We have looked at these four chapters in light of the sinner's story now let us look at these four chapters in light of the sinners Redeemer. These four chapters in the book of Samuel afford us a view of the glory of God in the finished work of Christ Jesus the Lord.
Israel finds them selves in a war that they cannot win—
God's elect could never win the war by their own efforts. In them selves they are not as holy as God is holy. They cannot satisfy God's justice. They can have no part in salvation for then would God cease to be Just and the Justifier of all that believe on Christ. They can have no part in salvation for then would the glory of God be compromised and He has declared emphatically that He will not share His glory with another.
The Philistines represent our chief enemy—ourselves.
The ark of God in Shiloh—
The ark of God represents the glory of God. It contains the broken law over which the mercy seat covers. Thus the ark of God is typical of Christ Jesus the Lord. Shiloh is a picture of glory, the heavens. So we see Christ with God from the beginning in the heavens.
The ark of God is brought to the forefront battle—
Christ Jesus the Lord left glory with the Father and assumed our nature. In order for Christ to die on behalf of those God gave Him from eternity He had to be made like us. As a man He had to earn a righteousness that we could not earn. As a man He had to lay down His life with the sins of His people imputed to Him.
The Philistines set up the ark of God beside their statue-god Dagon—
When Christ came unto His own they did not receive Him. The Sanhedrin set Christ up beside the god of their imagination—the god of their self-righteous, free-will, works religion—Christ left their god broken in pieces just as the ark of God left Dagon fallen and broken. Christ made a mockery of the Pharisees self-righteousness.
Philistines take counsel to send ark away from them—
Just as the Philistines took council concerning the ark of God the Sanhedrin took council to determine what should be done about Christ Jesus the Lord. The Philistines determined that the ark of God should be sent away. The Pharisees, fulfilling the purpose of God, determine that Christ should be crucified.
Philistines send the ark away in a religious ceremony—
The Philistines had some knowledge of a trespass, of offerings for sin and of atonement but it was not according to knowledge. They sent the ark of God away in a religious ceremony that included an offering for the disease God had smitten them with and an offering for the mice God has sent to destroy their land. In like fashion, the religious host who crucified the Lord of glory did so calling on the name of their god. They even went so far as to take great precaution in not breaking the sabbath while crucifying the true Sabbath.
Ark returns to Israel—Kirjatjearim—a high hill.
"The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thou footstool." Christ Jesus was raised again for the justification of all those for whom He suffered and died. The hope of every believer is the risen Lord of lords.
Whole house of Israel laments after the Lord—
This great crying out of Israel after the Lord can surely be compared to that great day of Pentecost. But this gathering of Christ's sheep has been since the days of Abel and will continue to be until the last one is called into the fold. Abraham saw the great day of the Lord as God had promised. Noah rejoiced in the same free grace of God in Christ that today's quickened sinner rejoices in. In every generation God's Samuel's have set forth the truth to God's Lydia's. By His grace the whole house of Israel laments after the Lord.
Enemy defeated, full restoration complete—
Christ defeated the enemy in the covenant in eternity. Christ defeated the enemy in His person and work on this earth. Christ defeats the enemy when He calls His people out of darkness into His marvelous light. Christ will deliver the final blow in that day when all Christ's redeemed shall awake and be like Him. Then will there be only perfect communion with the perfect God. For His great name's sake, God will gather the whole house of Israel to rejoice in the blood of their precious redeemer, to gather to the heavenly Mizpeh where the pouring out of water shall be to the praise of the glory of His grace. In that final gathering together the song of the redeemed shall be loud and with one voice, "Worthy is the Lamb!"