1 Samuel 6-10
The Philistines return the ark to Israel to stop the infestation of tumors upon the people. The priests and diviners (no explanation of what is meant my that) tell the Philistines to bring an offering of five gold rats and five gold tumors because of the five Philistine rulers who had been stricken. Then, following the priests instructions, the put the ark on a cart driven by two cows and it arrives at the border at Beth Shemesh. The cart is chopped up and the cows are sacrificed to the Lord and the people made sacrifices all day. But 70 men apparently got too nosy about what was inside the ark and the Lord struck them down. A footnote says 50,070 men, but that doesn't make sense considering the population. Either way, the people of the town are scared to death. They sent word to Kiriath Jearim for them to come take the ark there. It was done and the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim for 20 years. Eleazar was assigned to guard the ark.
The ark was a symbol of God's presence. The consequences for its mishandling are quite severe all through the Old Testament. Here were 70 men who were curious, as probably most people would be, but they dared to look inside the sacred ark. Did God really need to guard His holiness in such a way? Throughout the Old Testament, God is clearly honored in His power and glory. The overarching theme of God's character is that He is too holy to even approach. This is good to keep in mind as we are now allowed to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence since Christ has done His work as mediator.
Samuel calls for a housecleaning of all the false gods which had made their way into the homes and the hearts of the people of Israel. A holy assembly at Mizpah followed with true confession from the people. The Philistines came to attack, but the Lord sent them into a panic and the Israelites came after them an slaughtered them. Samuel then set up a stone calling it "Ebenezer" or "stone of help" to signify how the Lord had helped Israel so far.
Samuel judged Israel traveling on a circuit -- Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah and at home in Ramah. His sons were appointed as judges as Samuel grew old, but they were no better than Eli's sons had been. The citizens, somewhat concerned about what would happen without Samuel, but mostly wanting to be like the other nations, asked Samuel for a king. Samuel was hurt, but God told Samuel that it was He who was being rejected. Somehow the Israelites thought that a king wouldn't go astray like so many of the judges before had done.
Samuel warned them of what a king would do, but the people wouldn't listen. Samuel then went to the Lord who told Samuel to give them a king. Why would God allow such a thing to happen? God honored the choice of the Israelites by granting it. However, He also knew the outcome of such a request. He used it for their good, certainly, but it was a rough lesson.
At the outset of chapter nine, we meet the future king, out looking for some stray donkeys. Although he was impressive physically, something changed in Saul when he was chosen by God. In 10:9 we are told explicitly that "God changed Saul's heart." Even those who knew Saul saw the change in him. Still when Samuel assembled all Israel at Mizpah to make public the new king, Saul was hiding! He is shown as being humble at his humble lineage. He was a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe. He claimed to be of the least of all the clans within the tribe. How could such character come from such a towering man?
Many miraculous events are described in chapters 9 and 10, affirming Saul's selection as king to Samuel and eventually to Saul and to the people themselves.
Finally at the end of chapter 10 we see that not everyone was impressed with the man who stood head and shoulders above everyone else. The text calls them "troublemakers" and it seems that every crowd has them. Meanwhile Saul has been joined by a few brave men who have been touched by God, assumedly in an emotional or spiritual way. These men have attached themselves to the new king Saul.
The ark was a symbol of God's presence. The consequences for its mishandling are quite severe all through the Old Testament. Here were 70 men who were curious, as probably most people would be, but they dared to look inside the sacred ark. Did God really need to guard His holiness in such a way? Throughout the Old Testament, God is clearly honored in His power and glory. The overarching theme of God's character is that He is too holy to even approach. This is good to keep in mind as we are now allowed to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence since Christ has done His work as mediator.
Samuel calls for a housecleaning of all the false gods which had made their way into the homes and the hearts of the people of Israel. A holy assembly at Mizpah followed with true confession from the people. The Philistines came to attack, but the Lord sent them into a panic and the Israelites came after them an slaughtered them. Samuel then set up a stone calling it "Ebenezer" or "stone of help" to signify how the Lord had helped Israel so far.
Samuel judged Israel traveling on a circuit -- Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah and at home in Ramah. His sons were appointed as judges as Samuel grew old, but they were no better than Eli's sons had been. The citizens, somewhat concerned about what would happen without Samuel, but mostly wanting to be like the other nations, asked Samuel for a king. Samuel was hurt, but God told Samuel that it was He who was being rejected. Somehow the Israelites thought that a king wouldn't go astray like so many of the judges before had done.
Samuel warned them of what a king would do, but the people wouldn't listen. Samuel then went to the Lord who told Samuel to give them a king. Why would God allow such a thing to happen? God honored the choice of the Israelites by granting it. However, He also knew the outcome of such a request. He used it for their good, certainly, but it was a rough lesson.
At the outset of chapter nine, we meet the future king, out looking for some stray donkeys. Although he was impressive physically, something changed in Saul when he was chosen by God. In 10:9 we are told explicitly that "God changed Saul's heart." Even those who knew Saul saw the change in him. Still when Samuel assembled all Israel at Mizpah to make public the new king, Saul was hiding! He is shown as being humble at his humble lineage. He was a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe. He claimed to be of the least of all the clans within the tribe. How could such character come from such a towering man?
Many miraculous events are described in chapters 9 and 10, affirming Saul's selection as king to Samuel and eventually to Saul and to the people themselves.
Finally at the end of chapter 10 we see that not everyone was impressed with the man who stood head and shoulders above everyone else. The text calls them "troublemakers" and it seems that every crowd has them. Meanwhile Saul has been joined by a few brave men who have been touched by God, assumedly in an emotional or spiritual way. These men have attached themselves to the new king Saul.
posted by rev-ed @ 12:05 AM
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