Sunday, March 17, 2013 - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

[Tek7]

And Samuel’s words came to all Israel.

Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek. The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about 4,000 men on the battlefield.

When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord let us be defeated today by the Philistines? Let’s bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it will go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.” So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. When the ark of the covenant of the Lord entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a loud shout that the ground shook.

The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the Lord had entered the camp, they panicked. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us, who will rescue us from the hand of these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. Show some courage and be men, Philistines! Otherwise, you’ll serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”

So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe—30,000 of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

1 Samuel 4:1-11, HCSB

The book of Judges and the opening chapters of 1 Samuel paints a picture of Israel as quick to wander, satisfied with sin rather than sanctification, and remembering God only in their suffering. The passage quoted above is yet one more story of Israelite leadership missing the point and assuming they could force God's hands by bringing the ark of the covenant. They put their faith in an object associated with God rather than approach God with genuine repentance. They thought they had worked out their own solution apart from consulting with God and the result was disaster.

And before we say, "Oh, silly Israelites," let's sit down, think on the context of the situation, and check our own hearts for the same flaws. Are we not prone to making our own plans and expecting God to bless them if we do certain things?

Let us take great care to tend carefully to our own personal relationships with God in prayer, reading Scripture, and meditation on His Word. Just following the rules and "filling out the right forms," as it were, is not and has never been an acceptable substitute for legitimate submission to God.

 

[Pheonix28]

Well put.