Monite Tisema 6, 2021
return it to Him with a trespass offering
kuo pau te mou
fakafoki ‘aki ia he holo ki he‘ene ‘Afio
1 Samiuela 6 (1 Samuel 6)
(v. 1-3) PEA na‘e fitu māhina ‘ene ‘i he tuku‘uta ‘o e kau Filisitia ‘a e ‘A‘ake ‘o Sihova. Pea ui ange ‘e he kau Filisitia ‘a e kau taula mo e kau tongafisi, ‘o nau pehē, Ko e hā ‘atautolu ‘e fai ki he ‘a‘ake ‘o Sihova? hīnoi‘i kimautolu pe ko e hā ha me‘a te tau tuku ‘aki atu ia ki hono feitu‘u. Pea pehē ‘e kinautolu, Kapau ‘oku pehē ke tuku atu ‘a e ‘a‘ake ‘o e ‘Otua ‘o ‘Isileli, ‘oua te mou tuku atu mola ia; ka kuo pau te mou fakafoki ‘aki ia he holo ki he‘ene ‘Afio: ka mou mo‘ui ai, pea ‘e mahino kiate kimoutolu pe ko e hā kuo ‘ikai hiki ai ‘ene tā meiate kimoutolu.
(v. 1-3) Now the ark of the Lord was in the country of the
Philistines seven months. And the Philistines called for the priests and the
diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we
should send it to its place.” So they said, “If you send away the ark of the
God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a
trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His
hand is not removed from you.”
* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*
The authorities in Philistia now called a council, and sought the advice of their diviners. It is intensely interesting to observe how unanimously they recognized the action of Jehovah. Whatever the long years had done for Israel itself, it is perfectly certain that the fear and the dread of Jehovah had been implanted in the hearts of the surrounding peoples.
The counselors advised sending the Ark back, accompanied by offerings intended to indicate their recognition that the plagues of mice and tumors constituted a visitation of God.
The method of sending the Ark back was in the nature of an experiment, and the facts which followed show how conclusively their own test must have proved to them that God had been at work. As the kine drawing the new cart took their way directly to Beth-shemesh, it was clearly evident that God was overruling. That they should go quietly, lowing as they went, was in itself a remarkable fact, for they had not been trained to draw loads. That they should travel away from their calves was even more remarkable, and that they should thus take their way directly to the first city of Israel was conclusive. Joshua of Beth-shemesh received the Ark in a way worthy of an Israelite. He clave the cart for wood, and slew the kine for sacrifice, and worshiped.
Moreover, so jealous was he for the honor
of the sacred symbol that he smote seventy men who, with curious eyes, had
dared to attempt to examine it.
*Comm David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 6*
What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? When the Philistines first captured the Ark of the Covenant, they thought it was a great victory but as time went on the Philistines began to regard the ark as a burden, not as a trophy.
Why did they keep it seven months at all? Because they were reluctant to give up such a wonderful “trophy” of what they at first felt was a great victory over the God of Israel. It can take a long time before we realize the futility of resisting God.
By all means return it with a trespass offering: The Philistine priests had enough sense to know they
offended the Lord God. Therefore, they knew they should do something to express
their sorrow and repentance before the Lord.
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