1 Samuel 6:19 KJV And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
They had looked into the ark of the Lord
There is a Scripture in the books of Moses that strictly forbids looking into the content of the Ark. This verse states that God killed 50,070 people.
Numbers 4:20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”
As a consequence of this act of cruriosity they profaned the content of the Ark and God smote of the people fifty thousand and seventy men; Most likely , 70 of the elders of the people, and 50,000 of the congregation, or common people, A study on the linguistics suggests the opinion that only seventy men of Bethshemesh were slain, and that the other 50,000 were the Philistines.
New Living Translation - But the LORD killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the LORD. And the people mourned greatly because of what the LORD had done.
Only the Levites could carry the ark in a very specified way, and that they were not allowed to touch any of the holy things. When David had the ark transported, but not in the prescribed way (compare 1 Chronicles 13:7), Uzzah saw how the ark started to slip, and he “put his hand to the ark” (1 Chronicles 13:9-10) and was killed.
Yesterday we read that the Philistines (non-Levites) took the ark and placed it in the temple of Dagon, and that they sent it later to other cities, as a consequence, they were plagued by God.
The mysterious powers of the Ark
As we have seen in many miracles that happened with the Ark of the Covenant. Here we see a tragedy happening because of disobedience. The reasons why all these men died is unclear but lack of reverence and disobedience to God's instructions doesn't bring anything good.
Does God Punish Christians and others for Disobedience? We know that God’s posture toward sin is forgiveness rather than condemnation. However it's clear in numerous examples from the Old Testament that apparently God was more strict in His judgement before Christ came into this world.
Repentance
Jesus made it clear that repentance and faith are like opposite sides of the same coin.
Mark 1:15 records the inspired summary of Jesus’ message as He began His ministry: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Repentance and faith go together because if you believe that Jesus is the Lord Who saves (faith), you have a changed mind about your sin and your self (repentance); and if you repent, it’s because you trust that Jesus is the Lord Who saves.
God wants us to change course and obey Him
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.
Repentance would not exist without the fear of punishment. There are severe consequences to a life of disobedience to God.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
God's mercy
The principle is that God can destroy people because of sin but He choses mercy most of the times.
Lamentations 3:22 Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.
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