Day 100, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): 1Samuel 4:1b–7:17
The Power of God's Presence
Some people believe they sense God’s presence when they view a cross or another religious symbol in a church. Because of this, some even wear necklaces or other ornaments with Christian emblems. They believe that God is with them when they wear it and will keep bad things from happening to them. What if a thief stole those things from their church or their possessions? Would God cease to be there? Would he no longer be present among them? What does God require of us for him to be present in our lives?
In today’s Bible reading, the Philistines are oppressing them. They are a maritime coastal nation, residing in towns by the Mediterranean Sea. Israel should have driven the Philistines out of their land as God instructed, but they failed to do that, and now they are in subjection to them. There is chaos and corruption everywhere in Israel and even in the priesthood.
Eli, the high priest of the tabernacle, is a heavy old man. Eli will die, not from old age, but in another way because he does not restrain his sons from offering unholy and unacceptable sacrifices to God. The younger Samuel speaks the words of God to all Israel (1Samuel 4:1), but the people are still not listening and are doing what is right in their own eyes.
The Ark of the Covenant is Captured!
The Israelites take the Ark of the Covenant (a symbol of God’s presence) and the attending priests (Hophni and Phinehas, the sinful sons of Eli) with them into battle. But their “lucky charm” does not work— they lose 30,000 soldiers, their enemies capture the Ark of the Covenant, and Eli’s two sons die in the battle just as God told Samuel and Eli (1Samuel 2:24; 3:11-14).The Real Source of Power
Even after losing, the Israelites do not seek the LORD, repent, or consult his prophet, Samuel. They do not get it. The power for victory is not in a thing but in a person— the Almighty God.
Because we wear Christian symbols, it does not mean God will be with us to bless our way and win our battles. Something more is required for his presence to bless us—a genuine relationship with the LORD and reliance on him. Do we have that relationship? Do we look to him for victory?
The Philistines bring the Ark of the Covenant into the temple of their god, Dagon. They believe he helped them defeat Israel’s god, so they put the captured ark into his temple. When the Philistines wake up the following day, Dagon is flat on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD. They place him upright, but the next day he is flat on his face again before the ark, and his head and hands have broken off. He is powerless to save them (1 Samuel 5:3-4)
Then, once again, God shows the Philistines the power of his presence. He causes the people of their cities to have tumors (an infestation of rats may have caused this calamity). Panic seizes them! The Philistines realize God’s hand of judgment is heavy upon them, so they send it back to the Israelites.
The Ark is Returned
The Philistines place the ark on a cart. Separately, they include a guilt offering of golden tumors and rats and put them into a chest. Then they hook up the cart to a couple of cows who have just calved. If the cows do not return to their young but continue onto the border town of Beth Shemesh in Israel, then it is God’s presence that is against them. Otherwise, their calamities were just a coincidence. “Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left.” (1Samuel 6:12a, NIV)
God’s Presence is Holy
The residents of Beth Shemesh rejoice at the sight of the ark of God.
The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD. (1Samuel 6:14b- 15, NIV)However, the people were curious, and God struck down seventy of the men who looked inside the ark. The people mourned and asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?” (1 Samuel 6:20, NIV). The people of Beth Shemesh fear God’s presence and send the ark to Kiriath Jearim. Then they put a guard on it until they can figure out what to do with it.
The LORD requires holiness, for he is holy. Today, we can enter his presence through his Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:19-22). His sacrifice makes us righteous in God’s sight.The Power of God’s Presence through Prayer
After twenty years, the people of Israel miss the ark. Now they mourn and repent. They rid themselves of their idols, humble themselves, and seek the LORD’s favor. When they gather at Mizpah, however, the Philistines see an opportunity to attack them. In fear, they ask Samuel to pray for them.
Since Christ’s death on the cross, we no longer need a priest—Jesus is our high priest (1Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:23,27). To receive forgiveness of sins, we need to humbly confess our sins to him (1John 1:9). God wants to be our help and defense when we call upon him.In answer to Samuel’s prayer, God sends loud thunder, causing the Philistines to panic and flee. The LORD’s thunder is an attack against Dagon, the god of thunder. Israel slaughters them until the remaining army is out of her territory. Her victory demonstrates that God’s presence is once again with the Israelites, even though the ark is not with them. Why? Because they rely on the LORD to save them, not a symbol of his presence.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, edited by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p. 438
Focus Verse
Zechariah 4:6b (NIV) “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
Discussion
Of what value are Christian symbols?
What are the conditions for God’s presence to be with us and defend us?
What does it mean that God is holy, and how can we be holy?
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com
Looking Ahead: Israel feels weak, and they want leadership. They want a king to lead them in battles like every other nation. However, they fail to consider the consequences. It is wise to Count the Cost before making important decisions. Find out more in our Next Lesson.
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