17 March | Teens
«And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us? »1 Samuel 6: 20
The story of the Ark of the Covenant, especially in chapters 4 to 6 of 1 Samuel, teaches us about the respect and holiness we should have toward the things of God. When the Israelites took the Ark into battle, they thought it would be like a magical amulet that would guarantee victory. They didn’t consider the need to obey God and live according to His will. The Philistines' defeat and capture of the Ark was a stark reminder that God cannot be manipulated or used for our own ends.
The Philistines also discovered how special the Ark was, but in an unexpected way. They tried to place it along with the statue of their god Dagon, and the next day, they found the statue fallen, as if it had bowed before the Ark! Moreover, wherever the Ark went, it brought plagues and suffering to the Philistines, until they recognized that they needed to return it to the Israelites. This shows that not even Israel's enemies could play with the things of God.
God desires for us to respect Him and revere sacred things, acknowledging His holiness and sovereignty. Attempts to use God or His blessings for our own purposes without an obedient and reverent heart will only bring negative consequences. The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God's presence and demanded respect and holiness. It reminds us that our relationship with God should be one of sincere worship and submission to the things He Himself considers holy.
Take Action
This week, make a “temple” out of boxes or building blocks. Put something inside that represents something very special to you, like the Ark was to the Israelites.