What was it about the Ark of the Lord? It was not a good luck charm, but it was a powerful symbol of God’s presence among his people. The Philistines knew they had bitten off more than they could chew by capturing and keeping it. Everywhere the Ark went in Philistia, bad things happened. So they decided to regift the Ark to Israel. They had so much reverence, that they included gifts of gold with the Ark when they loaded it up on a new cart led by two young cows. The cows took the Ark straight back to Israel.
Was it good luck or bad luck for Israel to get the Ark back? The people of Beth Shemesh in Israel were the first to see the Ark. They left their fields, offered the cows as sacrifices, and took down the Ark. So far so good. But some of them decided to look inside. Sadly, they lost their lives. The people of Beth Shemesh mourned the loss of their loved ones and asked an important question: “Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?” Great question.
How do we rightly express reverence for God’s holiness? We may worship God and offer him our best gifts, as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him. But we dare not take the Lord lightly. To say he is holy is to say he is other. God is of a different kind. He welcomes our worship, but he is not just a good luck charm. Moses took off his shoes when he saw God in the burning bush.
Our closest comparison may be the sacrament of the Lord’s supper. Paul told the believers in Corinth to discern the body and blood of Christ. Those who ate in an unworthy manner could become sick or even die (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). I do not believe God is capricious, just waiting to trick us and harm us. But we have lost the sense of holiness in our culture. Who can stand before the Lord? The Psalmist answers, “Whoever has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4). God has come down to the earth. Let us not take him for granted.
