The Ark Returned to Israel. 1 Samuel 6:1-21

Transcription

1 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell The Ark Returned to Israel 1 Samuel 6:1-21

2 2 Text: 1 Samuel 6:1-21, The Ark Returned to Israel Commentary by Ron Thomas 1. When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, 2. the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place." 3. They answered, "If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you." 4. The Philistines asked, "What guilt offering should we send to him?" They replied, "Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. 5. Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel's god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. 6. Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way? 7. "Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

3 Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, 9. but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance." 10. So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. 11. They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. 12. Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh. 13. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. 14. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. 15. The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD. 16. The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron. 17. These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the LORD -one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. 18. And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock, on which they set the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

4 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy [c] of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, 20. and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?" 21. Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your place." (NIV) Commentary: 1 Samuel 6:1-9, When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place." They answered, "If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you." The Philistines asked, "What guilt offering should we send to him?" They replied, "Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel's god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way? "Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought

5 5 this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance." (NIV) I. Counsel Sought About What To Do. 6:1-9 A. A seven-month stay; time to go. 6:1-2, When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place." (NIV) 1. The events of chapter 5, as briefly spoken as they were, lasted seven (7) months. a. This is a good reminder for us that the historical record is not so much interested in chronological time events, as much as in the chronological spiritual sequence. b. The time related to time is, almost, merely incidental. 2. However, unfortunately, some expositors (Arnold, Youngblood) think it is either necessary or, at least, open to the possibility that the seven months could be a figurative expression. a. While this may be so, the only way to conclude as much is from the context. b. Nothing in this context suggests a figurative understanding. B. The trespass offering. 6:3-6, They answered, "If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by

6 6 all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you." The Philistines asked, "What guilt offering should we send to him?" They replied, "Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel's god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way? (NIV) 1. In ancient society, it was a matter of protocol to send the offended idol-god an offering to appease his wrath. a. This is what is occurring in this section of the chapter. 2. The trespass offering (also known as a guilt offering) consisted of five (5) golden tumors and five (5) golden rats. a. This is peculiar at best, strange otherwise. b. Five (5) golden tumors. i. The NET reads, five (5) gold sores; but this does not help much. ii. The gold would be because of a ransom price, a sort of restitution. c. The rats would be suggestive of the bubonic plague mentioned in the previous chapter.

7 7 d. Why the tumors, or why the rats? i. Expositors think it has to do with the ideology of the ancient worshippers; they believed that whatever plague was on the land, a model of that plague or plagues should be made and sent out of the land. ii. This guilt-offering symbolism, they thought, would remove the hand of the Lord from them. 3. In 6:6, this is the second mention of Israel s history in relation to Egypt. a. The first time was in 4:8, The Philistines asked, "What guilt offering should we send to him?" They replied, "Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel's god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way? "Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, (NIV)

8 8 b. The question that arises is why the remark; it seems out of place in the reading. c. Perhaps not if we give thought to Pharaoh s refusal to accept God s heavy hand on them (Egypt) and the Philistines understanding that if they repeat the same mistake, they too will be destroyed. d. Thus, the warning. C. Just in case. 6:7-9, "Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance." (NIV) 1. The trespass offering instruction has been given; now, also, a transportation mechanism is needed. a. But there was a further need, something the priests of Dagon understood well. 2. The female cows would have a natural instinct to be with their calves. a. So it appears that their calves had been with them in the fields. This was a complete trial: unless they were supernaturally influenced, they would not leave their calves; unless supernaturally directed, they would not

9 9 leave their home, and take a way unguided, which they had never gone before (Clark E-Sword). b. Whatever knowledge the idol worshippers had about God is inflicting them with a heavy hand (5:7, 9), there was just enough uncertainty that they would easily conclude coincidence (6:9). i. 1 Samuel 5:7, 9, When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." But after they had moved it, the LORD's hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. (NIV) ii. 1 Samuel 6:9, but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance." (NIV) 1 Samuel 6:10-18, So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and

