The journey of the Ark

Let’s review the route by which the Ark of the Lord was moved. The Ark traveled from Shiloh to the battlefield at Aphek, then through the cities of the Philistines, moved to Beth-shemesh and finally returned to Kiriath-jearim. (1) Kiriath-jearim was a town in the hills of Judah, located on the way from Beth-shemesh to Jerusalem, or Shiloh. (2) The people of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the Lord up to their town. (3) They seem to have learned from the mistake of the people of Beth-shemesh. They brought the Ark to the house of Abinadab, located at the highest point in the town, and placed it there. (4) Furthermore, they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the Ark of the Lord. This was not a consecration as a priest, but rather appointing him to ensure that the people did not commit any irreverent acts towards the Ark. How fortunate Abinadab must have been to have the Ark of the Lord placed in his home. We, too, can experience the same blessing as Abinadab. The Lord Jesus visited homes and used them as bases for his ministry. He often stayed at the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany. And even now, He is present in homes that welcome Him. Have you invited the Lord Jesus Christ not only into your heart but also into your home?

For twenty years

No incidents occurred in Kiriath-jearim, and 20 years passed. (1) The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim until the time of King David, which actually amounts to approximately 100 years. (2) The 20 years mentioned here refer to the period until Samuel began his public activities as a prophet. (3) During these 20 years, Israel continued to suffer under the Philistines. Additionally, many among the Israelites started worshiping the gods of the Philistines. (4) During this time, a spiritual longing developed among the people of Israel, and they began to yearn for new revelations and visions from the Lord. The answer from God to this longing was the emergence of Samuel as a vessel of God. Spiritual longing is the mother of revival. Let’s pray that such a spiritual longing arises among our brethren.