1 Samuel 4:7
And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
The Philistines heard a great shout in Israel's camp, learned that the ark had come among them, and concluded that God Himself had entered the camp, crying out in dismay that no such danger had ever faced them before. They mistook the sacred chest for Israel's god and for God Himself, though it was only the symbol of His presence, and they dreaded it because of the power that had struck Egypt with plagues, opened the Jordan and thrown down Jericho. Their terror did not lead them to yield, but trusting in Dagon they urged one another to fight bravely rather than become servants to the Hebrews. Israel had sent to Shiloh for the ark containing the commandments and carried it into battle with polluted priests, expecting its mere presence to bring victory without repentance and obedience. The ark itself could not give success, for Israel's strength lay in obedience to the law within it, since the living Creator gives prosperity or adversity according to obedience or transgression. Therefore Israel was defeated, the ark was taken and the priests were slain, warning that temple services, possession of truth or knowledge of the law cannot save without a transformed life, as was seen again in Jeremiah's day and in the desolation of Jerusalem.
Philistines Fear the Ark
The Philistines heard Israel's great shout, learned that the ark had entered the camp, and concluded that God himself had come among the Israelites. They mistook the sacred chest for Israel's god and for God himself, though it was only a symbol of His presence. They cried out in dismay that no such danger had confronted them before, treating the event as unprecedented.
They credited the ark with Jehovah's past deliverances and former victories, especially dreading the power that had brought the plagues upon Egypt. They also remembered triumphs such as the crossing of the Jordan and the conquest of Jericho, taking the ark's presence as a sign that Israel's enemies could not withstand God.
Their terror did not lead them to surrender, for trusting in Dagon they urged one another to fight hard rather than become servants to the Hebrews.
Mere Presence Cannot Save
After defeat Israel sent to Shiloh for the ark of the covenant containing the commandments and brought it into battle in the charge of Hophni and Phinehas, polluted and law-transgressing priests, expecting its mere presence to gain victory without repentance of wicked works. They trusted its coming as in the crossing of Jordan and the conquering of Jericho to restore confidence and triumph, and shouted with renewed assurance, yet that shouting did not prevent defeat. The Philistines feared its arrival, but that fear did not make the ark a guarantee of Israel's victory or shield the people from the consequences of their wrongdoing.
The ark itself could not secure success, for it was only a symbol of God's presence and could not by itself secure the blessings God gives. Israel's strength lay in obedience to the law contained in the chest, which represents God Himself, for the living Creator who created heaven and earth and gave the law on Sinai gives prosperity or adversity according to obedience or transgression. Israel had learned to trust the ark more than the God who gave it, even while failing to obey the law it contained, and wrongly expected God to fight for them while they disobeyed Him and carried the ark according to their own plans through Eli's condemned sons. Possessing the law or knowing the truth cannot save when it is not obeyed or allowed to transform character.
Therefore Israel was defeated and handed over to its enemies, for transgression of God's law meant they had forfeited His protection. The ark was captured and removed from the people, the priests were killed, and God would not go with the armies of a people who broke His commandments and desecrated His house. Saul knew this history of defeat after Hophni and Phinehas brought the ark into the camp, yet still chose to send for the ark.
This stands in contrast to times when God brought deliverance as the ark was borne by holy men in obedience with the Lord's host going before it. It also stands in contrast to the later victory gained on that same field where the priests were killed and the ark taken, after Israel turned back to God.
The same false trust reappeared in Jeremiah's time when the Jews believed strict observance of the divinely appointed services of the temple would preserve them from just punishment for their evil course. The same danger exists among those today who profess to be the depositaries of God's law and flatter themselves that regard for the commandments will preserve them from divine justice while they refuse to be reproved for evil and charge God's servants with being too zealous in putting sin out of the camp. A sin-hating God calls upon those who profess to keep His law to depart from all iniquity, and neglect to repent and obey His word will bring as serious consequences upon God's people today as did the same sin upon ancient Israel. For there is a limit beyond which He will no longer delay His judgments, and the desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn warning that correction given through His chosen instruments cannot be disregarded with impunity.