Know Better

"He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter. The men of Beth-shemesh said, 'Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?'" 1 Samuel 6.19-20

The hand of God has been against the Philistines, and so they have returned the ark to Israel along with a guilt offering. The people of Beth-shemesh, where the ark has returned to, make a burnt sacrifice to God, praising Him, for the return of the ark. But at some point during the worship someone gets the idea to open the ark and look inside. Maybe they were just innocently wanting to make sure the sacred items were still inside. Maybe they thought the Philistines could have made a replica and given them back a fake ark. But whatever the reason, they open the ark and look inside, and God struck down 50,070 men.

The people of Israel knew that the ark was a sacred and holy object, it was where God would descend and where His presence would dwell with the people. When it was in the Tabernacle it was behind a thick, heavy curtain, so that no one would see it except the high priest on the Day of Atonement each year. When they traveled the curtain was taken down and covered the ark so that it would not be seen by the people. They know this, and yet over 50,000 of them not only look at it, but look in it as well. God's judgment does not show favoritism.

The Philistines didn't know any better. To them it was spoil of war, their gods had helped them defeat Israel's God and so they did what they would have done with any other nations deity objects. God's hand is against them and they return the ark. When it gets back to Israel, they not only look at it, but they open it and look inside, which they knew better than to do, and so God kills those who look inside. His judgment is fair and equal. (Fortunately Indiana Jones remembered this story when he was captured by the Nazis)

Men, are you doing something that you know better than to do? God's justice will be done, and it will be stricter on those who know better. We are held to a higher standard because we know God and have, or at least claim to have, a personal relationship with Him.

Let our lives be lived with respect and obedience to God's standards of holiness. Let us value and protect the sacred. Let us be men who know better.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor