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April 9th
1 Samuel chapters 4-8 will be our Bible reading today.
God was going to use the Philistines one more time to teach and train His promised land people. But it would take “more” than one defeat and 4,000 Israeli soldiers “ dead” to turn the hearts of God’s treasured ones back to Him.
Instead of desiring and trusting in God’s word that He would be with them, Israel’s elders looked to their own inventions, “again”, inorder to defeat their enemy. But instead of winning, they lost, overwhelmingly...30,000 more Israeli soldiers died and the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines.
What happened? Israel’s elders decided to bring the “ark of the covenant”, from the Tabernacle to the battle field. I can just hear their justification for this strategy for victory. “Didn't our fathers tell us of Moses directing the priests to carry the ark before the army as they all marched around the walls of Jericho? It worked for them, surely it will work for us as well.”
The leaders of Israel were using the ark as the ultimate “good luck” charm. In the holy place, the ark was symbolic of the throne of God’s presence and power. Israel’s leaders “wanted” that presence and power for “their” victory.
So they moved a “piece of furniture”...Like they could move God at their pleasure...talk about idolatry.
“Lord, our ancestors in the faith forgot that their job was to “do life with “YOU”...as YOU direct...as YOU declare...as YOU work...as YOU fight. Lord, we too can move the furniture...and without realizing it, take the throne, make our plans and then beg You to bless them.” Sorry about that Lord. We still need you big time!”
In reality, Israel was “using” the “ark of God” rather than trusting in the “God of the ark”. Whether they knew it or not, Israel’s leaders were essentially trying to manipulate God to work for them.
“Lord, how many times have I looked to my own ideas and my own strategies to accomplish what I have believed was Your will? I’m sorry Lord. Help me to look first, always first, to You, Your word and Your ways. Let me rejoice and hope in You, first and foremost, for “everything” in my life.”
In the reading today, we see God getting through to His people, little by little...(that’s good news for a slow learner like me)...a little boy...the high priest...the Philistines...and probably the wives and children of the 70 Israelite men whom God struck down because they looked upon and inside the ark of the covenant.
And we also witness a tragedy or two along the way...like a young woman lost her life giving birth to a son. Some would say that the tragedy was that her husband couldn't be there to help and comfort her. Yes. But I think that the real tragedy was her last words...” the glory is gone.”
The young mother died believing that the loss of the ark meant the loss of God Himself. She was suffering and scared I'm sure. It must have been terrible to face death thinking that she was doing it all alone. “ Listen to her last words. “The glory is gone...” Her hope was in a piece of Tabernacle furniture. And since it was gone, God and His presence and power and promise must be gone too.
Oh, that those ladies helping would have said more than “it’s a boy”. Oh, how great it would have been to the soul of the young dying mother to be assured that God was not gone...God was not dead...but alive and well and present and strong enough to take care of her newborn as well as carry her to her reward in heaven.
Now that’s good news. Enjoy the rest of the story
Have a great day
