1Sa 7:2 | MHM | STEP | v. 2 : The ark stayed in Kirjath-jearim for a very long time—about forty years—until David finally moved it . For the first twenty years, the Israelites did not seem to care that the ark was missing from its proper place. They continued their religious practices without seeking God’s true presence. Eventually, the people began to feel their loss and started to seek after the Lord again. True repentance begins when people feel sad about being far from God and long to have His presence return (Zechariah 12:10 ). It is better to miss God’s blessings and long for them than to take them for granted or mistreat them.

‏ 1 Samuel 7:2

v. 2: The ark stayed in Kirjath-jearim for a very long time—about forty years—until David finally moved it . For the first twenty years, the Israelites did not seem to care that the ark was missing from its proper place. They continued their religious practices without seeking God’s true presence. Eventually, the people began to feel their loss and started to seek after the Lord again. True repentance begins when people feel sad about being far from God and long to have His presence return (Zechariah 12:10 ^a). It is better to miss God’s blessings and long for them than to take them for granted or mistreat them.