1 Samuel 4: 1-11

1 Samuel 4: 1-11

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[a] 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.

Title: The amulet

Message: It’s not our belief that will save us but our relationship with the Father. It’s not about our being a Christian but about what we manifest as Christians. Having experienced defeat, the Philistines sought the ark not the one who was represented by it. As they were in trouble, they were expected to communicate with God and could have thought of reflecting on the reasons of such. However, they acted otherwise. They took the ark as an amulet that would bring them triumph, which would save them from death. Hence, God let the enemy conquer them and so Eli’s sons – Hophni and Phinehas and many other Israelites died.

Promise to Claim: God is the Lord of all. He’s the mightiest. He’s alive. He has not been and will never be represented by anyone or anything. He’s our refuge, our redeemer.

Command to Obey: Let us put our trust in God and not on anything or anyone that we assume represents Him.  Let us come to Him. Let us kneel before Him. Let us make ourselves depend on God the creator and not on any of His creations.

Warning to Heed: 21 “Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter God’s kingdom. The only people who will enter are those who do what my Father in heaven wants” (Matthew 7:21).

Application: I will let God rule my life. I will always think of the CREATOR and will depend on Him in everything.