Title: THE ARK IS COMING BACK
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this teaching you will be able to:
i. Understand what the Glory of God is
ii. Understand the purpose of the Glory of God
iii. Explain why the Glory of God departs from His people.
iv. Identify what’s necessary for the restoration of God's glory.
theme: 1 Samuel chapter4- chapter 6
How and why the ark (symbol of the Glory of God) was captured, where it was taken, how it was restored and their spiritual significance in our lives
1(a).INTRODUCTION
i. Man was originally created for the glory of God.
ii. Like the tabernacle of Moses, you are the tabernacle of God.
iii. 1 pet 2;5 says Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
iv. If you build your spiritual life according to the proper pattern the glory will dwell there…..God told Moses, "If you make the tabernacle according to the pattern, my glory will dwell there" (Exd 25:9).
v. If you change the pattern, the glory departs:
vi. When man sinned, the "pattern" was changed and the glory was lost:….For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
vii. If the glory is missing, then the pattern is wrong
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.(Psalms 106:20) see Romans 1;21-23
(b).THE DEFINITION OF GLORY
i. "Glory" is one of the richest words of the English language.
ii. No single word can serve as a good synonym, but here are some words that describe “Glory”; splendor, radiance, power, exaltation, worthiness, likeness, beauty, Honor, Praise, renown, rank.
iii. An expression of His divine essence.
iv. His displayed excellence, beauty, majesty, power.
v. The perfection of his total being
2(a).PURPOSES OF GOD'S GLORY:
i. God reveals His glory that the nations may come to know Him:For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. (Isah 60:21)
ii. But there are many other purposes for the glory of God, most of which relate to you individually. The glory is given for:
(b).PROVISION:
The glory of God provides both your natural and spiritual needs:
i. Natural needs: But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19)
ii. spiritual needs: That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. (Eph 3:16)
(c).UNITY:
The Glory of God brings unity:
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one,even as we are one. (John 17:22)
(strife, gossip, backbiting, rumormongering. Verbally or via BBM)
(D)ABILITY TO SUCESSFULLY FINNISH WHAT YOU START
JOHN 17;4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
(Many people can’t finish what they start,..book,school,friendship etc)
(f).CONFIDANCE
But thou, O Lord art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. (Psalms 3:3)
(j).PROTECTION
For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. (Zechariah 2:5)
(c).STRENGTH:
God's Glory gives you the strength to minister:
For thou art the glory of their strength...(Psalms 89:17), (Col 1:11)
(d).REST:
As you labor and grow weary, God gives you glorious rest:
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and His rest shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)
(Many people have sleep but no rest, go to bed tired wake up tired, chased by wild animals, snakes crocodiles, others wake under the bed)
(d).JOY:
The Glory of God gives joy as you minister:
i. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds(Psalms 149:5)
ii. Glory ye in His holy name; let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. (I Chronicles 16:10)
(g).SANCTIFICATION: from glory to glory
The Glory sanctifies you and makes you a holy vessel, ready to be used by God:…..And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. (Exodus 29:43)
(The reason we see so much sin in the Church is that the glory of God is not there!)……….. (The church is too worldly and the world is too churchy until there is no difference between holiness and Hollywood)
(l).THE FEAR OF GOD
So shall they fear the name of the lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)
(e).LIBERTY:
The Glory of the Lord is responsible for delivering you from bondage into liberty. It is His glory that will do the same for those to whom you minister:
i. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee... (Isaiah 60:1)
ii. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)
(k).DEVINE HEALTH
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward (rear guard). (Isaiah 58:8)
(m).GUIDANCE:
God leads you by His glory:
i. That led them by the right hand of Moses with His glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make Himself an everlasting name. (Isaiah 63:12)
ii. ...So didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name(Isaiah 63:14)
(many Christians consult their horoscopes or star)
(n).WISDOM:
The wisdom you need for effective ministry comes from God's glory:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
3 THE DEPARTURE AND RETURN OF THE ARK
In I Samuel chapters 4 through 7 there is a sad story about how this Ark, the symbol of God's presence among His people, was lost.
(a).SHILOH TO EBENEZER:…(tradition, ritual, routine)
I Samuel 4 opens with the nation of Israel battling the Philistines.
i. Israel is camped at a place called Ebenezer …..(ritual, tradition)
ii. Philistine army has pitched their tents in Aphek.
iii. Israel was losing the battle because of sin in their midst (see I Samuel chapter 3).
iv. When they lost 4,000 men in battle, they began to ask "Why has the Lord smitten us?"
v. Psalms 119;69 before I was afflicted, I went astray
vi. Instead of seeking the Lord and searching their hearts to reveal the true problem, the Israeli army decided to take the Ark, the symbol of God's presence, and send it before them in battle.
vii. In previous battles, at God's command, the Ark had preceded Israel's army into battle, but it was only the symbol of God's presence.
viii. Because of sin, the presence of God was not with His people in this battle so the symbol of His presence was meaningless.
