Yesterday I pointed out the ironic contrast in this story of the capture of the Ark of the Covenant between the Philistines and the Israelites. The Israelites were not hearing what God was trying to tell them about their spiritual situation. They weren’t getting the message. But, when the Philistines witnessed what God did in the temple of Dagon and the judgements upon them, they got the message. They at once heeded God, seeking the right course of action in handling the Ark. When the Ark was returned to Israel, however, the Israelites proved that they were not nearly as ready to show respect and reverence for God as the Philistines had done. They treated the Ark so casually that they even felt free to open it up and look inside. It is a bad sign for us when we begin to lose reverence for God. It means we are starting to take the grace of God for granted. Through Christ we are told that we can indeed “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). We can be confident of God’s grace, but we need to remember it is still a throne that we come to. Our God is the eternal God who created the universe. He is not your equal. He is your God. The greater he becomes in your estimation the more you will marvel and celebrate his grace and love for you.
Reflect upon the greatness of God.
Read 1 Samuel 6
