1 Samuel 4

Scripture‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭“When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”‭‭Observation-What does it say?The Israelites were discouraged that they were defeated by the Philistines in battle.  Verse 2 of this chapter said that about 4,000 Israelites were killed in that battle. As a result of their discouragement, they decided to take matters into their own hands. Without consulting the Lord, they brought the ark of the covenant of God from Shiloh to their camp at Ebenezer. They felt that they could do a better job at defeating the Philistines if the ark was in their presence. They were wrong.  Also, Hophni and Phineas, who were Eli's sons, had no authority to handle the ark, as commentary states that they lived against the ways of the Lord. Because of Israel's disobedience, in the next battle against the Philistines, they lost 30,000 foot soldiers (over 8 times more deaths than the last battle.) In addition, the ark of the covenant of God was captured. (vss. 10-11)Understanding-What does it mean?When discouraged in the faith, don't take matters into your own hands. Keep trusting the Lord.The Israelites made things worse when they brought the ark of the covenant into their camp because they did so without consulting the Lord. They forgot that the Lord was still with them and felt that they had a better solution to their problem.  Instead of continuing to trust,  their discouragement led them to take matters into their own hands, which led to even more destruction, including the capture of the ark of God from their nation of Israel. Life ApplicationEven when discouraged, I will trust that the Lord is still with me. I won't won't veer off His path for me.Dear Lord, I pray that with every decision I make, I would consult You first. I confess that when it seems like You are slow in keeping your promises, I am tempted to take matters into my own hands because I think you have abandoned or forgotten me. Forgive me for thinking those thoughts. Help me to take that thought captive. I don't want to take control and make decisions apart from You that would cause even more damage and destruction down the line. I desire to die to my will so that Your will would be done. Amen.

 

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-Michelle Gaddi