One question that often comes up is…
“Why didn’t God instantly kill the Philistines when they captured the Ark?”
The reason a lot of folks ask that question is because of the Torah command that says only the Levites are authorized to carry the Ark and only certain priests have permission to pack and unpack it.
If this command is broken, the violator is instantly struck down.
And later in the Scriptures, there’s a story when that’s exactly what happened.
So again…
How in the world were the Philistines able to handle God’s Ark and not perish?
This actually brings up a really important theological principle.
The reason why is because the Philistines had NOT entered into a covenant with God.
Or another way to put it…
God’s commands are only for those who have been grafted into His covenants.
Got it?
The curses and the blessings attached to obeying or disobeying the Lord’s commands only apply to believers.
The Philistines hadn’t signed on to the Lord’s covenants.
Thus, they had no relationship with the Lord.
Remember, the Lord’s Laws are only for His elect.
An unbeliever is NOT required to obey the 10 commandments or any of the other Laws of God for that matter.
In fact, it’s okay for the heathen to worship the heavenly bodies.
The Scripture says the Lord placed stars in the sky for that express purpose.
I’ve mentioned this many times before but it bears repeating.
The Messiah, the Torah and the Law are ONLY for those who God has covenanted with.
And the only people group He has ever entered into a covenant with was Israel.
Yeshua said so himself:
“I was sent only to
the lost sheep of Israel.”
-Matthew 15:24
However, the Lord has always made a way for the gentile to join Israel if he or she wanted to.
That’s a topic we’ll get into the next time we meet.
Oh, Rich, I cannot in any way agree with this one.
God’s commandments are valid for anyone and everyone. Why did he tell Moses that the Jews had to remove all the pagans living in the Land? Wasn’t it because they had polluted the land with their abominations and sinfulness?
If God didn’t kill the Philistines for handling his Ark, the best reason I can come up with is because they were not aware of the rules. He killed Uzzah for steadying the Ark because Uzzah knew he wasn’t supposed to touch it.
The Philistines didn’t know, but they were punished for the way they treated the Ark, just in a different way.
The commandments that God gave through Moses are not all that unique in history, so many of them already being known and observed throughout the Middle East.
The covenant with God does place upon us the onus to obey him, and when we break that covenant, we do receive punishment. Being outside of the covenant does not make one immune from punishment, because in the end they will be punished, but while alive they might not be punished as terribly as someone who has agreed to be under that covenant.
Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law- not in our country, not in any other part of the world, and it is not acceptable with God.
The difference is how severe the punishment for those who know what they should do and refuse, and those who have no idea what they are supposed to do and sin ignorantly.
I think both of you are saying the same thing, it is just that you said it better in a more complete and elaborate way.
As I mentioned in your FB group, I’m not so sure we’re in disagreement.
The main thrust of this post would be in alignment with your statement “The Philistines didn’t know, but they were punished for the way they treated the ark”.
Also agree on one level God’s commands are for all mankind…
But also see super preferential treatment towards those who have entered into a covenant relationship with Him…whether they be curses or blessings.
Remember what Yeshua said about how a Father treats His son.
Shalom
Is there truth to what is referred to as the 7 Noachide laws? Was abstinence from consuming the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil a command that continued after being cast out from the garden?
Yes to first question. Not quite sure I understand your second question.
What about Sodom and Gomorrah? Do they have covenant with God?
That was pre-Sinai, right?
So I guess my quick answer to that question would be no.
The text describes blocking access to the tree of life. No similar guard was placed on the “good and evil” tree, nor was there a rescinding of the prohibition.
The revelation and commands of Torah are
*potentially* for everyone, but they have to be apprehended first
As Paul says,
When I became aware of the command “do not covet,” sin sprang to life and I died.
Yes, there is a standard for the ignorant, but it is not the standard of Torah, until they apprehend Torah
From Romans 1:18-32:
Even the peoples who had no Torah revelation are declared
ungodly
and
unrighteous.
Why?
Because God has shown ALL people His “eternal power and divine nature”
— through creation alone —
So how do non-Torah people express their ungodliness? They
(1) Suppress the truth
(2) Refuse to honor or thank God
By suppressing the truth and refusing to thank the Creator,
(1) Their thinking becomes futile, foolish, and dark
(2) Their worship gets directed to the creation
(3) God gives them over to lusts / passions / debased minds
(4) Their lives became filled with all manner of sinful behavior
Doesn’t that describe the Philistines? Doesn’t that describe many of our neighbors?
[Or ourselves? ouch]
The real danger zone is when someone has been exposed to Torah,
but has also been told by their spiritual shepherds Torah is obsolete
Which standard will they be held to?
The standard of acknowledging the truth, and honoring God as creator ?
or
The standard of Torah?