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{{DOD-March}}
Today's chapters relate three great events in the history of [[Israel]]. First, we see that [[God]]'s glory is departed, as chapter 4:1-5 records the great [[sin]] of the people; verses 6-10, the great slaughter; and verses 11-22, the great sorrow.
Second, we see that [[God]]'s name is defended in chapters 5 and 6. [[God]] will not reveal His power on behalf of His sinning people, but He will not allow His glory to be mocked or His name to be defied.
The [[Lord]]s of the Philistines added the Ark to the heathen temple, and put [[Jehovah]] on the same level as their fish-[[God]], Dagon. [[Jehovah]] proved Dagon to be a false [[God]] and vindicated His name. The Ark was then moved from Ashdod to Ekron, but the citizens then begged to have it removed. Once again, [[God]] had defended His name.
It was decided to return the Ark to [[Israel]]; but nobody dared to undertake the task. They finally decided to put the Ark on a new cart and allow the cows to walk down the road unassisted. It would be natural for the cows to seek out their calves; but, if they headed for Beth-shemesh instead, it would be evidence the [[God]] was directing them. [[God]] did direct the cows and they brought the cart to the field of Joshua. The [[Israel]]ites in the harvest field rejoiced to see the Ark returned. However, they became curious, looked into the Ark, and [[God]] had to judge them.
Third, in chapter 7, [[God]]'s people are delivered. The Ark was not returned to Shiloh; it remained at the house of Abinadad for twenty years. What was [[God]] doing during this time? He was preparing His servant [[Samuel]] to defeat the enemy and reestablish the kingdom. No doubt [[Samuel]] was ministering to the people from place to place, giving them the [[Word]] of [[God]]. Verse 3 indicates that [[Samuel]] called the people to repent and return to the [[Lord]]. This meant putting away the [[God]]s of the heathen, and then preparing their heart to serve the [[Lord]]. How tragic that the great nation of [[Israel]] had fallen into defeat and disrepute because of their sins! Had Eli been a faithful father and his sons faithful priests, this defeat would never have occurred.
