Peter Barnes | 1 Samuel 5:1-7:1
SERMON NOTES
GOD, THE ARK, AND THE PHILISTINES
1 Samuel 5:1-7:1
1. God preserves His own name.
– 5:1-12; this looks like God versus Humpty Dumpty
– Psalm 115:3-8
– God Himself acts to show that He is God (1 Cor.8:4-6; 10:21; Ezek.36:20-23)
2. Sinners suppress the knowledge of God.
– the Philistines know what happened to Dagon and saw the two cows go to Beth Shemosh, but just went on with life (6:16)
– the Israelites are too casual with holy things (6:17-19; see Num.4:17-20); they learn the hard way (6:20-7:1)
3. God’s severe holiness.
– the Israelites have treated the ark of the covenant either like a lucky charm or a museum piece; see 1 Cor.11:17-18, 20-21, 29-30
– Heb.10:31
– people either flee from God or to Him (see Luke 8:37 and John 6:66-68)