1Sa 6:11-13 | KingComments | STEP | The Philistines now want absolute certainty that they are dealing with God. They do not want to bring back the ark themselves. They do not think they can either, because every move has brought them disaster. Their solution suits the natural man who does not possess the light of God. It seems indecent and inappropriate for them to use something for the worship of God that has previously served a general purpose. Everything in the obeisance to God must be holy, separated from general use and entirely dedicated to the service of God. That is why they use a new cart. They will not be punished for this, as is David later in the death of Uzzah, when Uzzah touches the ark ( ). As Israelites, they should have known better. The Philistines still reckon with the possibility that everything has happened by chance. Such a thing will not be the case with a true Christian. The Philistines want certainties. And God does according to their thinking and makes it clear that He is at work. Yet it has no effect on their relationship with Him. By using milch cows to pull the cart, it is humanly unthinkable that the ark will safely leave the country. This is evident from the facts described. It concerns cows that 1. are not used to the yoke, 2. do not know the way to Beth-shemesh, 3. have none to guide them, 4. have the strong instinct of animals to return to their calves – hence their ‘lowing’ when they go – and 5. also have the instinct to go to their own stable. Yet they go “the straight way in the direction of Beth-shemesh”. This proves that an invisible, strong hand leads them, the irresistible hand of their Creator. The natural motives are overcome by spiritual power. “The cattle on a thousand hills” belong to God ( ). The animals do what He wants. A fish provides a coin when the Lord Jesus needs it ( ). Similarly, a colt is ready to carry Him ( ). He commands a fish to harbor Jonah for three days and three nights, and a worm to teach him a lesson ( ). He uses a lion to kill a disobedient prophet and forbids this lion from devouring the prophet ( ). He also shuts the lions’ mouths in the pit where Daniel is ( ). The lords of the cities, who wanted to rule the ark, can only follow the ark as subservient slaves. In that in which they have acted proudly, God has shown Himself as far beyond them. We can learn from the animals that are used by the lords of the city but are controlled by God. Do we have so much spiritual insight that we are guided by God’s Spirit against our natural motives? It is God’s purpose to bring the ark back to His people. He still does this spiritually today by letting preach about the Lord Jesus, and for this He uses people who are guided by Him. There may be little insight, but if there is dedication to Him, He will bring back the Lord Jesus to His people. Thus, God has always found people to make His Son the center of the church again. A revival means that His Son will once again be central to the hearts of His own. When the Lord Jesus is no longer central, dedication disappears.

‏ 1 Samuel 6:11-13

A New Cart and Milch Cows

The Philistines now want absolute certainty that they are dealing with God. They do not want to bring back the ark themselves. They do not think they can either, because every move has brought them disaster. Their solution suits the natural man who does not possess the light of God.

It seems indecent and inappropriate for them to use something for the worship of God that has previously served a general purpose. Everything in the obeisance to God must be holy, separated from general use and entirely dedicated to the service of God. That is why they use a new cart. They will not be punished for this, as is David later in the death of Uzzah, when Uzzah touches the ark (2Sam 6:3 ; 6-7). As Israelites, they should have known better.

The Philistines still reckon with the possibility that everything has happened by chance. Such a thing will not be the case with a true Christian. The Philistines want certainties. And God does according to their thinking and makes it clear that He is at work. Yet it has no effect on their relationship with Him.

By using milch cows to pull the cart, it is humanly unthinkable that the ark will safely leave the country. This is evident from the facts described. It concerns cows that

1. are not used to the yoke,

2. do not know the way to Beth-shemesh,

3. have none to guide them,

4. have the strong instinct of animals to return to their calves – hence their ‘lowing’ when they go – and

5. also have the instinct to go to their own stable.

Yet they go “the straight way in the direction of Beth-shemesh”. This proves that an invisible, strong hand leads them, the irresistible hand of their Creator. The natural motives are overcome by spiritual power.

“The cattle on a thousand hills” belong to God (Psa 50:10b). The animals do what He wants. A fish provides a coin when the Lord Jesus needs it (Mt 17:27). Similarly, a colt is ready to carry Him (Mk 11:2). He commands a fish to harbor Jonah for three days and three nights, and a worm to teach him a lesson (Jona 1:17 ; Jona 2:10 ; Jona 4:7). He uses a lion to kill a disobedient prophet and forbids this lion from devouring the prophet (1Kgs 13:24 ; 28). He also shuts the lions’ mouths in the pit where Daniel is (Dan 6:22).

The lords of the cities, who wanted to rule the ark, can only follow the ark as subservient slaves. In that in which they have acted proudly, God has shown Himself as far beyond them. We can learn from the animals that are used by the lords of the city but are controlled by God.

Do we have so much spiritual insight that we are guided by God’s Spirit against our natural motives? It is God’s purpose to bring the ark back to His people. He still does this spiritually today by letting preach about the Lord Jesus, and for this He uses people who are guided by Him.

There may be little insight, but if there is dedication to Him, He will bring back the Lord Jesus to His people. Thus, God has always found people to make His Son the center of the church again. A revival means that His Son will once again be central to the hearts of His own. When the Lord Jesus is no longer central, dedication disappears.

The Ark Arrives in the Land

The ark arrives in Beth-shemesh, a Levite city where the Kohathites live. It is precisely those Levites who are appointed by God to carry the ark (Num 3:29-31; Jos 21:10 ; 16). There God brings the ark and not to Shiloh. God knows whom He can entrust the glory of His Son. When the ark arrives in Beth-shemesh, the inhabitants of the city, the Levites, are busy harvesting the wheat.

The Levites work here on the land. They are busy with the wheat. Wheat speaks of the result of the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Jn 12:24). This result consists of the believers, who are all who by faith in the Lord Jesus have received Him as their life. The Lord Jesus is the grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died. That is why a lot of fruit has come.

The ark comes where people are reaping the wheat harvest, where they are busy with the blessings God has given in the land. Something similar we see with Gideon (Jdg 6:11), with the shepherds who keep watch over the flock in the night of the Savior’s birth and to whom the good news is proclaimed (Lk 2:8-10), and with the disciples who are also busy in their daily work when the Lord calls them (Mt 4:18-22). The inhabitants of Beth-shemesh are happy to see the ark (cf. Jn 20:20). But did they really miss the ark and seek it, like David later (Psa 132:3-5)?

It is therefore undeserved grace when the presence of the LORD returns. Without having sought for it, without having fought for it, without having paid a ransom, the ark, the symbol of God’s presence, returned to them. They have never seen the ark, but from the description they know and its brilliance they must have known: this is the ark. So it will always be with faith.

The cows are sacrificed as burnt offering. They have been used to give the ark back into the hands of the people and are now sacrificed to God. The Levites have, in picture, offered the Lord Jesus to God as a burnt offering. They have also sacrificed sacrifices, which are peace offerings and speak of fellowship. This fellowship may be particularly experienced at the Lord’s Table as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

The wood of the car is split (cf. 1Kgs 19:21). The means that have been used to bring back the ark are also used to honor God. Now the wood serves to burn the sacrifices, so that they ascend to God as a sweet odor (Lev 1:7-9).