Humility
| So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD. 2 It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. 3 And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. (1Samuel7:1-4) |
The death of the 70 men who had opened the ark shook the Israelites badly and they make appropriate arrangements for the ark to be looked after respectfully - consecrating Eleazar to look after it.
It takes 20 years (!) for the Israelites to digest the recent events...
This seems like a long time, but here are some factors to consider...
- The word of the Lord had been rare.
- The failure of Eli's sons had been great and their influence far-reaching - this is demonstrated in the disrespect shown by the men who opened up the ark to look-see.
- Samuel was still growing up and his influence and teaching would have needed time to gain traction
But when the time is right, Israel is suitably repentant and ready to listen and learn. They are ready for a big step...
And so Samuel calls them to a sacred assembly and urges them to put their fake gods behind them so that they can serve only God. And this is what they do.
Sometimes time and quiet is what we need to yearn after God and begin to seek Him again. This will mean humbling ourselves and realising our need of Him.
