How does the affliction in 1 Samuel 5:6 relate to God's holiness? 1 Samuel 5:6 – The Striking Verse “The hand of the LORD was heavy upon the people of Ashdod; He ravaged them and afflicted them with tumors—both Ashdod and its territory.” What the Affliction Reveals about God’s Holiness • God’s holiness is active, not passive. When the Ark—His earthly throne (Exodus 25:22)—is treated like a war trophy, His holy presence responds with power. • Holiness means absolute moral purity; anything unclean that draws near is judged (Leviticus 10:3; 2 Samuel 6:6-7). • The “heavy” hand (same Hebrew root as “glory,” kabod) shows His weighty, incomparable majesty. Where His glory rests, irreverence is intolerable. • Tumors underline the personal, bodily impact of sin. Holiness is not abstract; it reaches right into human flesh when God confronts rebellion. Holiness Versus Idolatry • The tumors follow the toppling of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:3-4). First the idol falls, then the people suffer—God’s holiness dismantles both false worship and its worshipers when they refuse to honor Him. • Isaiah 42:8: “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.” The affliction enforces this truth in real time. • Holiness exposes the impotence of idols; only the living God can strike, heal, and command respect (1 Samuel 6:5). A Consistent Biblical Pattern • Egypt’s plagues (Exodus 7-12): God’s holy judgments unmask false gods. • Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3): unauthorized fire meets consuming fire. • Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:6-7): even good intentions cannot bypass holy standards. • Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11): the church’s infancy guarded by holy discipline. • Each scene echoes the question of 1 Samuel 6:20, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?” Response Called For Today • Reverent fear: “Let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29) • Exclusive loyalty: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21) • Hope in mercy: the same holy God provides atonement (1 Samuel 6:14; Romans 3:25-26). Holiness judged the Philistines, yet holiness also planned the cross, where justice and mercy meet. |
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