A few observations on 1 Sam 6.
- Uh oh.
The calamities that broke out in Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron caused the Philistines second guessed their decision to bring back the art of the covenant. They were thinking of using it as a bragging right or proving their “god” is greater than the God of Israel. However, they were proven wrong, very wrong.
The glory of God is not to be mocked. Don’t try to be funny. Don’t try your luck.
- Trying their luck
Still, they were hoping against hope for a chance that they might be wrong – in that it was not the God of Israel that brought them all the calamities. They wanted to push their luck. After consulting their priests, who advised them to return the ark of the covenant together with a guilty offering. What they did was to take “wo cows that have calved and have never been yoked” (not to be confused with TUCOWS, if you know what this is, leave a comment below.) Their thinking was, since these two cows have never been yoked, they would wander every which way and not go back to Israel. Also, their nature is to go back to look for their respective calves. If the two cows did not pull the ark of the covenant back to Israel, then they can keep it!
Do we sometimes try our luck too? God will not be angry with me for making a little “special arrangement” to close the deal. God should be ok with me receiving the PS5 from the vendor. He DID NOT say it has to do with the purchase order. My God is a cool God, he does not mind a little recreational drug. I still love my wife and I will not divorce her. This woman is just a part time girlfriend.
Do not try to push our luck. God’s standard is clear, which we will see.
- Passion alone is not enough
The cows pulled the ark of the covenant to Beth Shemesh. The people were so happy. The chopped wood and sacrificed the two cows. They celebrated! Yet, God struck down seventy of them for looking into the ark, which they should not have.
“If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord.” (Lev 1:3)
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf.” (Lev 22:18-19)
Burnt offerings seem to need a male cow. They sacrificed two female cows as a burnt offering.
But they just wanted to celebrate. Still. The Philistines did not respect the ark of the covenant. They captured it and took it back. The people in Beth Shemesh did not accord the required reverence to the ark of the covenant.
Conclusion: We give God the glory he deserves.
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