June 18, 2010
Even though Eli himself didn't submit to God, he knew it was the right thing to do and he advised Samuel to say, "Speak LORD, I am your servant and I am listening." Eli knew what to do, he just didn't do it. Every one of God's messages to Samuel came true.
Israel went out to battle the Philistines. Nowhere in this passage does it say God told them to go to battle. It also doesn't say they inquired of God whether they should go into battle. Israel was used to doing things her own way. God's instructions were not being followed. So they decided to do battle, and were defeated. After they lose the first battle they decide they better bring God along for the next battle. So they send for the Ark of the Agreement. They again did not inquire of God if this is what they should be doing. They decided. So the Ark is brought. And who is with it? Hophni and Phineas, Eli's sons who have ignored God's instructions and dishonored God by their actions. And the Israelites dare to think that some how God will bless their disobedience and arrogance?
This time they are soundly defeated. Hophni and Phineas die (as God said) and the Ark is captured. A soldier escapes and runs home. The soldier tells Eli what has happened, and Eli falls over and dies (again as God said).
The Ark is captured. All it does is bring trouble to the Philistines. They put the Ark in Dagon's temple beside their god Dagon. The next morning they find Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the Ark. They set Dagon (their god) back up. The next morning they go back in and the same thing had happened. Dagon had again fallen on the ground before the Ark. This time only the torso of Dagon was left. The head and hands were broken off.
It says, "the LORD was hard" on the people of Ashod and their neighbors. Tumors grew on their skin. They knew God was angry with them and they wanted the Ark gone. So the Ark was sent to another town. The same thing happened. Tumors began to grow. "The LORD was hard on that city also." The people panicked and the Ark was sent to a third city. "All the people were struck with terror because God was hard on them there."
Moral of the story: God cannot be used and manipulated to do what we want when we want it done. Acting on our own selfish desires, getting into trouble, and then bringing God along side to fix things won't work. And, if you don't have a relationship with God, being in His presence can really mess up you. You cannot just add God to your life. He has to be Lord of your life.
Next Entry: I Samuel 6:1 – 7:17
Even though Eli himself didn't submit to God, he knew it was the right thing to do and he advised Samuel to say, "Speak LORD, I am your servant and I am listening." Eli knew what to do, he just didn't do it. Every one of God's messages to Samuel came true.
Israel went out to battle the Philistines. Nowhere in this passage does it say God told them to go to battle. It also doesn't say they inquired of God whether they should go into battle. Israel was used to doing things her own way. God's instructions were not being followed. So they decided to do battle, and were defeated. After they lose the first battle they decide they better bring God along for the next battle. So they send for the Ark of the Agreement. They again did not inquire of God if this is what they should be doing. They decided. So the Ark is brought. And who is with it? Hophni and Phineas, Eli's sons who have ignored God's instructions and dishonored God by their actions. And the Israelites dare to think that some how God will bless their disobedience and arrogance?
This time they are soundly defeated. Hophni and Phineas die (as God said) and the Ark is captured. A soldier escapes and runs home. The soldier tells Eli what has happened, and Eli falls over and dies (again as God said).
The Ark is captured. All it does is bring trouble to the Philistines. They put the Ark in Dagon's temple beside their god Dagon. The next morning they find Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the Ark. They set Dagon (their god) back up. The next morning they go back in and the same thing had happened. Dagon had again fallen on the ground before the Ark. This time only the torso of Dagon was left. The head and hands were broken off.
It says, "the LORD was hard" on the people of Ashod and their neighbors. Tumors grew on their skin. They knew God was angry with them and they wanted the Ark gone. So the Ark was sent to another town. The same thing happened. Tumors began to grow. "The LORD was hard on that city also." The people panicked and the Ark was sent to a third city. "All the people were struck with terror because God was hard on them there."
Moral of the story: God cannot be used and manipulated to do what we want when we want it done. Acting on our own selfish desires, getting into trouble, and then bringing God along side to fix things won't work. And, if you don't have a relationship with God, being in His presence can really mess up you. You cannot just add God to your life. He has to be Lord of your life.
Next Entry: I Samuel 6:1 – 7:17
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