Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

June 02, 2020

by Kerwin Baptist

BIBLE READING: I Samuel 5-6
1 Samuel 6:6-8
“6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? 8 and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.”

The Philistines were able to have a great victory and had the most prize position of the Israelites, the Ark of the Covenant. The celebration did not last long. For over a half of a year the Philistines suffer from God’s judgments. What is interesting is whatever temple the ark was in; God caused the idols to bow to the ark. Through all of this, God wanted to make the point of who was the true and living God. Verse six shows us the desperation and realization from the Philistines. They knew they were in the same boat as the Egyptians and wanted out. They chose an interesting way to return the ark. The saddest part of this chapter is the misuse of the ark in Israel. They disobeyed God’s commands of handling the ark and many had died because of it. What can we learn from this? Yes, we may not have the ark of the Covenant, but good news is, we don’t have to have it. We have the Holy Spirit and the scriptures! These were different times, but the principle is the same. God wants to be respected and to have a right relationship with man. What convicted me was this question. How is my attitude when I come to the Lord in my devotions? Sometimes, I may not have the attentiveness and attitude I need when approaching the Lord. Day in and day out, sometimes, your quite time with the Lord could turn in to another task, and God does not get the attention and worship He deserves. Obviously, that hurts our relationship with Him. I am reminded of Psalms 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Let us be sure to give Him the attention and praise that He deserves.

David Fulp II