Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

1 Samuel 6 Devotional

A Holy God Comes Home

“The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?””1 Samuel 6:20 (BSB)

Seven months of plague convince the Philistines to send the ark home. Their priests devise a test: two nursing cows, their calves penned up behind them, hitched to a new cart. If the cows head for Israel, the disaster was the LORD's hand and not chance (6:9). The cows go straight up the road to Beth-shemesh, lowing as they go and never turning aside (6:12). God shows even the Philistines who has been at work.

At Beth-shemesh the harvesters rejoice and offer sacrifices. But some of the men look inside the ark, and God strikes them down (6:19). The joy turns to a question: who could ever survive in the presence of this holy God (6:20)? It is a hard ending. God's nearness is a gift, but he is not to be handled carelessly. Their question has an answer in the gospel. Hebrews says believers may now draw near to God with confidence, through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22). His holiness has not changed. Christ has opened the way.

To think about: How does knowing that Jesus has opened the way change how you come to a holy God in prayer today?

About 1 Samuel 6: The Ark Returns to Israel

After seven months the Philistines send the ark home on a cart pulled by two nursing cows, along with gold offerings. The cows go straight to Beth-shemesh, where the people rejoice, but God strikes men who looked into the ark, and they send word to Kiriath-jearim asking its men to come for the ark.

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