1 Samuel

1 Samuel 6: Who can stand before the LORD

Begin in prayer

Before we follow the ark back to Beth Shemesh, where the people ask who can stand before the holy LORD, let us pray together. Ask Him to teach us His holiness, and to show us Jesus.

Exalt Yahweh, our God. Worship at his holy hill, for Yahweh, our God, is holy!

Psalm 99:9

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are holy, and that no one can stand before You in his own strength. Help us to see our need of Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The Philistines kept the ark for seven months, and then their priests advised them to send it back with golden gifts for their guilt. They put the ark on a new cart drawn by two milk cows, and the cows walked straight to Beth Shemesh. The people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting wheat, and they rejoiced to see the ark resting on a great stone in a field. They split the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD that same day. But the LORD struck many men who had looked into the ark, and the people mourned. The men of Beth Shemesh asked who could stand before this holy God, and they sent messengers to bring the ark to Kiriath Jearim.

As you read 1 Samuel 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD is holy, and no one can stand before Him in his own strength.

The Philistines kept the ark seven months, and their priests and diviners told them to send it home (verses 1 to 3). They were to return a trespass offering of five golden tumors and five golden mice, one for each lord (verses 4 and 5). Their own advisers remembered Egypt, where Pharaoh hardened his heart and the LORD worked wonders among the people (verse 6). They tested it with two milk cows that had never borne a yoke and had left their calves at home (verses 7 to 9). The cows went straight to Beth Shemesh, an Israelite town, and the people reaping wheat there rejoiced (verses 12 and 13). Then the LORD struck many men of Beth Shemesh, because they looked into the ark (verse 19). God's law said no one was to touch the holy things or look on them (Numbers 4 verses 15 and 20). The men asked who could stand before this holy God. No sinner can stand before Him in his own strength, so everyone needs Christ to bring him near.

How does 1 Samuel 6 show us that the LORD is holy, and that no one can stand before Him in his own strength?

The LORD Himself brings His ark home.

Their priests said to send back a trespass offering and give glory to the God of Israel (verses 3 to 5). They set a test with two cows that had never pulled a yoke (verse 7). If the cows went straight to Beth Shemesh, it would show the LORD's hand (verse 9). The cows left their calves and went straight along the highway without turning aside (verse 12).

Holy things must be approached as the LORD commands.

The Levites set the ark on the great stone, and the people offered sacrifices to the LORD (verses 14 and 15). God's law told the sons of Kohath not to touch or see the holy things (Numbers 4 verses 15 and 20). The men of Beth Shemesh looked into the ark, and the LORD struck many of them (verse 19). The people mourned, because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.

Jesus opened the way into God’s holy presence.

The men of Beth Shemesh asked who could stand before this holy God, then sent the ark away (verses 20 and 21). That is still the right question for every sinner. The law kept sinners from the holy things. Jesus opened a new and living way into the holy place by His blood (Hebrews 10 verses 19 and 20).

Memorise

Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God?

1 Samuel 6:20

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, how can a sinner like me stand before the holy God?

The men of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God?” They had no answer, and they sent the ark away.

The answer is that no sinner can. Our sin keeps us out of His presence, and the holy God must judge it. Jesus is the holy One who had no sin, and on the cross He bore the punishment of His people and paid the whole debt. When He died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27 verse 51). Three days later God raised Him, and He lives to bring sinners to God (Hebrews 7 verse 25).

Do not go near the holy God in your own name. Turn from your sin, and trust Jesus, who brings sinners near. Every sinner who trusts Him is received by God and forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God is holy, and that Jesus is the only way to come near Him. Parents, you may want to explain verse 19 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He is holy, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He shall receive a blessing from Yahweh, righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psalm 24:5

Father, You are holy, and no one can come near You by their own strength. Thank You for Jesus, who opened the way to You by His blood. Turn us from our sin, and teach us to come to You through Him. Help us to honor Your holiness this week. Amen.