DEVOTIONAL

Prayers:

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalm 29:2 

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness.”   

Worship Song Sung or Said: There Is None Like You (Written by: Lenny LeBlan) 

https://youtu.be/Zqrszp28aDg

There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
And I could search for all eternity, Lord
And find, there is none like You
There is none like You
There is none like You
There no one else
No one else can touch my heart like You do
And I could search
I could search for all eternity, Lord
And find, there is none like You

Your mercy flows like a river so wide
And healing comes from Your hand
And suffering children are safe in Your arms
There is none like You
There is none like You, Lord

There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
And I could search
I could search for all eternity, Lord
And find, there is none like You
Oh, I could search for all eternity, Lord
And find, there is none (there is none)
There is none (there is none)
There is none like You
There is none like You

God’s Word for Today: Samuel 4:1-22 

“And Samuel’s word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 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.” 4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the Ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the Ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the Ark of the LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the Ark of the LORD had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 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!” 10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. 12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the Ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry. 14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, 

“What is the meaning of this uproar?” The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.” Eli asked, “What happened, my son?” 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. He had led Israel forty years. 19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention. 21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the Ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.” 

Devotional/Study: Part 1

Today I want to look an amazing story from 1 Samuel 4. This was a very low time in the history of Gods people.  At this time Eli was the high priest who was also the 10th Judge of Israel. He had led Israel for 40 years. He had two sons Hophni and Phinehas who were very wicked men who had no regard for the lord. 1 Samuel 2:12-17 tells us that these sons were despising God and his commands in how they were handling their priestly duties. It was a time in Israel's history where “there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6

It was also a time when God was not speaking to his people very often: we read in 1 Samuel 3:1 “the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.” In chapter 4 we are told that the Israelites fought a battle against the Philistines and in this battle, Israel is defeated and 4,000 men are killed. In response to this defeat “the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines?" v3

The elders are confused are wondering why the Lord could allow them to suffer this defeat. 

Why didn’t God help them to win? Why wasn’t He there when they needed Him? 

Sometimes in life when things are difficult, we can find ourselves asking those kinds of questions. Why has God allowed this to happen? Where is God when I need Him? 

After this defeat the elders met together and decided that one thing that could save them, 

would be the Ark of the covenant, a sacred chest built by the Israelites and containing the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. We read this in 1 Samuel 4:3 “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.” (The city of Shilo was Israel religious centre)

The Ark was important for the Israelites because it represented God's presence in their midst. Because the Ark was a symbol of God’s presence the elders thinking was that if they had the Ark, Gods presence would be with them and therefore it would save them from their enemies.  One commentator suggests that the Israelites assumed “That if they had the Ark with them God would have to save them and protect His honour.” (dale ralph Davis).

It seems they thought they could force God’s hand to defeat the enemy. Instead of humbly repenting and seeking God. They used God like a good luck charm. They thought if we have this box with God inside, he will surely help us after all we are His people. It seems the Israelites were looking at the Ark of the Covenant to help them instead of the living God. 

It is interesting how so many people look to some object as a good luck charm even Christian people. A while ago somebody asked me if I would bless their wooden cross. I am not sure why; perhaps he believed the wooden cross had some kind of power.

For some Christians the cross and other objects can become a symbol of superstition.  

Some believe that wearing a cross can ward off evil and protection. For some people today the cross has become a fashion item. There is no instruction in the New Testament regarding wearing a cross or not. I wear a cross because it’s a symbol of my belief and a reminder of all that Jesus has done for me. What is important to remember Images and symbols are meant to aid and help us in our worship and understanding and a reminder of what Jesus did on the cross and not a piece jewellery to make you look good. 

For example, the bread and wine we use for Holy Communion. They are symbols that help us understand that Jesus’ body was broken and his blood was shed for us. The danger and what is forbidden is to make images and symbols as objects of worship. 

We are never to worship anything created; worship is meant for God alone. It’s important to remember a symbol of God does not guarantee his presence and power as the Israelites found out. Now when the Ark eventually came back the people were uplifted and now felt that God was with them, we read in 1 Samuel 4:5 “When the Ark of the LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.” 

They rejoiced and believed God would now give them victory because God was with them.

When the philistines heard the shouting and discovered that the Ark was with the Israelites, they became afraid. Why were they afraid? They were afraid because they remembered stories about how God had helped Israel when they left Egypt. 

We read in 1 Samuel 4:6-8 "6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the Ark of the LORD had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 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.”

However, somehow the philistines encouraged each other decided to not to give up but fight. So, they go into battle and once again they defeat the Israelites. This time 30,000 soldiers are killed, along with the two sons of Eli Hophni and Phinehas. 

Not only did the Israelites lose the battle something terrible and unthinkable happened. The Ark of God was captured. The very thing the Israelites thought would help them win the battle was now in the hands of their enemies, the philistines. This news that Israel had fled before the Philistines; the army had suffered heavy losses. Hophni and Phinehas the two priests were killed and the Ark of God had been captured reached Shiloh, and on hearing this news an outcry resounded throughout the town. 

The messenger informed Eli, who on hearing this and died. We read in 1 Samuel 4:18 “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. He had led Israel forty years.” 

When Eli’s daughter-in-law who was pregnant heard all the news she goes into premature labour and gives birth. As she gives birth, with her dying breath, she names him “Ichabod” which means “where is the glory.” She realizes the departure of the Ark symbolizes the departure of God’s glory v21.“the glory of God had indeed departed but not because the Ark of God had been captured; the Ark had been captured because the glory had already departed. (Ellison scripture union bible study books 1966) 

All that happened in Israel history gives us a glimpse of the spiritual darkness and the decline of Gods people. What a sad and tragic day it is when the glory of God departs from a nation, or a church, or a person. 

This story reminds us how important it is to stay close to God and not wander or go astray. As I was thinking about this, I know in my own life when I have lived a sinful life, I feel God's anointing has departed from me, however what I find amazing is that in his mercy he will still use me, but is does not necessarily mean he is happy with my lifestyle and I know one day we all have to give an account to God. What I find encouraging is that God's heart is wide open and tender towards us when we come to him in all humility. We thank God that he longs to bless us and anoint us to fulfil his will for our lives. 

Personal Prayers: