“The ark of God has been captured,” he choked on the words.

“It’s now in the hands of the Philistines.”

Laadan dropped to his knees in the dirt of the city gate, his mind whirling like a wheel. All of this news was overwhelming! The battle with the Philistines had been lost. Hophni and Phineas had been killed as prophesied, and Laadan’s brother, Uzzi, might even be dead. Eli was dead now, too, and even worse the ark of God was gone. Could there be any news worse than this in the world? Without the ark there was no hope for anyone in Israel anymore. It appeared Jehovah had indeed departed from Israel.

What would happen now? Would Laadan and his family become Philistine slaves? And what about his friends Iddo, Carmi and Leah? Would he ever see them again? Would the Philistines destroy God’s tabernacle too?

Guardians of the Mercy Seat chronicles the adventures of Laadan and his friends as they struggle to know God’s will for Israel—and their own lives—in the tumultuous days leading up to the capture of the ark of the covenant, and the troubled times following its seizure. Would they have the courage to stand for what they believe? No matter what? Would they ever be able to return to Shiloh to worship at the tabernacle? Or had God truly abandoned Israel?