|
1 Samuel 6:7
"Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows
that have calved and have never been yoked.
Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their
calves away and pen them up."
|
January 7
Following God's Command
In 1 Samuel 6, the Philistines have taken
possession of the ark of the Lord and fall under
plagues of rats and tumors. They decide to
set the ark on a cart pulled by untrained oxen
and if it returns to Israel it will be a sign
that the plague came from God and not by chance.
When the ark arrives in Beth Shemesh the people
rejoice at its sight. However 70 people
are struck dead because they look inside the
ark. The Lord had instructed them to never
look inside of it.
In 2 Samuel 6 David desires to bring the ark to
his city. He has the ark loaded on a new
cart and it begins its journey. However
one of the oxen stumbles and a man attempts to
catch it but is instead struck dead when he
touches the ark.
God had given strict commands about how the ark
was to be dealt with. It was not to be
touched. It was not to be carted around
but instead carried by poles that fit into the
ark. The Philistines did not know any
better when they placed the ark on a cart but
David should have known better.
Even though David makes things look ceremonial
by using a new cart and an escort of 30,000 men,
it was not the way that God wanted it done and a
man pays with his life for acting irreverently.
When David moves the ark the next time, he does
it right and follows the instructions that God
had given. |
