1 Samuel 4-5; The Weight of God’s Glory

Introduction

Arturo Ceja III, a 26-year-old resident of the block, pleaded guilty in federal court in July of 2021 to unlicensed transport of explosives from Nevada to California. Federal authorities said Ceja had been storing about 16 tons of fireworks in the backyard of his family’s house — which the LAPD discovered after receiving a tip.

Los Angeles police badly miscalculated the amount of fireworks they placed into a containment vessel before detonating them and causing a massive explosion that destroyed part of a South L.A. neighborhood in June, according to a new report from federal investigators.

However, investigators determined that LAPD bomb squad technicians accidentally loaded and detonated 39.8 pounds of explosives in the containment vehicle on the day of the explosion, Hoffman said.

Sermon in a sentence: I will not take God’s glory lightly.

God Was Heavy Against The Israelites (ch. 4)

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The people of God took Yahweh, his commandments, and his offerings lightly.

The last time we saw Hophni and Phinehas, they were making themselves fat off the sacrifices that belonged to God.

God crushed the head of Eli because he had become to heavy.

God had defeated Israel, but make no mistake. The Philistines were next.

God Was Heavy Against The Philistines (ch. 5)

First, Dagon could not stand the height of God’s presence.

The author uses humor to put down the false god, Dagon.‌

God’s hand was heavy upon the Philistines.

Conclusion

On the morning of January 8, 2003, ramp agents loaded 23 checked bags onto Flight 5481. The flight crew completed their preflight checklists, including center of gravity. This check is a calculation that verifies the weight and center of gravity on the plane is safe for the aircraft.

Flight 5481 left the gate about 08:30 Eastern Standard Time.[a] At 08:37, ground controllers cleared Flight 5481 to taxi to runway 18R for departure. At 08:46, the tower controller cleared Flight 5481 for takeoff, and the pilots applied takeoff power and began their takeoff roll.

Immediately after becoming airborne, Flight 5481's nose began to rapidly pitch up. By the time it reached an altitude of just 90 feet above ground level, the plane's nose had pitched up 20°. Despite both pilots trying forcefully to push the nose down, the plane continued to pitch nose-up, reaching a maximum of 54° of pitch. The aircraft's stall-warning horn sounded, and the pilots declared an emergency to air traffic controllers. After climbing to an altitude of 1,150 feet, the plane stalled, abruptly pitching down into an uncontrollable descent. About 35 seconds after taking off, Flight 5481 crashed into an aircraft maintenance hangar and burst into flames. The 19 passengers and both pilots were killed.

Application

Do not miscalculate the weight of God’s glory! This will have life of death consequences.

The weight of God’s glory will crush you if you (1) neglect God’s glory or (2) try to carry it on your own.

Turn to Jesus. We bore the full weight of God’s wrath upon the tree for us! He says, Matthew 11:28–30 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

Preach the Gospel to yourself this week.

Meditate upon the weightiness of God this week.

Think about the fact that God himself, the 2nd person of the Trinity, came to earth and took on flesh. Born as a baby in a manger with animals to be the perfect lamb of God.

Remind yourself of the honor it is to carry the name of YHWH on your life.

Exodus 20:7 ESV

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.