The Ark is Returned

Are You Distressed?

How we interact with God during times of need . . . and after.

A King After God's Own Heart

Out of fear of the people, Saul disobeys God's plain command to him God rejects him as king. And he chooses a man to be king who will be after God's heart, and will put God first. David is sent by his father with provisions for his brothers who are serving in Saul's army. The Philistines are seeking to dominate and subjugate Israel. The giant Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, challenges Israel to single combat where the winner takes all. None of the Israelites are willing to face him, until David, who trusts God, offers to fight him. God and David see what others do not.

Israel Demands a King

Many years pass and Samuel is now old. Who will lead Israel next-- Samuel has one solution and the people of Israel another. Events turn again in an unexpected way. The motives of Israel are exposed in their request for a king.

Samuel Confronts Israel

After the Lord struck down 70 people for looking into the ark, Israel mourns for twenty years and leaves the ark separated from the tabernacle. Samuel, as God's prophet, sees that Israel is ready to called back into a proper relationship. He seized the moment and preaches a piercing message about what it takes to be right with God.

The Ark is Returned

Israel had used the ark by bringing it to the front lines of the battle only to discover that God was both unwilling to be used and willing to do the unthinkable by allowing the ark to be captured by the Philistines. The Philistines who thought the God of Israel was a minor deity, experienced the defeat of their national god in his temple. This led to two surprising developments as God displays his glory in Philistia and restores his glory in Israel as well.