1 Samuel 6:13-1913And they of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the Lord. 15And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord. 16And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. 17And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the Lord; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; 18And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the Lord: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Beth-shemite. 19And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. (1 Samuel 6:13‑19).
Oh, the folly of hardening one’s heart against God! He alone is the source of all blessing, and yet how many will accept the blessings and still resist the Word of God. If there should be an unsaved one reading these lines, we beseech you to bow your stubborn will in His presence now, owning that you are a poor lost sinner, deserving His judgment. He commands you to repent, and if you will but do so, He has rich blessing for you. God’s beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, died upon Calvary’s cross for you, that you might be saved, and when you take your true place in repentance, and put your faith in Him and His finished work, He will save you. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9).
The lords of the Philistines watched the ark to the borders of the land of Israel, and when it came to Bethshemesh the Israelites were reaping their harvest. When they saw the ark they rejoiced. The kine came into the field of a man named Joshua, and stood still. The Levites took the ark off the cart, and also the golden mice and emerods which the Philistines had sent. The Israelites who were there took the kine and offered them as a burnt offering to the Lord. After this they continued to offer many sacrifices to the Lord that day, for they were so thankful to have the ark back again.
In spite of all the Lord’s goodness in returning the ark to them, they were not satisfied with approaching Him in His appointed way, but curiously looked into the ark. Now this ark is a figure of the Person of Christ, as we noticed in our talks on the tabernacle from the book of Exodus, and no one could look into it without being judged. The Person of Christ is a divine mystery, and we can never understand it, for the Scripture says, “No man knoweth the Son, but the Father.” Matt. 11:2727All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matthew 11:27). Many, down the years of the Christian era, have tried to fathom this mystery, but they, like the men of Beth-shemesh, have been smitten. They have always fallen into evil doctrine, and brought great dishonor upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear reader, let us ever “hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience,” 1 Tim. 3:99Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (1 Timothy 3:9), and bow in worship at His divine Person. “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:99For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9).
Many of the men of Beth-shemesh were smitten dead, as we have remarked, when they looked into the ark. It might have seemed like a little thing to them, just as many today treat bad doctrine as a small matter. They are horrified by crimes against their fellow men, but care little what is taught about the Person and work of Christ. Let us never forget that the deity of Christ is the very touchstone of Christianity, and everything stands or falls upon it. Alas, great numbers in Christendom today have given up this great truth, robbed themselves and their hearers of a Saviour, and are on the downward path to eternal death—eternal hell. This is far worse than death to the body, which the men of Beth-shemesh suffered here.
We would like to warn our readers that if anyone tries to sell or even give you literature which denies the full Godhead glory of the Lord Jesus, refuse it definitely and finally, no matter how attractive it looks. Such literature is deadly spiritual poison.
ML 05/16/1954