2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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GOD FULFILS HIS WORD
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11
1 Samuel 4
1 John 3:4-9
“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:
whosoever sinneth hath not seen him…”
GOD FULFILS HIS WORD
The Philistines were a heathen nation and thus were idol worshippers. However, in His sovereign will, God used them to punish the house of Eli, for his sons, in their sin, had defiled the house of the Lord. The Lord used the Philistines as a sword to fulfil what He had told Samuel. God is sovereign and He is able to bring His purposes to pass.
Both the armies of the Philistines and of Israel prepared for war. The Philistines and Israel were constantly in a state of war. In this incident, Israel made the first move and assembled in Ebenezer, while the Philistines were in Aphek. Israel was smitten before the Philistines. In the first round, four thousand in Israel were slain. This was the beginning of an all-out war. Israel, in their desperation, thought that the Ark of the Covenant might help them. From Shiloh, they brought it to the battlefront, thinking it might save them.
Thousands in Israel were killed in the battle that ensued. The presence of the Ark of the Covenant did not help as Israel had hoped. Though the Philistines feared the Ark, they encouraged themselves and waged a brave war. The desperate state of the nation of Israel in the midst of defeat by the enemy failed to lead them to repent before the Lord. The sons of Eli were their religious leaders and they were the culprits in the whole tragedy. The nation knew of their sins, but none protested. When they conformed in sin, there was no hope for repentance and correction.
The result of the war was that the two sons of Eli were among the casualties, and the Philistines took the Ark away. This alone served to incite great fear in Israel. When the old priest Eli heard the news, he fell down and died. The wife of one of the sons of Eli who was expecting a child developed labour pains when she heard of that tragedy. She named the child Ichabod, for the glory was departed from Israel.
THOUGHT: Sin against God is always a sin. Repentance is the only remedy.
PRAYER: Father, may I hide Thy Word in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.