When Religion Replaces Relationship 1 Samuel 4:1-22

Israel Had A Relationship With God

Genesis: God established Relationship with Adam & Eve rather than religious practices.

Sin brought about religion: Cain & Abel “The practice of sin offering”

Good Preaching

Called Preacher

True Word from the Lord

Israel Had Real Problems that Religion couldn’t Solve vs.1b-

They Both had their gathering places:

Philistines—True enemies of Israel

Eben-ezer—Stone of help

Philistines had Aphek—barrels of bones

Vs.2--Enemy Attacked Israel— You will have real life problems that require more than religious Activities. 4,000 people were killed.

Vs.3—God gets Blamed when religious Activities don’t work: God didn’t do his job

Vs.3b—4--Men devise their own Solution:

Become more religious: Fetch the ark

Place their trust in Symbols rather than a savior: “It will save us”

Shiloh—Worship gathering place

Ark of the covenant—Their Bible

Eli, Hophni, Phinehas—Religious leaders

Shouting based upon misinformation vs.5

Shouting Based Upon Misinformation—Vs.5

Shouting Feared the Enemy for a Season vs.6-9

Continuing to Practice Religious Practices will lead to greater destruction Vs.10-22

30,000 footmen killed

Religious leaders killed (Sons of Eli and Eli himself)

Ark of the covenant taken

Death of the family: Father, Mother,

Glory is departed from Israel: It has been gone and will not return until a king is born Israel.