INTRODUCTION: In these two chapters, God’s holiness is vindicated. The ark was not God, as the Israelites implied (1 Samuel 4:3) and the Philistines believed (1 Samuel 4:7). Yet, since the ark portrayed the absolute glory and the supreme holiness of God, it was to be treated with great reverence and fear (Psalm 99:1; 2 Samuel 6:6-7). Only through the payment for our sins by the death of Christ on the cross could such a holy and fearsome God be so accessible to us today (Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 4:14-16).
- IT COULD NOT BE CONTAINED (1 Samuel 5:1-12)
- Not in Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1-7)
- The house of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:1-2)
- The Philistines brought the ark of God unto Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1).
- They brought the ark into the house of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:2).
- The fall of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:3-5)
- The first morning (1 Samuel 5:3)
- They of Ashdod arose early in the morning.
- They found Dagon had fallen upon his face before the ark.
- They set Dagon in his place again.
- The second morning (1 Samuel 5:4-5)
- They of Ashdod arose early in the morning (1 Samuel 5:4).
- They found Dagon had fallen upon his face before the ark (1 Samuel 5:4).
- The head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off, and only the stump of Dagon was left (1 Samuel 5:4).
- The Philistines feared to tread upon the threshold of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:5).
- The hand of the Lord (1 Samuel 5:6-7)
- The death of the people (1 Samuel 5:6a)
- The plague of emerods (1 Samuel 5:6b)
- The cry of the people (1 Samuel 5:7)
- The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us.
- His hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
- Not in Gath (1 Samuel 5:8-9)
- The ark moved (1 Samuel 5:8)
- The lords of the Philistines were gathered together.
- They determined that the ark should be carried to Gath.
- The destruction repeated (1 Samuel 5:9)
- Not in Ekron (1 Samuel 5:10-12)
- The protest of Ekron (1 Samuel 5:10)
- The counsel of the Philistine lords (1 Samuel 5:11a)
- The destruction of the people (1 Samuel 5:11b-12)
- IT COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED (1 Samuel 6:1-12)
- The Search for Wisdom (1 Samuel 6:1-2)
- In Philistia for seven months (1 Samuel 6:1)
- The priests and diviners consulted (1 Samuel 6:2)
- The Warnings of the Priests (1 Samuel 6:3-6)
- Against returning the ark empty (1 Samuel 6:3-4)
- With a trespass offering (1 Samuel 6:3-4)
- Five golden emerods
- Five golden mice
- Necessary to receive healing (1 Samuel 6:3)
- According to the five lords of the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:4)
- Against failure to give God glory (1 Samuel 6:5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:29-31)
- To lighten Gods judgment (1 Samuel 6:5)
- On the Philistines
- On their gods
- On their lands
- Not hardening their hearts like the Egyptians (1 Samuel 6:6)
- The Instructions for the Return (1 Samuel 6:7-12)
- The test they gave to God (1 Samuel 6:7-9)
- They made a new cart (1 Samuel 6:7).
- Two cows having never had a yoke; Milk cows without their calves (1 Samuel 6:7)
- Given a heavy load (1 Samuel 6:8)
- Required to take a direct course (1 Samuel 6:9)
- Gods proof of His being (1 Samuel 6:10-12)
- The fulfillment of the plan (1 Samuel 6:10-11)
- The path of the cows and cart (1 Samuel 6:12)
- The straight way to Beth-shemesh
- Going along the highway
- Lowing as they went
- Not turning to the right or to the left
- NOTE: Not only did they not return to their calves, but neither did they turn into the fields to graze.
- IT COULD NOT BE CONTAMINATED (1 Samuel 6:13-21)
- The Joy of Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:13-15)
- Their discovery (1 Samuel 6:13)
- While reaping wheat in the valley
- They rejoiced to see the ark.
- Their sacrifices (1 Samuel 6:14-15)
- They offered the cows as a burnt offering to God (1 Samuel 6:14).
- The Levites put the ark and the coffer of jewels on the great stone (1 Samuel 6:15).
- Then men of Beth-shemesh continued to offer sacrifices (1 Samuel 6:15).
- Consider Deuteronomy 12:13-14 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.
- The Acknowledgement of the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:16-18)
- They returned to Ekron (1 Samuel 6:16).
- They left their offering to the Lord (1 Samuel 6:17-18).
- Five golden emerods (1 Samuel 6:17)
- Five golden mice (1 Samuel 6:18)
- At the great stone of Abel in the field of Joshua (1 Samuel 6:18)
- The Slaying of the People of Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:19-21)
- Their fearlessness in looking into the ark of God (1 Samuel 6:19; cp. Leviticus 10:1-3)
- The death of 50,070 people (1 Samuel 6:19)
- The cry of the people at this judgment (1 Samuel 6:19)
- The fear of the people because of Gods judgment (1 Samuel 6:20-21)
- They wonder who can stand before such a God (1 Samuel 6:20; Joel 2:11; Malachi 3:2; Revelation 6:17).
- They have the men of Kirjath-jearim come and fetch the ark (1 Samuel 6:21).
CONCLUSION: Though God motivates more with love today than with fear, we are still expected to have a healthy fear of His judgment. The difference for today is that we are not to be overcome by fear or under its bondage. Our fear is that of a child with his beloved father.