REGARDING INIQUITY IN MY HEART
"If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me." Psalm 66:18
To regard iniquity means;
a) to leave it alone,
b) to tolerate it,
c) to know it is there and do nothing about it.
d) It is to hide it,
e) to cover it by excuses,
f) to consider it unimportant,
g) to ignore its dangers.
(b). After the first phase of conquest of Canaan, the tabernacle had been set up at a place called Shiloh. Israel sent to Shiloh and brought the Ark to Ebenezer. When the Ark came into the camp, Israel gave a great shout of joy because they were sure that now they would be able to win the battle with the Philistines. But the symbol without the actual presence of God was meaningless.
When the battle resumed, 30,000 Israeli soldiers were killed and the Philistines seized the ark of God. In many places today, the Church has settled for symbols of the presence of God. We have symbols of crosses and doves, holy communion dishes, candles, and great church buildings. We may even have the emotions of shouting and praising God, as did Israel when the Ark came into the camp.
But is the presence of God truly with us, or have we settled for symbols and rituals? Whenever we settle for symbol, ritual, and tradition, the presence of God withdraws. The glory of God is lost to the enemy. Have you settled for ritual instead of the reality of God's presence?
(c).EBENEZER TO APHEK:..1 Sam 4 ;1(stronghold)
When the Philistines seized the Ark of God, they took it first to a place called Aphek which means "strength and fortress.”
i. This is one area that Israel never was able to take from the Canaanites when they conquered Canaan.
ii. I Samuel 4:1 and 29:1 records that it eventually became a base from which to launch attacks against Israel.
iii. In Aphek, the Philistines actually raped the symbol of God's presence by defiling and plundering it.
Lesson
Any area of your life left unconquered becomes a stronghold and fortress of Satan to launch attacks on you
What you don’t overcome, will eventually overcome you
• What you don’t defeat…………………………….
• What you don’t conquer…………………………..
• What you don’t stop………………………………
(d).APHEK TO ASHDOD:….. 1 Sam 5;1-7 (compromise, comparison)
In I Samuel 5, the Bible records that the Philistines next moved the Ark to a place called Ashdod.
i. Ashdod was one of the five chief cities of the Philistines
ii. Ashdod was the location of one of the most famous temples of the national god, Dagon.
iii. At Ashdod, the Philistines tried to set up the Ark with other idols but their gods kept falling on their faces and finally were broken in pieces.
Lesson
When you have lost the glory of God through ritual and tradition,your next move is to try to rationalize your position by comparison and compromise. Like the Philistines, you do this by trying to set up the glory of God along with worldly idols in your life. These may be actual physical idols of stone or clay, or they may be idols of possessions or worldly attitudes and behavior.
(e). ASHDOD TO GATH:…1 Sam 5; vs 8-9…(wine press)
The name "Gath" means "winepress.”
i. Whenever you compromise and allow the enemy to establish strongholds in your life (both Aphek and Ashdod mean "stronghold") you will soon find yourself in his "winepress.”
ii. He will squeeze, press, and push you until everything good is drained out of your life.
iii. It was here that the repercussions of the lost glory began to be manifested
iv. The judgment of God began to fall.
Lesson
God will not settle for spiritual ritual. He will not allow His presence to be raped in our lives and churches. He will not long tolerate rationalizing by compromise without sending the repercussions of His judgment.
(f). GATH TO EKRON:….1 Sam 5; vs 10-12…(death)
Ekron means eradication which means "death.”
i. Deadly destruction came upon this city as judgment from God.
ii. The eradication of spiritual death is not far behind the repercussions of God's judgment.
Lesson
If we do not heed God's message, we soon become like the Church at Sardis with a name that we live, yet we are dead (Revelation 3:1).
(g). EKRON TO BETHSHEMESH:….1 Sam 6;9-20
It was at Ekron that the Ark of God changed directions and began its long and slow return to Israel.
Nobody can fight God and win,Pharaoh;…”this is the finger of God”Jonah
Jeremiah 20;9
But the symbol of God's presence would not immediately return to God's people. It would take over 20 years to arrive in Jerusalem!
After the eradication by death at Ekron, the Philistines decided they had better send the Ark back where it belonged (I Samuel 6). They built a cart, placed the Ark on it, and used two milk cows to pull the load. These two cows had calves shut up at home. Their natural instinct when left to their own resources would have been to head towards their young ones. Instead, the cows headed straight towards Israel. (Even dumb animals know the glory belongs to God's people and not in the hands of the enemy!)
The cows and their precious cargo arrived first at a place called Bethshemesh where some people of Israel were reaping their harvest. When they saw the ark, they began to rejoice. They took the cart and cows and offered them as an offering to the Lord.But the men of Bethshemesh refused to realize that God does not send His presence just to bless us. Holiness must be at the heart of any move of God. These men wanted God's presence among them, but they did not want it God's way. They looked into the Ark, which had been forbidden by God. Over 50,000 people died because of their sin (Exodus 19:21).Many times we rejoice when the presence of God begins to move in our midst and we claim we want "revival.” Yet we refuse to walk in holiness. We want the presence of God, but we refuse to abide by the law of God. Because of this, God's presence moves on.
