The Return of the Ark

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).

1. IT COULD NOT BE CONTAINED (1 Samuel 5:1-12)
1. Not in Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1-7)
1. The house of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:1-2)
1. The Philistines brought the ark of God unto Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1).
2. They brought the ark into the house of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:2).
2. The fall of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:3-5)
1. The first morning (1 Samuel 5:3)
1. They of Ashdod arose early in the morning.
2. They found Dagon had fallen upon his face before the ark.
3. They set Dagon in his place again.
2. The second morning (1 Samuel 5:4-5)
1. They of Ashdod arose early in the morning (1 Samuel 5:4).
2. They found Dagon had fallen upon his face before the ark (1 Samuel 5:4).
3. 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).
4. The Philistines feared to tread upon the threshold of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:5).
3. The hand of the Lord (1 Samuel 5:6-7)
1. The death of the people (1 Samuel 5:6a)
2. The plague of emerods (1 Samuel 5:6b)
3. The cry of the people (1 Samuel 5:7)
1. The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us.
2. His hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
2. Not in Gath (1 Samuel 5:8-9)
1. The ark moved (1 Samuel 5:8)
1. The lords of the Philistines were gathered together.
2. They determined that the ark should be carried to Gath.
2. The destruction repeated (1 Samuel 5:9)
3. Not in Ekron (1 Samuel 5:10-12)
1. The protest of Ekron (1 Samuel 5:10)
2. The counsel of the Philistine lords (1 Samuel 5:11a)
3. The destruction of the people (1 Samuel 5:11b-12)
2. IT COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED (1 Samuel 6:1-12)
1. The Search for Wisdom (1 Samuel 6:1-2)
1. In Philistia for seven months (1 Samuel 6:1)
2. The priests and diviners consulted (1 Samuel 6:2)
2. The Warnings of the Priests (1 Samuel 6:3-6)
1. Against returning the ark empty (1 Samuel 6:3-4)
1. With a trespass offering (1 Samuel 6:3-4)
1. Five golden emerods
2. Five golden mice
2. Necessary to receive healing (1 Samuel 6:3)
3. According to the five lords of the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:4)
2. Against failure to give God glory (1 Samuel 6:5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:29-31)
1. To lighten Gods judgment (1 Samuel 6:5)
1. On the Philistines
2. On their gods
3. On their lands
2. Not hardening their hearts like the Egyptians (1 Samuel 6:6)
3. The Instructions for the Return (1 Samuel 6:7-12)
1. The test they gave to God (1 Samuel 6:7-9)
1. They made a new cart (1 Samuel 6:7).
2. Two cows having never had a yoke; Milk cows without their calves (1 Samuel 6:7)
3. Given a heavy load (1 Samuel 6:8)
4. Required to take a direct course (1 Samuel 6:9)
2. Gods proof of His being (1 Samuel 6:10-12)
1. The fulfillment of the plan (1 Samuel 6:10-11)
2. The path of the cows and cart (1 Samuel 6:12)
1. The straight way to Beth-shemesh
2. Going along the highway
3. Lowing as they went
4. Not turning to the right or to the left
5. NOTE: Not only did they not return to their calves, but neither did they turn into the fields to graze.
3. IT COULD NOT BE CONTAMINATED (1 Samuel 6:13-21)
1. The Joy of Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:13-15)
1. Their discovery (1 Samuel 6:13)
1. While reaping wheat in the valley
2. They rejoiced to see the ark.
2. Their sacrifices (1 Samuel 6:14-15)
1. They offered the cows as a burnt offering to God (1 Samuel 6:14).
2. The Levites put the ark and the coffer of jewels on the great stone (1 Samuel 6:15).
3. Then men of Beth-shemesh continued to offer sacrifices (1 Samuel 6:15).
4. 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.
2. The Acknowledgement of the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:16-18)
1. They returned to Ekron (1 Samuel 6:16).
2. They left their offering to the Lord (1 Samuel 6:17-18).
1. Five golden emerods (1 Samuel 6:17)
2. Five golden mice (1 Samuel 6:18)
3. At the great stone of Abel in the field of Joshua (1 Samuel 6:18)
3. The Slaying of the People of Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:19-21)
1. Their fearlessness in looking into the ark of God (1 Samuel 6:19; cp. Leviticus 10:1-3)
1. The death of 50,070 people (1 Samuel 6:19)
2. The cry of the people at this judgment (1 Samuel 6:19)
2. The fear of the people because of Gods judgment (1 Samuel 6:20-21)
1. They wonder who can stand before such a God (1 Samuel 6:20; Joel 2:11; Malachi 3:2; Revelation 6:17).
2. 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.