Hot Potato Ark (1 Samuel 5)

In chapter 4 God did not show up to help when Israel used the Ark as a lucky charm in their battle with the Philistines. Israel was living in an unholy way by mimicking the pagan religions around them. The nations around them viewed gods as limited to particular elements like controlling the sea, having power over fertility, or having powers within a certain nation's borders. Israel lived apart from God in their hearts, yet assumed that God was contained by the Ark of the Covenant. If they brought it to battle, so God would be with them. Unfortunately, their plan did not work and God chose to remain silent and unmoved while they were spanked in battle.

It almost seems like a paradox in chapter 5, when the Ark of God gets passed around Philistia like a hot potato, receiving a bold shout of disapproval from God. Each city it goes into is struck with plagues, confusion, and pestilence. Among these Godless people, the Ark represents the presence and power of a God greater than their own gods. After 7 months, they finally decide to return the Ark to Israel so they can resume their lives of peaceful idolatry.

To each nation, God disciplines like a wise father. He chastises and communicates to each so that they will understand who He is. To Israel, who has known God, He withdraws his presence when they limit Him and try to manipulate him. His silent resistance communicates disapproval. Their worst fate is the loss of Almighty God, and they get to taste the loss of His presence and favor. Though still blessed with His presence because of His choice to make them His people, they do not have freedom from experiencing the consequences of their sin. A holy God among sinful people requires people to be made holy. Holiness is immutable, therefore it is Israel who must be transformed before God and not God before Israel.

For Philistia, a nation ignorant of God, he also speaks in terms they understand. When the Ark is placed next to Dagon (a pagan god), the people of the city thrice find it face down in the dust next to the Ark. Pagan gods had no power outside of their boundaries, but God shows His power in every city that the Ark enters to rest. The pagans may not know God, but they see and experience his almighty power and dominion. A holy God living among sinful people requires them to be changed. Ignorant of God, Philistia returned to their former ways by choosing to remove the holy from their presence.

Overall, what we see in both situations is this:
--living in the presence of a holy God requires a sinner to be changed
--God's will is for His own glory among all people
--He is directing His purposes, even when things seem to have gone so wrong
--He will not tolerate untruth (Israel) or ignorance (Philistia)

© 2006 by Kendra Hinkle.