(h). BETHSHEMESH TO KIRJATH-JEARIM:
Because the people of Bethshemesh refused God's standards, the Ark was sent on to Kirjath-Jearim where it remained for 20 years:
And it came to pass, while the Ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. (I Samuel 7:2)
Although the Ark itself was in the midst of the people of Kirjath-Jearim, they neglected its power. They had the symbol of the presence of their God in their midst, yet they and all of Israel "lamented" after the Lord. This means they longed for His power, hungering and thirsting for His presence. Jerusalem was void of the presence of God, while the Ark of God was only eight miles away!
(i). KIRJATH-JEARIM TO JERUSALEM:
There came a day when the Lord found a man after His own heart who would not rest until the Ark of God's glory was fully restored to His people. That man was David.
David longed to bring the Ark of God back to the people of God.
He asked, "How shall I bring the Ark of God home to me?" (I Chronicles 13:12).
Many are asking the same question today...."How shall we enter into this restoration of God's presence, this new move of the Spirit for which we long?" You will learn more about this in the next lesson on "Restoring The Tabernacle Of David,” but for now, let us learn how David brought the Ark from Kirjath-jearim to Zion, restoring the lost glory of God's people.
The Departure And Return Of The Ark....SUMARR
Ebenezer: ….Ritual,tradition
Aphek: …….Stronghold
Ashdod:.... Rationalizing,comparison,idolatry
Gath:……. Repercussions,consequenses
Ekron:…... Eradication,death
Beth-shemesh:……. Refusal
Kirjath-Jearim:…… Rejection
Jerusalem (Zion):… Restoration
4. DAVID’S FIRST ATTEMPT TO BRING BACK THE ARK
I Chronicles 13:1-7 records David's first attempt to bring the Ark back to God's people.
i. Because the Philistines had carried the Ark on a cart he thought Israel might move it in a similar way.
ii. The Ark was placed on a cart pulled by oxen.
iii. When the oxen stumbled, two men reached up and touched the Ark to steady it, and they were stricken dead.
iv. As believers, we are to walk by God's Word, not by tradition or experience.
v. God requires a higher standard of His servants than unbelievers. Judgment fell because the Ark was not moved in the way God had commanded.
David recalls this experience in I Chronicles 15:1-24. He said the first attempt to bring back the glory was "not after the due order.” If the glory is to return, it must return God's way.
5. THE PROCESS OF RETURN
i. In I Chronicles 13-17. Four things were necessary for the Ark of God's glory to return to His people. They are…..
DESIRE,..DITERMINATION,..DIRECTION,.. DUE ODER
ii. These things are also necessary if we are to experience a return of His glory today:
(a). DESIRE:
i. For some 20 years, all Israel longed after a more intimate relationship with the Lord. They had the desire for His glory.
ii. The first step in the process of return is to have a desire for the glory of God.
iii. But desire in itself is not enough. You can want something very much, but in order to get it you must also have...
(b). DETERMINATION:
David was determined to bring back the Ark.
i. He said, "Let us bring again the ark of our God to us" (I Chr 13:3).
ii. Not only must you desire the glory of God, you must determine in your heart that you will not stop until you receive it.
iii. Even failure did not stop David.
iv. When he was unsuccessful on his first attempt, he tried again!
(c). DIRECTION:
David and his men began to move in the direction of the Ark to bring it back.
i. Desire is not enough. Even determination is not enough. You must begin to move in the direction of the presence of God if the glory is to be regained.
ii. You will not experience the glory if you are heading the opposite direction in the way of the world.
iii. You will not experience it if you are running from God in disobedience to His calling on your life.
iv. You must go God's direction if the glory is to be manifested.
(d). DUE ORDER:
On the first attempt to return the Ark, the oxen stumbled and the cart toppled.
i. The glory could not return on a man-made cart.
ii. It had to return according to God's plan, according to "due order.”
iii. We have tried to bring the glory of God in our midst through our "man-made" carts.
iv. We have our programs and rituals and speak of unity and brotherhood.
v. Interesting enough, the names of the two men who died for touching the ark mean strength (Uzza) and brotherly (Ahio).
vi. Our man-made carts may look sweet and brotherly, but they are really the strength of men.
vii. The end result of man-made carts is stumbling, slipping, sliding, and finally....death.
viii. We cannot by our own plans, programs, or strength bring the power to Zion...
ix. It must come God's way on the basis of His Wrd. David later confessed:
The Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order. (I Chronicles 15:13) When the "due order" of God was followed, the glory returned. You will learn more about this "due order" in the next lesson on "Restoring The Tabernacle Of David.”
