Jump Start # 257

1 Samuel 6:19 “He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He stuck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter.”

  We continue following the Ark of the Covenant from our last Jump Start. Remember, the Philistines battled Israel. More than thirty thousand were killed. Eli’s two sons, priests, were killed. The ark of the Covenant was captured and carried away by the Philistines. These things happened as a form of punishment because of Israel’s lax and wicked ways toward God.

  What happened to the ark? The Philistines kept it for seven months. At first, they put the ark in their temple dedicated to the god, Dagon. At night, the statue of Dagon fell. The next night, the head and hands of the stature were cut off. The Philistines were terrified. They moved the ark to Gath. God struck the people of Gath with tumors. Fearing more trouble, the Philistines offered to return the ark to Israel. They offered burnt offerings and placed items of gold with the ark as a means to satisfy both Israel and the God of Israel.

  The ark is taken to Beth-Shemite, a city in Israel. It is here where our verse today is found. The people of Israel looked inside the ark. God struck them dead. More died here than were killed by the Philistines in the initial battle. There is a reason for this. No one was to touch the ark. It was sacred. It would be housed in the holy place in tabernacle and later in the Temple. God had said if a person touches it they will die. The men of Beth-Shemite disobeyed.

  Why did they open the ark? Did they want to make sure all the contents were still there? Did they want to make sure that the Philistines hadn’t stolen something or worse, added something that wasn’t supposed to be there? Was it curiosity? Did they just want to take a peek? The Philistines had it and they were still alive, maybe it would be ok to just take a look.

  Whatever the reason, they looked and they were punished. God knew. God always knows. The men of Beth-shemite serve as a great lesson for us. Often, we know what God says, we just disobey anyway. Now, we may justify it, have a good reason in our way of thinking, or think, we’ll just take a quick peek, still God knows. The men of Beth-shemite illustrate hearts that just won’t accept what God says. It’s not enough. Some of us, and I’m real guilty of this, always have to touch a wall when there is a sign that says, “Wet Paint.” I’ve walked away with paint on my fingers for doing that. Dumb. The sign tells you. Why don’t you believe it? How much more so with God. He tells us, but we just don’t believe it. This is a matter of trust.

  I’m glad I wasn’t at Beth-shemite. I’m curious. I’d like to see what was inside the ark. I would have died, no question. And for what reason, being curious? No. For not trusting God. Is it any wonder that some today just do not think God will punish them for lying, when He says He will. Or, what about hatred? Or, impurity? Or, taking God’s name in vain? On and on we could go. You see, these Old Testament stories serve two purposes. First, they tell the story of the Bible. They are real stories. Secondly, we see ourselves in these stories. We are not much different than they were.

  What’s a person to do? Believe God. God must trump our curiosity. God must override any reason we can come up with for disobeying Him. It’s God’s way, every time. Next time you feel like taking a peek into something you’re not supposed to, remember what God said. Trust God. He means what He says.

Roger