Losing the Ark of God

“And the Philistines took the ark of God”  1 Samuel 5.1

Think about that sometime when you have a few minutes...

“the Philistines took the ark of God”

That is very sad.

The ark of God, where God had chosen to place His presence – it was very holy and very special and now... it was gone!

“the Philistines took the ark of God”

This was a time in Israel’s history where men did what was right in their own eyes.  The truth was that most of the people, including the leaders and those in “religious” service, had gone away from the Lord.  That is why this verse starts with the word “And”.  The previous chapter tells us about the sad state of the people and their inability to stand and fight for the things of the Lord... And because of that the Philistines just came and took the ark of God!

How very, very sad.

I must ask myself, and you must ask yourself:  Is there any thing in my life where God has chosen to place His presence and blessing – but I don’t seem to notice or care anymore as much as I should?  Am I as close to God as I have been?  Am I able to stand for the Lord?  Am I able to fight the good fight?  Or, am I like Samson?  “And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.” (Judges 16.20)  Or am I like Saul?  “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” (1 Samuel 16.14)

“And the Philistines took the ark of God”

May we never lose any holy or special thing that God has given us!

 ~ Pastor