The people of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord this holy God? To whom should the ark go from here? ” (1 Samuel 6:20)
In today’s reading of 1 Samuel 6, we see an example of what happens when people don’t have reverence to God and His holiness. We can go through the motions of trying to follow God’s rules and seem by our outward appearance to look good to others, but we need to remember that God looks at our hearts and if we are allowing God to daily transform us more and more into the image of His Son, Jesus.
The men of Beth-shemesh offended the holiness of God and disrespected God through their actions and hearts. The result of peering into the ark of the Lord was that 70 men were struck dead. Because of the honor and glory of God there are things God chooses to keep hidden, and it is wrong for men to pry into these secrets of God.
So the men of Beth-shemesh ask, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the holy God?” Were they trying to blame God for being harsh to them for looking in the ark, instead of admitting their disobedience to God and facing the consequences for it? When men encounter the holiness of God, they are not necessarily attracted to it. When Peter saw the holy power of Jesus he said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!”(Luke 5:8) When the disciples on another occasion saw the holy Jesus shining forth at the transfiguration, they were greatly afraid (Mt. 17:6).
When we meet the Holy God, we are excited and afraid at the same time. It’s like going up on a rollercoaster ride, you want to be there, but at the same time you don’t want to be there. Let’s ponder this question, “Who is able to stand in the presence of this holy God?” Let’s remember that holiness isn’t achieved through our own efforts. Rather it is received as we are new men and women in Jesus. As it says in 1 Peter 1:16, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Holiness is not something that we have, but rather it is something that has us.