External signs vs internal relationship

Message guide

For Jamestown reformed 8/25/24

External signs vs internal relationship

Scripture

1 Samuel 4:1-11

Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 As soon as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9 Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.”

10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Time: Our worship service begins at 9:30 AM; it would be wonderful if you can plan to be here at 9:00 AM. Scott Brouwer will be here to greet you and connect you with our sound folks and we'll run through the order of worship and answer any questions you might have shortly after 9 AM. You'll also be able to get set with a microphone from our sound tech then.  Dress: Business Casual is great. Bible Version: Just in case you're curious, the pew Bibles are NIV (1984 version). Order of Worship: We'll be looking for you to read the Scripture, preach the Message, give the Prayer of Blessing and the Benediction. I will send you a more detailed Order of Worship as we get closer to the date. Preparation: We'd love to have your sermon title and planned scripture, and a short teaser of your sermon (2-3 sentences is just great) and any slides you will use (if any) by Monday, August 19, if possible.  Address for Check: Unless you've squeezed in a move recently, I believe I have your current address, but please let me know if this has changed: 6950 Cherry Valley Dr.Middleville, MI 49333Nutshell

Big Question -

Why would God work against his own people?

Structure & plot -

Vs 1-4 —

Vs 5-9 —

Vs 10-11 —

Main Idea -

Israel trusted in there military strategy rather than God

Israel trusted in the ark as a military strategy rather than the God whose presence resided on it.

Intended Response -

Trust in God not in outward signs of religion

Bottom line -

Biblical Theology -

Acts 4:12

Taking the Lord’s name - bring the ark

Application Table

Topic

View of Audience

What the passage says about it

Tension

Big Question

Why would God work against his own people? If you have your bibles, open them to…

1 Samuel 4 - our passage today - God allows the ark of the covenant to be captured. It seems like satan is winning In various places throughout the Bible God works against his people.

Allowing the Israelites to be enslaved in Egypt Period of the Judges Exile

Today - Why would God allow a church to close Fortunately, the Bible has answers for us, so open your Bibles to…

Scripture

1 Samuel 4:1-11

Prayer - God using evil for good

Truth

Vs 1-4 —

Setting Israel (God’s chosen people) are at war with the Philistines.

They’re getting beaten badly Not just beaten badly. Supernaturally so.

Vs 3 — “Why has …”

Elders have an idea

Take the ark of the covenant Ark of the covenant This was God’s representation of his rule and reign on earth. It was the place where heaven met earth. It had supernatural qualities

In Isaiah, a man tries to stop the ark from falling; he touches it, and he dies. Later, in 1 Samuel, it brings tumors and plagues to the Philistines.

35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.”

Nu 10:35.

But when the elders do it here in 1 Samuel 4 they aren’t putting their hope in God.

They’re bringing the ark out as a kind of magic trick. Will this work for them? Let’s see.

Vs 5-9 —

It looks like this strategy will work for them Look at vs 7 — “woe to us…” Why were they scared?

They knew what God had done to save them. God had given the 10 plagues to Egypt.

Vs 10-11 —

Israel is crushed. 30,000 is a figurative number

3 = completeness Totally annihilated What are we talking about?

Obscure passage Something deeply true about how we view God. Why doesn’t the ark save them?

It worked in the past Why would he allow the ark to be taken by the Philistines? It’s because Israel was using the ark as a good luck charm.

Past — bring ark to battle — God goes before us. Now-this thing has powers and we have to win. Doing this breaks the 3rd commandment The third commandment says

7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Ex 20:7.

What does this have to do with this text?

Westminster Shorter Catechism says: What is forbidden in the third commandment? The third commandment forbids all profaning and abusing of any thing whereby God makes himself known. (Mal. 1:6–7,12, Mal. 2:2, Mal. 3:14) When you take something Holy and use it improperly, you’ve broken the third commandment

More than saying OMG Oaths As image bearers, we also Israel trusted in the ark as a military strategy rather than the God whose presence resided on it. Look with me at vs 3

Taking the Lord’s name - bring the ark It was a sign of disrespect

Should have said - Let us go and have the presence of the LORD go before us. Go and get this powerful thing rather than let us put our faith in the most powerful God. God needed to show Israel that you cannot replace following him with religious symbolism. And this leads us to our main idea.

Trust in God, not in outward signs of religion.

We cannot back God into doing something

The Israelites thought they could get God to use his power by bringing the Ark out. They were right — but his power was used to judge Israel. Joel Osteen "When you're in difficult times, don't just pray, 'God, please help me,' but remind Him, 'God, I've been faithful. I've honored You. I've been giving, serving, helping others, and being a blessing. So, God, I'm asking for Your favor, Your healing, Your increase.'"

We cannot use our good deeds to twist God’s arm into doing what we want.

How can we twist the arm of the infinite God of the universe? We cannot use “religiousness”

We miss the point when our confidence is from our religiousness and not God himself. Going to Disney for the sign Our righteousness is not good enough.

Isaiah God wants our authentic worship

Word authentic is overused Beatitudes — God wants your heart. God’s not impressed that you

know all the books of the Bible in order Only listen to Christian music in the car. Memorized the catechism Bible reading every night after dinner.

You don’t love it. You love tradition No wonder our children are leaving the faith. They see you love tradition without a love of what that tradition points to. He wants your heart And yet, there’s a danger here.

Some of you — excuse to abandon good Christian practices Others — think this message isn’t for them

Pray and examine yourself.

Application

Worship During Worship

When you stand, and you don’t engage in worship, you’re doing what the Israelites did.

You’re claiming to be a follower of Jesus, you might be doing the right things, but you aren’t truly worshiping What are you afraid of by singing?

Embarrassed that someone else sees you singing? Christians have been made fun of for centuries.

Let them make fun of you. Afraid it makes you look weak?

You’re tapping into the all-powerful God of the universe. Don’t carry your faith around like some good luck charm. Worship the God who you have placed that faith in.

Baptism/Profession of Faith

One way we break the 3rd commandment is by not professing our faith. As Christians, we must publicly declare that we believe in Jesus's saving work and that we worship him. If you believe this

Profess your faith — baptized as a baby Get baptized — never been baptized By not doing this, it’s as if we don’t believe that he’s good enough to tell others about.

It’s using God as a get-out-of-hell-free card. But - not - live your life for.

Landing

Why would God work against his own people?

God uses our sinfulness to glorify himself even more Genesis 50:20 says

20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

There are many ways that we see this passage getting us ready for Jesus, but one way is that … Jesus was the ultimate ark

Ark was in the holy of holies Dwelling place of God Jesus was called Immanuel - God with us Ark was more than a religious symbol

Place where atonement was made. Sprinkel blood In the Old Testament something was missing.

Needed the ark and the blood Jesus was not just the ark he was the sacrifice as well.

When Jesus went to the cross his blood was spilled so our blood wouldn’t. Jesus died in my place so I could have a friendship/relationship with God. Don’t parade him around like a good luck charm Worship him truly.

Trust in God, not in outward signs of religion

Let’s pray