Not-So-Quiet-Time: 1 Samuel 5-6
At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 5/24
Day 1: 1 Samuel 5:1-8
The Philistines had captured the Ark in battle. They assumed that this meant that their God, Dagon, was powerful over Israel’s God, Yahweh. But they were wrong! It wasn’t long until Dagon was bowing before the Ark and breaking apart. Beyond this, God was making the Philistines sick and sore with horrible growths on their bodies. But instead of seeing that the God of Israel was worthy of worship and bowing like Dagon, the Philistines sent the Ark away. It is tragic when we respond wrongly to God’s glory. Pray that God would help you and your family respond to his greatness with praise.
Day 2: 1 Samuel 5:9-12
The Philistines passed the Ark from city to city. Everywhere it went, God humiliated the Philistines. He humbled them. Eventually, they decided that they had to send the Ark back “to its own place, that it may not kill [them] and [their] people” (11). The Philistines had made God their enemy and now they wanted to escape from his power. Thank God that though we were once his enemies, He has reconciled us by his Son (Rom 5:10). Praise Him that He has overcome our sin and brought us close to Him in love.
Day 3: 1 Samuel 6:1-9
The Philistines realized that they had sinned. So instead of simply sending the Ark back to Israel, they decided to send a “guilt offering” of gold with it (3). Just like in chapter 4, they remembered what God had done to the Egyptians and that memory still haunted them. However, instead of bowing to the Lord, they sent his Ark away. They wanted to keep their own gods (5). Ask God to show you his glory and to help you kill your idols.
Day 4: 1 Samuel 6:10-16
God brought the Ark back to Israel and the people rejoiced when they saw it. However, they didn’t just rejoice; they also worshiped. When God does something great, we should be glad. But, more importantly, we should be glad in Him. What are the good things that God has done in your life? How has He blessed you? List some of these and worship Him for his joy-giving kindness.
Day 5: 1 Samuel 6:17-21
Sadly, the Israelites worshiped God, but not in the way that He wanted. Instead of following his clear instructions about how to treat the Ark, they looked in it. And they were killed. They asked, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” (20). They had worshiped in a way that pleased them rather than in the way God required, and there were consequences. Consider your worship: Do you come to worship thinking about what will work best for you? Or do you come asking what the King commands from you?
Catechism Connection: 50-52
“The second commandment requires receiving, observing, and keeping pure and whole all the religious worship and ordinances that God has appointed in his Word” (WSC 50). This means that we must not worship Him in any way other than what is appointed in his Word (WSC 51) because of “God’s sovereignty over us, his ownership of us, and the zeal he has for his own worship” (WSC 52).
Monthly Memory: Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Day 1: 1 Samuel 5:1-8
The Philistines had captured the Ark in battle. They assumed that this meant that their God, Dagon, was powerful over Israel’s God, Yahweh. But they were wrong! It wasn’t long until Dagon was bowing before the Ark and breaking apart. Beyond this, God was making the Philistines sick and sore with horrible growths on their bodies. But instead of seeing that the God of Israel was worthy of worship and bowing like Dagon, the Philistines sent the Ark away. It is tragic when we respond wrongly to God’s glory. Pray that God would help you and your family respond to his greatness with praise.
Day 2: 1 Samuel 5:9-12
The Philistines passed the Ark from city to city. Everywhere it went, God humiliated the Philistines. He humbled them. Eventually, they decided that they had to send the Ark back “to its own place, that it may not kill [them] and [their] people” (11). The Philistines had made God their enemy and now they wanted to escape from his power. Thank God that though we were once his enemies, He has reconciled us by his Son (Rom 5:10). Praise Him that He has overcome our sin and brought us close to Him in love.
Day 3: 1 Samuel 6:1-9
The Philistines realized that they had sinned. So instead of simply sending the Ark back to Israel, they decided to send a “guilt offering” of gold with it (3). Just like in chapter 4, they remembered what God had done to the Egyptians and that memory still haunted them. However, instead of bowing to the Lord, they sent his Ark away. They wanted to keep their own gods (5). Ask God to show you his glory and to help you kill your idols.
Day 4: 1 Samuel 6:10-16
God brought the Ark back to Israel and the people rejoiced when they saw it. However, they didn’t just rejoice; they also worshiped. When God does something great, we should be glad. But, more importantly, we should be glad in Him. What are the good things that God has done in your life? How has He blessed you? List some of these and worship Him for his joy-giving kindness.
Day 5: 1 Samuel 6:17-21
Sadly, the Israelites worshiped God, but not in the way that He wanted. Instead of following his clear instructions about how to treat the Ark, they looked in it. And they were killed. They asked, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” (20). They had worshiped in a way that pleased them rather than in the way God required, and there were consequences. Consider your worship: Do you come to worship thinking about what will work best for you? Or do you come asking what the King commands from you?
Catechism Connection: 50-52
“The second commandment requires receiving, observing, and keeping pure and whole all the religious worship and ordinances that God has appointed in his Word” (WSC 50). This means that we must not worship Him in any way other than what is appointed in his Word (WSC 51) because of “God’s sovereignty over us, his ownership of us, and the zeal he has for his own worship” (WSC 52).
Monthly Memory: Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
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