Hophni and Phinehas brought the ark of the covenant into their battle with the Philistines as a magic trick to help them defeat the enemy. They had been sexually assaulting women who came to the temple, but now with the Philistines breathing down their necks they wanted God around. The Philistines won the battle, killed Hophni and Phinehas, and captured the ark (see 1 Samuel 4:1-11). In other words, don’t mess with God. He is not your toy or your personal vending machine.
