Coming Back to The Heart of Worship
Notes
Transcript
When the music fades all is stripped away And I simple come
Longin just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart
I’ll bring you more than a song cause song in it self is not what you desire
You search much deeper with in through the way things appear you’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you, its all about you Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it when its all about you its all about you Jesus
1 Samuel 4 - 7.
Overview:
The Philistines come out against Israel and they go to battle and Israel is defeated and the Leaders question why (v.3)! So they send for the Ark of the Covenant so they can defeat the enemies of Israel. They battle again and again the Philistines defeat the children of Israel.
But worse, the Ark is taken captive, Eli’s son are killed and Eli when he hears the news falls over and breaks his neck and dies! Phinehas’s wife gives birth and names the son Ichabod because the glory of the Lord has departed!
The Philistines take the ark and God begins to afflict them with tumors so they send it to different cities where the same affliction happens and then they want to get rid of this curse so they call their priest and ask how to return the ark. they built a new cart, hitched up two milk cows and fill the cart with a sacrifice to appease the God of Israel and send it off. If the cart goes straight to Israel then they would know it truly was the Lord that was afflicting them and sure enough it was!
The Israelites are glad for the ark to be returned but they mistreat it by looking inside and because of that the Lord strikes the people and many die! They then call for the priest to come and get the ark and take it to Kiriath Jearim where Abinadab lives and Eleazar is commissioned to keep it! And it stay there 20 years (actually it stays there over 100 years until David retrieves it to Jerusalem)!
During that 20 years Israel is still being defeated by the Philistines and Israel are lamented after the Lord —> they are becoming desperate for the Lord to intervene on their behalf.
So Samuel addresses the whole house of Israel declaring to them how they could see God’s hand of favor on them again!
Read 7: 3 - 11
Reasons for Defeat:
Reasons for Defeat:
Unconfessed Sin in the camp —> a. Idolatry b. Religious preversion c. Pride
Superstition —> if we bring the Ark! Ill Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones vs the Nazis! they wanted the power of the ark!
Assuming God’s blessing without hearing from Him —> Remember Ai!
God fulfilling His word —> Remember what God declared to Samuel - the two sons of Eli will die on the same day!
God bringing Israel back to Himself!
Note: Sometimes ultimate victory comes through Temporary defeat!
What was God Doing During those 20 years!
What was God Doing During those 20 years!
God was afflicting the enemies of Israel! Chapter 6 reveals to the Philistines that it was the Lord God who was afflicting them!
God was humbling His people to receive His victory!
God was revealing the real problem —> Their heart!
Note: God is Always working out His will in the world whether we see it or not!
Note: Victory comes after Surrender! 2 Chron 7: 14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Faith cycle: Desperation —> Revelation —> Appropriation —> Application —> Transformation that drives us back to revelation but if we fail then God allows defeat to bring us back to desperation!
Turning Back to God:
Turning Back to God:
If = personal responsibility to RESPOND to God!
You return —> repentance (note God did not move) change of heart and direction - spiritual and physical change
With all your heart —> Jeremiah 29: 13
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Humble themselves, Pray, seek My face, turn from their evil ways
Turn from :
idols
evil activities
Turning to:
Direct their heart to God
Serve Him alone!
Then He will deliver you!
Then He will deliver you!
Revival restores dependence on God alone!
Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.
Israel was allow to join the Lord in His victory!
Note: It is still His victory always! His glory and our blessing!