1 Samuel 4: 17-22

1 Samuel 4: 17-22

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[b] 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,[c] 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.”

Title: Repent!

Message: God forgives our sins but the consequence of what we did remains and will be extended depending upon God’s timing and standards. Eli’s sons sinned against God and so did he. No repentance among the Israelites was observed. Hence, God let the enemies overcame them.

Promise to Claim: God is merciful. All we need to do is repent.

Command to Obey: Let us avoid temptation and when we are tempted let us ask for God’s guidance. Let us confess our sins and repent. Let us seek  our Father’s forgiveness.

Warning to Heed: God punishes the sinners.

Application: Temptations surround us and to keep ourselves from sinning is a real challenge. Thus, I will see to it that I devote my first hours of the day to God, that I seek His guidance and provision of wisdom before I settle on any undertaking which has been assigned to me.