A few thoughts from the passage today.
1) We need to make sure we continue to worship and obey the creator- with the honor and respect due Him....which includes following his commands.
In reading through the first part of chapter of 4, I was trying to figure out why God would allow the Israelites to be defeated once again. Typically in the past they had fallen away from God or worshiped other God's but in this case it does not directly mention that. Originally God had provided strict instructions around where the ark was to be kept and who was to be in close proximity with the ark. The Most Holy of the tabernacle was the location it was to be kept and only the High Priest (Eli) was supposed to enter in and be in proximity to the ark. Yet ...Hophni and Phinehas must have had access to it as they were with the ark when it was brought from Shiloh. Maybe trying to read too much into this and looking for a "reason" for the loss but perhaps once again Israel failed to follow God's commands.
2) It is somewhat interesting that even non-believers are often mindful of God's power....yet they continue on their current path...following false gods and relying on their own strength. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”
How often as believers do we forget the powerful God we serve, and the deliverance he has provided throughout history and will continue to provide.
3) Eli Fell backwards and died not as a result of hearing of his sons deaths, but rather in hearing of the capture of the Ark.17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. We experience great emotion around the personal loss of family or those close to us....but do we feel that same level of emotion for the things of God? If someone uses His name in vane, or a fellow believer turns from his/her faith...do we feel that same level of grief.
4) Man may have several "gods" but the one true God continues to reveal himself.Imagine the Philistines having a temple dedicated to Dagon...and placing the Ark next their primary god whom they believed was responsible for weather and crops. Waking up not once but on two mornings to see their all powerful god toppled over and on his face in reverance before the Ark. God continues to show his power, even though we may try to compartmentalize him with many other important things in our lives (aka other gods like Dagon).
3 comments:
God's power was evident to both the Israelites and the Philistines, and yet both still over looked God. How many times is God's power evident to me and I'm too busy with life to notice, and praise Him?
I also took note of Eli falling off his chair and dying at the news of the Ark of God being captured and not because of the death of his sons.
God's power is so evident in this passage. The Damon incident is hilarious and the cows go against their natural and God-given instincts when the "moms" walk away from their calves. Unfortunately the Israelites treated the Ark as a good luck charm instead of actually bring concerned with obeying, worshipping, and following God. We need to be careful not to do the same.
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