TRAIL OF THE LOST ARK
` Samuel 4-7

This is just a great story as much of Biblical history is. I intend to re-tell the story mainly, with only a handful of comments, which I shall try to remember to lift out and point to. Few comments, but important, so >means stay awake!

Remember the Ark of the Covenant? Not from the movie, which was just silly. The Ark never had any power, certainly not as a hidden source of green rays. Rather it resembled a cedar chest with a couple of cherubim (think sphinx, not baby angels) facing each other on the lid. Loopholes on each side for poles with which to carry the thing. Inside were the original 10 Commandments, a sample of manna, and Aaron's rod from the Exodus journey.

The Philistines lived in the SW corner of  Palestine in the area we now know as the Gaza strip. In fact, Gaza was one of the five biggest cities of the Philistines. These people were more advanced technologically than Israel. They had moved into the iron age, while Israel and most other lands were still in the bronze age. So what? So iron spears, swords and axes bend bronze shields. Iron shields can break or bend bronze swords. And iron can make chariot wheels that don't bend. So their chariots, like tanks, could run down infantry and destroy them. If you read carefully with a topographical map beside you, you can trace how Israel tried to lure the Philistines into the hills, where they could topple the chariots or fire down on them from above. Their enemies in opposition would seek to meet them on the plains where their chariots literally could run rings around them. The two battles here were on coastal land near the Gaza strip.

No reason is given for the war, but the story begins with the two armies setting up camp not far apart. Israel was badly beaten in the engagement that followed. In the consternation and desperation that followed someone suggested they bring the Ark of God into the battle. Surely the Lord would defend His Ark with His words in it. Well, no. They lost much worse in a rout! On top of that, the Philistines captured the Ark and carried it off. In the process Eli's two wicked sons were killed. As a result, when the news reached Eli, he fell off his seat and broke his neck.

>What was going on here? Perhaps the Lord was trying to teach Israel to avoid superstition. Or perhaps that you can't manipulate God. Or perhaps the Lord prefers actual quality behavior over displaying religious symbols. Some? All? You choose. Note the defeats follow the description of the sins of Eli's sons.

As soon as the triumphant Philistines got the Ark into their country, they set it in a temple beside their god, Dagon – a fish god or crop god or other fertility god. The next morning, Dagon had toppled over as if bowing to Israel's Ark. They stood it up again, but the next morning it had again toppled, this time breaking off its head and hands. Obviously, tho Dagon had apparently beaten Yahweh in battle, still the God of Israel had power.

Further, a plague hit the Philistine lands, tumors. Interestingly the Hebrew word here means hill or mound. Translators of the KJV and one Jewish translation used the word “emerods” as the English equivalent. I had been a pastor for some years before I tumbled to the fact they meant “hemerhoids”! Hilarious, but most likely wrong. The plague was much more serious than that, likely bubonic whose characteristic is boils. It quite likely was carried off their ships by mice or rats, which is why they made images of them.

Their priests and wise men suggested they get rid of the Ark. Put it on a cart and send it back to Israel with an appeasement offering to their God of five golden tumors and five golden rats. Can you imagine what those golden tumors looked like?

Anyway, they loaded the Ark and the offerings onto a cart pulled by two female oxen who seemed naturally to head toward Israel with no prompting. Some Israelites were working in the field when they saw the cart and recognized the Ark. Soon the whole area was rejoicing. They made a fire from the wood of the cart and barbecued both oxen on it. Technically, they built and altar and offered the animals as a sacrifice, but most sacrifices were partial and ending in partying.

One commentator made an important point. Both Samuels are books about dynamic and powerful men: Samuel, Saul, David. But the rescue of the Ark had nothing to do with the intervention of men. Rather God pulled it off by Himself. It's worth pausing sometime to ask how much room do we allow today for God to act. Most of the time don't we orchestrate His work and ask Him to bless it?
I've seen pastors upset when the Spirit seemed to lead the church in an unexpected direction. Teachers want to control the direction of their classes. But still the Lord finds ways to intervene. How open are you to His intervention in your life?