READ: 1 Samuel 4
This chapter along with the next
two tell a story about the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant had
been constructed along with the Tabernacle under the leadership of Moses. On
Mount Sinai God had revealed His plans regarding the Israelites’ lifestyle of
worship. Within the Tabernacle was an inner room called the Most Holy Place and
the Ark of the Covenant was the only piece of furniture in that room. Inside it
were three things: the stone tablets upon which were written the Ten
Commandments, a golden urn holding a portion of manna, and Aaron’s staff which
God had caused to bud and flower in order to show Aaron and his family as the
priestly line. The Ark itself was overlaid with gold and was covered with a
golden slab called the mercy seat. On it were two cherubim with wings
out-stretched and faces looking downward in awe. It was here between the
cherubim that God would speak to Moses. The Ark became the visible sign of the
presence and power of the Lord in Israel. And it was an important aspect of
battle, generally showing that the Lord was with
Israel in their fight.
While the Ark of the Covenant
was God’s choice of meeting place, the Ark itself held no power. In this story
we see that the Israelites are without a fear of the Lord. After their defeat
by the Philistines, they do not seek the Lord’s wisdom; rather they bring the
Ark into their camp presuming that it will bring victory. Treating it like a
charm, they assume that its presence will automatically bring Yahweh’s support.
But God cannot be mocked. He is not a man, and He is most definitely not an object to be trifled with. He is Creator
and Lord of the Universe, almighty and sovereign in all He does!
This sovereignty of God is the
theme we see throughout the story of 1 Samuel 4-6. First, though Samuel is not
present (he is probably growing up during this time), the story begins with one
line about him: “And the word of Samuel
came to all Israel.” (4:1) The prophecy God had given Samuel on the night
of his calling is about to come true in this story. The first truth of God’s
sovereignty proclaimed in this story is this: His word always accomplishes
something. God said that Hophni, Phinehas and Eli would die and they did,
according to His Word.
The end of the chapter
describes the effect of the day’s events. With her final breaths, the wife of
Phinehas mourns the loss of the Ark of the Covenant, even naming her child for
the ominous occasion. The loss of the Ark is much more than a stolen trinket;
that God would allow the mercy seat – His chosen place of communion – to be
taken by the enemy shows that something is not right in Israel. Though God is
not bound to a box, He is to be revered and His way is to be honoured. Israel’s
lack of reverence results in the deportation of the Lord’s glory. In their
haste the Israelites have sold themselves short; in opting for a quick fix they
have lost both the Ark and the sign of God’s presence and power in their midst.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Ask
God to reveal a way that you lack reverence for Him – a way that you are
treating Him as less than holy. Confess this to Him and ask Him to give you the
correct perspective. How will this perspective change your view of God?
2. We
often put our hope in things, people and ourselves when we need to put our hope
and trust in God alone. We depend on something
to change a bad habit that we have. We depend on someone to change their attitude before we can change ours. We depend
on ourselves and our own strength to
minister in the way God called us to. Etc., etc., etc.! God must be our FIRST
and FOREMOST go-to! He wants us to lay our hearts out before Him. He wants us
to ask Him for strategy when we don’t know what to do. He wants us to ask for
His Spirit’s filling to do the tasks He has called us to!
a. In
what way have you been depending on something/someone/yourself instead of God?
Confess this to Him.
b. Take
some time to bring this thing before God. He is so pleased when you do this!
Lay it out before Him, ask Him for His strategic wisdom, and pray for the Holy
Spirit to fill you so that you can depend on HIS strength today.
3. Who
are some people that you know who have walked away from the Lord and in doing so
have deported God’s glory from their lives? Spend some time interceding for
them. Ask God how you can pray for restoration in their lives and pray as He
leads you.
