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 6:3-4,
"'If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.' The Philistines asked, 'What guilt offering should we send to him?'"
Here the leaders of the godless Philistines sought advice on how to please the God of the Israelites. Compare their concerns with the outlook of the priests that served God at the altar in Israel, "Eli's sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord." 1 Samuel 2:12. Eli was the high priest in Israel and his sons, those who were to follow him and were already serving at the altar "were scoundrels." As we read the accounts of Israel's history, we are not surprised.
What brought about the difference in outlook between the godless idolatrous priests of the Philistines (reverence for God) and that of the priests of Israel (contempt for the things of God)? Without question it was the judgment God had brought upon the Philistines. After having captured the ark of God, where ever the ark rested among the Philistines, disaster from God fell upon them.
"The Lord's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, 'The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.'" 5:6-7.
"But after they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against that city [Gath], throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, 'They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.' So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, 'Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.' For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy on it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven." 5:9-12.
It wasn't/isn't just Israel and Philistia, it is all mankind. All wander from the Lord and hold his ways in contempt. Just look at our nation today. The Lord's response, when he chooses to turn a nation around or get their attention, is to bring them difficulty, hardship and at times devastation. Exactly how he dealt with the Philistines and Israel.
When we pray, and ask God for a great movement in our land, to turn the national focus on him and bring revival, do not expect lilies and tulips to start sprouting. Do not expect some mysterious "pixie-dust" to be sprinkled by the Holy Spirit... expect the things we read of in God's dealings with the nations we have recorded for us in the Scriptures.
The Lord has no problem at all in getting our attention and manipulating our national outlook. But he does things his way. He knows us and he knows how to get things done. I am reminded of Psalm 78:32-35, "In spite of all this, they [the Israelites] kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer."
"'If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.' The Philistines asked, 'What guilt offering should we send to him?'"
Here the leaders of the godless Philistines sought advice on how to please the God of the Israelites. Compare their concerns with the outlook of the priests that served God at the altar in Israel, "Eli's sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord." 1 Samuel 2:12. Eli was the high priest in Israel and his sons, those who were to follow him and were already serving at the altar "were scoundrels." As we read the accounts of Israel's history, we are not surprised.
What brought about the difference in outlook between the godless idolatrous priests of the Philistines (reverence for God) and that of the priests of Israel (contempt for the things of God)? Without question it was the judgment God had brought upon the Philistines. After having captured the ark of God, where ever the ark rested among the Philistines, disaster from God fell upon them.
"The Lord's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, 'The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.'" 5:6-7.
"But after they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against that city [Gath], throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, 'They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.' So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, 'Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.' For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy on it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven." 5:9-12.
It wasn't/isn't just Israel and Philistia, it is all mankind. All wander from the Lord and hold his ways in contempt. Just look at our nation today. The Lord's response, when he chooses to turn a nation around or get their attention, is to bring them difficulty, hardship and at times devastation. Exactly how he dealt with the Philistines and Israel.
When we pray, and ask God for a great movement in our land, to turn the national focus on him and bring revival, do not expect lilies and tulips to start sprouting. Do not expect some mysterious "pixie-dust" to be sprinkled by the Holy Spirit... expect the things we read of in God's dealings with the nations we have recorded for us in the Scriptures.
The Lord has no problem at all in getting our attention and manipulating our national outlook. But he does things his way. He knows us and he knows how to get things done. I am reminded of Psalm 78:32-35, "In spite of all this, they [the Israelites] kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer."
This is the way of our Lord with sinful mankind.
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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