Day2
Week10
1Samuel
The rock is a witness to this day of the great mourning [which resulted from] putting the ark of Adonai on it in the field of Y’hoshua the Beit-Shimshi; for [Adonai] struck the people of Beit-Shemesh for looking at the ark of Adonai. He killed of the 50,000, 70 men of the people; the people mourned because Adonai had struck them with such a terrible curse.
Sh'mu'el Alef (1 Sa) 6:17-19 CJB
Cross references
2 Samuel 24:24
Numbers 4:15
Curiosity Killed The Cat
Are you a rule follower?
Do you even know the rules?
The ark of the covenant was only to be touched and handled by specific Levites from the family of Kohath, and even they were commanded to not touch the ark itself.(Numbers 4:15). The ark didn’t have “handles” and was not to be carried by lifting it directly with one’s hands.
Instead, it was to be carried by inserting gold-overlaid wood poles into gold rings at each corner of the ark.
The poles were to remain inserted in the rings, and to be the source of contact with the ark. Apart from touching the poles, it was forbidden to touch the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:12-
The men of Beth Shemesh sinned by not only touching the ark, but also looking into it inappropriately.(too curious. Why is it that we only want what we can’t have and what we have access to, we are seemingly not interested in?)
Notice God dealt with the Israelites more strictly than He dealt with the Philistines, who just transported the ark by a cart. God did this because the Israelites, who had His law, should have and did know better. It is sad to consider that the Philistines showed more honor to the holiness of God than the Israelites.
The Philistines we’re ignorant to the laws of God. They didn’t have access to it.
Even so the knew enough to honor God and were afraid and repented for their dishonor.
Action Step
Are you taking advantage of having access to the Holy Word of God?
You can not honor what you do not know.
Jesus gave us all direct access to His Father, even the throne room!
We have Holy Spirit living inside us.
No matter where you find yourself today, God desires you to be closer to Him. You have access.
What choice will you make?
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