Big Idea: The holy God must be treated with respect.

Understanding the Text

This chapter continues the story of the ark. In the aftermath of the Israelite defeat at Ebenezer, the Philistines captured the ark and took it to Ashdod. But it brought death and destruction wherever it went in Philistine territory. Finally the people of Ekron insisted that it be sent back to its homeland (5:11). Chapter 6 tells how the ark returns to Israelite territory, but not without incident! The ark does not make it back to Shiloh or another major worship center. This leaves the story hanging until it resumes much later, when David decides to bring the ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6). The fact that the ark does not go to a worship center upon its return to Israelite territory is important because it proves tha…