The Ark of the Covenant Bible Study | The Ark Moved to Kiriath-Jearim

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1 SAMUEL 6–7

The Ark Moved to Kiriath-Jearim

 

Now the people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley. When they looked up and saw the Ark approaching, they rejoiced greatly.


The cart came to the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stopped beside a large stone. The people of Beth-shemesh cut up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.


The Levites took down the Ark of the LORD and the box containing the golden offerings that was beside it, and placed them on the large stone. That day, the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD. When the five lords of the Philistines saw this, they returned to Ekron that same day.

 

Irreverence Brings Judgment

 

But some of the men of Beth-shemesh looked into the Ark of the LORD, and the LORD struck them down.


The people mourned greatly because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter. They said, “Who can stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall He go from here?”

 

The Ark Sent to Kiriath-Jearim

 

So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the Ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your city.”


Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the Ark of the LORD.

 

A Long Season of Waiting

 

The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—about twenty years.


And all the house of Israel mourned after the LORD.

 

Who Can Stand Before a Holy God?

 

Their question reveals a deep truth:

👉 No one can stand before a holy God in their own strength

 

This question points forward to the need for a mediator—which points to Jesus Christ. Scripture gives the answer:

 

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

 

Jesus — Our Mediator


Through Jesus Christ:

  • We have a mediator between God and man
  • We are no longer separated by sin
  • We can come into God’s presence

 

Hebrews 9:15— “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant…”

 

The Answer—Only through Jesus Christ can anyone stand before a holy God.

 

A Season of Mourning

 

For twenty years, Israel mourned after the LORD. This shows:

  • A longing for God
  • A recognition of distance
  • A need for restoration

 

Final Connection

 

The Ark was a shadow—Jesus is the fulfillment

What the Ark represented—a place where God met man

What Jesus is—the way God meets man

 

👉 The Ark showed us God’s presence—Jesus brings us into it.

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