10 10 there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD. The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron. These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the LORD -one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock, on which they set the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. (NIV) I. The Ark of the Covenant Goes to Beth Shemesh. 6:10-18 A. The Lord directs the cart. 6:10-16, So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to

11 11 the LORD. The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron. (NIV) 1. Listening to the counsel given them, the Philistines fabricate the items and send them on their way toward Beth Shemesh (6:10-11). 2. The Bible speaks only rarely of something s happening by chance or for no apparent reason. In every case the Bible denounces such a concept and emphasizes that Yahweh [Jehovah God] actively works in his world (Willis, p. 82). 3. The people of Beth Shemesh receive the Ark. 6:12-16, Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD. The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron. (NIV) a. The Philistines noted where the ark went as it returned and, no doubt, told the people it was because of the Lord they experienced all the bad things that had afflicted them.

12 12 b. The people of Beth Shemesh were, more than likely, surprised by what they saw. c. The heifers stopped in the field and Israel received the cart, removed the ark, and sacrificed the heifers as a burnt offering to the Lord. i. Winter called (p. 89) this a peace offering (Leviticus 3). ii. Leviticus 3:1-17, "'If someone's offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the LORD an animal without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides. From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to the LORD by fire: all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron's sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. "'If he offers an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the LORD, he is to offer a male or female without defect. If he offers a lamb, he is to present it before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on

13 13 all sides. From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to the LORD by fire: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made to the LORD by fire. "'If his offering is a goat, he is to present it before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides. From what he offers he is to make this offering to the LORD by fire: all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD's. "'This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.'" (NIV) iii. It should be noted that the recognized place for offerings (the tabernacle) was destroyed by the Lord with the Philistine army in 4:1-22, And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the

14 14 Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies." So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!" So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his

15 15 clothes torn and dust on his head. When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry. Eli heard the outcry and asked, "What is the meaning of this uproar?" The man hurried over to Eli, who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes were set so that he could not see. He told Eli, "I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day." Eli asked, "What happened, my son?" The man who brought the news replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel forty years. His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention. She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"-because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said,

16 16 "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured." (NIV) iv. Thus, a proper place was no longer available in which to place the ark. d. Note in 6:15 that it was the Levites who took the Ark of the Covenant down from the cart. i. 1 Samuel 6:15, The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD. (NIV) ii. The cows stopped where the Lord wanted them to stop; the Levites were nearby and it was told to them. e. The people of the area had enough knowledge to know certain protocol. B. The quantity of the trespass offering. 6:17-18, These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the LORD -one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock, on which they set the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. (NIV) 1. In this enumeration, the five (5) lords of the Philistines offered their guilt offering to the Lord, one for each city.

17 However, in 6:18 there is an indication that this offering was of a greater amount when the people in all the cities had an opportunity (compelled or willingly, we do not know) to give a guilt offering to the Lord. 3. The ESV reads,... and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five (5) lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. 1 Samuel 6:19-21, But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?" Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your place." (NIV) I. The Lord Strikes the Men of Beth Shemesh. 6:19-21 A. Looked into the Ark. 6:19 1. Earlier it was stated that the people had enough knowledge to know certain things about God. a. If they did not know, it would have been because they chose not to or that those in positions of religious authority failed the people. 2. The Lord was displeased with what He saw and He struck the people.

