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1 Samuel 6 · Grade 5

Who Can Stand?

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Read and Think

The Philistines' seven months with the ark brought only distress. Their priests and diviners advised a guilt offering of five golden tumors and five golden mice, matching the five Philistine lords and the plagues on their land. They urged the people to give glory to the God of Israel and not to harden their hearts, recalling the Lord's acts against Pharaoh.

The test with the two milk cows was designed to rule out chance. Cows that had never borne a yoke, separated from their calves, would naturally turn back home. Yet they took the straight road to Beth Shemesh, lowing as they went, and the five lords followed to the border. The God who had shamed Dagon now guided the return of His own ark.

At Beth Shemesh the joy of the harvest turned to worship, then to fear. When some men looked into the ark, God struck them, and the people asked, Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? It is the right question. God's presence is a gift, but He is not a common thing to be handled carelessly. Israel had to relearn reverence before the ark could rest among them.

Show What You Know

  1. Why did the offering include five golden objects of each kind?

  2. Why was the test designed with cows separated from their calves?

  3. What question did the people of Beth Shemesh ask?

  4. What did Israel have to relearn?

Crossword

2341

Across

  1. Two milk ____ pulled the cart (6:10).
  2. People were reaping their ____ harvest (6:13).

Down

  1. The ark was set on a great ____ (6:15).
  2. The Philistines made a new ____ (6:7).
  3. The cows took the straight ____ (6:12).

Think About It

  1. How do we balance joy in God's nearness with reverence for His holiness?

  2. Who is able to stand before a holy God? How does God make a way for us?

Memory Verse

The men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? To whom shall he go up from us?”

1 Samuel 6:20 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for guiding every step. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How did God show His control over the return of the ark?
  • How can joy and reverence go together in worship?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.