Prepare: Waiting upon the Lord for greater challenges.
Read: 1 Samuel 6:17-7:2
The Philistines sent golden mice and golden tumours along with the ark as a guilt offering to the Lord of Israel. The golden mice were according to the number of cities of the Philistines. They made sure that no part of the Philistine territory was left out.
Inspite of the understandable Israelite joy to see the ark returned, events soon made it clear that the ark was not to be trifled with. As a symbol of divine presence, it was holy. The Hebrew expression 'looked upon' indicates staring, and perhaps gloating. This irreverence explains why God struck some of the men, who were guilty of breaking the law in Numbers 4:20. Seventy people died.
The people of Beth Shemesh asked the people of Kiriath Jearim to take the ark of God. Kiriath Jearim lay about ten miles north east of Bethshemesh, in the direction of Shiloh. The ark of God remained in the house of Abinadab in Kiriath Jearim for about twenty years. It was during this period, God was preparing Samuel for greater tasks.
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 keeo 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?
Respond: Lord, help me to realize that the waiting time is not a wasted time.
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