‘The Ark’s tale: there and back again’ (1 Samuel 5:1-7:2)

These chapters describe the events that took place after the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant. These events underline the vindicating power of the Lord (greater than their god Dagon), the sovereign control of the Lord (seen in his special guidance of the ark home again) and the holy wrath of the Lord (revealed when two men peeped inside the ark). Such events point us to Jesus, the only one who can appease God’s wrath and who is the true God over all.