would be if those who celebrate the pope's visit today, celebrated the Lord himself! Why reserve for some man what rightfully should be God's?
It was Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins! It was Jesus Christ who came to make it possible for me to have eternal life! It was Jesus Christ who set in motion his gospel that would eventually make its way to me! It is him I love. It is him I worship and it is him who I will celebrate today as the pope makes his visit. I will leave the worship of the pope to others - I'm too focused on the Lord.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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