18 18 B. How many died? a. How this occurred and in what manner the Lord did this we cannot tell. b. All we know is that a huge number of people died. 1. The English text (NKJV, ASV, KJV, NET) reads fiftythousand, seventy (50,070) men died. 2. Some modern translations (ESV, CEV, GNB) read that seventy (70) men died. 3. Why such a discrepancy? a. There is some uncertainty in the various translations, and in the various notes among commentators. 4. The footnote to the NET may be helpful: The number fifty thousand, seventy (50,070) is surprisingly large, although it finds almost unanimous textual support in the MT and in the ancient versions. Only a few medieval Hebrew mss lack fifty thousand (50,000), reading simply seventy (70) instead. However, there does not seem to be sufficient external evidence to warrant reading seventy (70) rather than fifty thousand (50,070), although that is done by a number of recent translations (e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT). The translation reluctantly follows the MT and the ancient versions here. C. The Ark is transported to Kiriath-Jearim. 6:20-21, and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?" Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath

19 19 Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your place." (NIV) 1. The reaction of the people to the Lord s action is very understandable, but it is too bad they learned this after the fact and many lost their lives. 2. A great lesson is in this. a. When we know or do not know, the consequences can be great. b. Our guilt adds to the consequences because of our knowing better and not doing better. 3. Because of the Lord s wrath s being measured out, the people decide to relocate the Ark of God in Kiriath-Jearim. a. Why here? i. Not certain, but perhaps it had to do with removing it from the border territory to within the country, a place more easily defended. ii. Smith said it was the nearest town of any importance.

20 20 Questions 1 Samuel 6:1-21 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. When the of the had been in, the called for the and the and said, What shall we do with the of the? Tell us how we should send it back to its. 2. They answered, If you the of the of, do not send it away, but by all means send a to him. Then you will be, and you will know why his has not been from you. 3. The asked, What should we send him? 4. They replied, and, according to the of the, because the same has struck you and your. Make of the and of the that are the, and pay to s. Perhaps he will lift his from you and your and your. Why do you your as the and did? When he them, did

21 21 they not send the out so they could go on their? 5. Now then, get a ready, with that have and have never been. the to the, but put their away and them up. Take the of the and put it on the, and in a beside it put the you are back to him as a. Send it on its way, but keep it. If it goes up to its own, toward, then the has brought this on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his that us and that it to us by. 6. Was the method used by the Philistines to determine whether or not God had afflicted them scientific or was their methodology flawed? 7. So they did this. They took such and them to the and their. They placed the of the on the and along with it the containing the and the of the. Then the went toward, keeping on the and

22 22 all the ; they did not to the or to the. The of the them as far as the of. 8. Locate Beth Shemesh and Kiriath Jearim. 9. Why was the ark of the covenant to go to Beth Shemesh according to the Philistine test? Why did the people of Beth Shemesh notify the people in Kiriath Jearim of the return of the ark of the covenant? 10. Now the of were their in the, and when they and saw the, they at the. The came to the of of, and there it beside a. The people up the of the and the as a to the. The took down the of the, together with the containing the, and placed them on the. On that day the of

23 23 and made to the. The of the saw all this and then that some to. 11. These are the the sent as a to the - one each for,,, and. And the of the was according to the of belonging to the - the with their. The, on which they set the of the, is a to this in the of of. 12. But some of the men of, putting of them to because they had into the of the. The because of the the had them, and the of asked, Who can in the of the, this? To whom will the go up from here? 13. Then they sent to the of, saying, The have returned the of the. Come down and take it up to.

24 How many people were killed in Beth Shemesh because they looked into the ark? Give reasons for your answer. 14. Were the Philistines truly repentant or did they simply want to rid themselves of the ark which may have caused them grief? Give reasons for your answer. 15. Why was it decided to give golden rats and models of golden tumors when the ark was returned? Why were these symbolically appropriate?_ 16. Why was Egypt mentioned in this chapter? What is the connection between Egypt and the events of 1 Samuel 6?

25 Explain the rationale for the placement of the cows and their calves in regard to the journey to Beth Shemesh. 18. How much of what happens in today s world is the result of chance and how much by divine intervention? Give reasons for your answer. _ 19. What was the purpose of sacrificing the heifers which had brought the ark back to Israel? 20. What have you learned from your study of 1 Samuel 6 which will help you live more in keeping with the will of God?