"Why has Yahweh caused us to be beaten by the Philistines today?"
The elders of Israel say a good thing: "Why has Yahweh caused us to be beaten by the Philistines today?". But, they don't appear to have "waited upon the LORD" for a suitable response. Instead, their next move appears rash and unsuitable. They propose to use the sacred Ark of the Covenant in a way for which it was never intended. They propose to use the Ark of the Covenant to influence their outcome on the battlefield. But, Almighty God cannot be manipulated and there were consequences. Note: The ark had gone into battle before. The ark went in front of the marchers around the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:2–11). But then, the LORD had commanded it via Joshua and the people had obeyed.
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Joshua 6:5English Standard Version
And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
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  1. When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the LORD from Shiloh that it may go into battle among us and save us from the grasp of our enemies.” - 1 Samuel 4:3