Another good morning and once again appreciate the comments!
1st Samuel chapter 4.
This chapter ends up becoming the chapter that fulfills a prophecy that was given earlier. The prophecy given in the previous chapters was that God would destroy the family of Eli because of the sin that was going on amongst them. Plus Israel was destroyed. 34000 soldiers lost their lives in battle. Eli, his two sons, and his daughter-in-law lost their lives as well.
God told them what was going to happen because of their sin and it happened. The thing is though, they knew in advance that evil would produce destruction. We know that today, but God gives us warnings in advance so that we have time to repent and change our ways and get right with God. But Israel and Eli and his two sons did not get right with God. Are we?
This was a sad chapter to read. The prophecy was fulfilled as we find out about Ichabod, “The glory has departed from Israel!”
I was reminded today of what we see in Hebrews 10:26-31.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
May we stay close to Jesus and not experience the terrible consequences of sin.
In today’s reading, we see Israel treating the ark of the covenant as a good luck charm – a religious relic – rather than a symbol of God’s presence, a symbol of His covenant with them. They confused the symbol with His actual presence. This is so similar to how the Philistines saw their gods.
God wants us to be Spirit-led … every day. Think about it, reading 2 chapters a day or attending church twice a week won’t guarantee victory. But, if reading 2 chapters a day or attending church two times a week is done for the purpose of meeting Him, learning more about Him, spending time with Him – He promises to meet us there (James 4:8).
Although God’s people were not faithful to Him, He remains faithful to them (2 Timothy 2:13). God never gave up on Israel and He’ll never give up on us. (Smile on my face; joy in my heart!)