Chapter 234 of 1163

1 SAMUEL 6

God chastened the Philistines because they kept the ark, but He killed some of His own people because they looked into the ark (v. 19). The Israelites knew the Law (Num. 4:15, 20) and therefore were more responsible than the Philistines. Curiosity is important to learning and progress, but it is unwise to be unduly curious about holy things.

The men of Beth Shemesh were reaping the harvest when the cart with the ark came into view. The ark had been gone for six months, but the men did not allow that to keep them from working. Even in times of defeat, there are jobs to be done and people to feed.

Abinadab’s house will become a tabernacle of the Lord, but should not every home be a holy dwelling-place for Him? (See Isa. 4:4–5.)

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