THE ARK IS CAPTURED
Notes
Transcript
OPENER: Continuing in our series on 1 Samuel we have made it through three chapters in two weeks. Today we are going to go through four chapters this week alone. The next portion of the story of Israel goes from chapter 4 through chapter 7.
These chapters have the one underlying story of the “capture and return of the ark” that runs through it with multiple stories happening over a long period of over 20 years. There are some wild things in these chapters so try to stay focused on the line of events. There is the Ark, tragic and victorious battles, God destroying dagon’s statue, a plague of tumors and rats, golden tumors and golden rat statues, (yes, I said golden tumors and rats…the Philistines believed some crazy things) God bring the ark back.
So I’m gonna start by asking for prayers because it has been a challenge to figure out how to get all of this into one short lesson. HA! (If there was ever a time when I have an excuse to go over a few minutes, this is it! HA! It is hard to tell just tell part of it because...)
If you have read the text this week you know it is an exciting four chapter to read but also holds really powerful points for us.
Bridge the gap from 3 and 4: The end of chapter 3 demonstrates Samuel growing up and being established as God’s prophets as 3:20 says, and through Samuel God’s word went out to all Israel as 4:1 says, but despite this Israel was still not following God wholeheartedly. Instead like they had done in times past, they were involved in idols worship.
Trans: as we go through chapter 4 we are going to multiple tragedies one right after the other as Samuel’s prophecy concerning Eli’s family comes to fulfillment and Israel is defeated and the Ark is taken.
ISRAEL IS DEFEATED AND THE ARK CAPTURED
Israel goes to war with the Philistines near Aphek and in the first battle Israel is defeated and loses four thousand soldiers. After their defeat, they ask an important question: “WHY HAS THE LORD DEFEATED US TODAY?”
It is a really important question because it implies that if God been with them they would have won the victory so where was He is all of it.
App: HAVE YOU EVER ASKED or wondered where was God in what happened. Why has the Lord let this happen, or why has He not helped? (It’s a hard question to answer) It is an important question because it causes us to wrestle with God’s involvement in our lives) It is important as well as if it causes growth and true self examination.
Trans: The Israelites answered the question the wrong way. (Instead of examining themselves they took an easier route. The Israelites realized if God was with them they would have won, so they tried to assure that He would be with them.
Israel brings the Ark of the covenant to battle (so that God would be with them in battle)
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.”
Israel reasoned that if they brought the Ark with them (which as verse 4 says, God’s presence was “enthroned on” God would then have to come with them or as the NIV says, “go with us” and help them defeat their enemies. (Even though…as if God had to come with them if they brought it.)
Israel thought they could bring God along with them and He would give victory because the Ark was with them. (The Ark did represent God’s presence in the Tabernacle or Temple and in the past it had done so in battle as well as with Jericho. (Joshua 6:6; Num 10:35)
But God is not confined by an object or place. Solomon understood this. God’s presence with His people had more to do their living for Him in recognition that He was the One true and Living God
The Lord “defeated them,” not because they didn’t have the ark or didn’t pray enough but because they were not living in obedience to the covenant (and following Him.) They could bring the Ark (a symbol) of the covenant God had with them, while they were not living out their covenant with Him!
As excited as they were when the Ark was brought into the camp, God would not be with them in the battle either and the defeat would be even greater.
Israel is defeated again and the Ark was captured
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. And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Israel put their trust in the Ark and God took it away. They were in a way treating the Ark like they did an idol or figure of a false god that would be kept in a home or town to assure the god would help them. (While overlooking and doing evil, as Eli’s sons)
The ark was not a magic object that would make sure God was with them. God’s presence did not have to remain on the ark and even if it did, God CANNOT BE CONTAINED, MANIPULATED, OR COERCED. They could not make God do anything…(Trans: and...
P/A: WE CANNOT MAKE GOD “COME WITH US,” AND work in our situations and fight our battles when we refuse to walk with Christ fully. We go with Him AND FOLLOW CHRIST WHO IS WITH US ALWAYS THROUGH HIS SPIRIT.
To be on God’s side as we walk with Him in obedience is much different than living our lives for self and trying to bring God along to be on our side for our purposes.
A/I: Prayer, giving, coming to assemble for worship, reading scripture, doing good deeds, are not tokens to exchange for God to come with us and fight our battles and do our will. (They are things that we want to do because we are in a covenant of love with Him and are walking in the light, living for His purposes.)
And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
What do we put out trust in, simply actions or doctrine or good deeds?
***OPT: P/A - The mere presence of the Ark among the Israelites did not guarantee God’s favor or right relationship with Him! Just like the presence of a Bible or a number of Bibles in your home or on your phone that goes everywhere with you does not guarantee that you know the Word or do it. The mere presence of many good deeds in your life does not guarantee your heart is in the right place when you do them. (Hopefully it is). Just because you are (or I am) here today (or every week) does not guarantee you are in living for Christ.
Do not misunderstand me, if God was only with us when we live perfectly.... no one would have a chance. But there is a difference in continually growing and being sanctified and making mistakes along the way (which God is faithful and just to forgive as we walk in the light) and doing like Phinehas (PinEhos) and Hophni who were trying to serve God as priest while constantly and not being repentant.
Jesus said in Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not what I tell you.” And not only obeying Christ but doing so out of love as He said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart...” and through Paul “Let all you do be done in love.” 1 Cor. 16:14
The important question we need to ask ourselves is am I doing things for God so that He will come with me and fulfill my purposes or I am going with Christ and living for Him for His purposes.
Trans: what happens next shows the aftermath of the defeat and capture of the Ark and the fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy about Eli’s family from chapter 3.
ELI’S HEARS THE TRAGIC NEWS AS SAMUEL’S PROPHECY IS FULFILLED
Tragic news: Chapter 4:12-22 (the end of the chapter) tells of the Eli receiving the message of the three fold tragedies that (1 Israel was defeated, (2 his sons were dead, 93 and the Ark of God was captured.
When Eli hears the Ark is captured, He falls over backward and breaks his neck and dies. (Vv19-22) The same news is told to His pregnant daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, she goes into labor and gives birth but dies as well just after naming the child Ichabod because “God’s glory had departed from Israel” or God’s presence in not with Israel.
All of this highlights what God would happen to Eli’s family because of their unfaithfulness to God while claiming to be and acting as God’s priests. (Which is a warning to for God’s people today to be faithful as we just talked about.)
This also teaches us that God’s word is true and what He says will come to be. (That can be a comfort if we are living for Him or a warning if not.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Eli’s sons and Israel had been sowing the seeds of idolatry for a long time and they finally reaped what they sowed.
P/A: What we learn from this is that we should never take lightly God’s word and what it says will happen in the future. Whether that be about the day of judgment that is coming that Christ said we must be prepared for or the truth that whatever you sow, that also shall you reap. What you are sowing spiritually will reap great things that last. When you only focus on being pleased right now that you will reap later
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Trans: as the account shifts to the Ark in the hands of the Philistines there is one of my favorite part in these chapter where God shows His supremacy as the one true God.
GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS SUPREMACY AS THE ONE TRUE GOD
The Philistines set up the Ark beside their statue of Dagon (5:1-2)
Why did they do this? There are two possibilities. One, they wanted to show that Dagon had overcome the Israelite God (as many in that time believed victory in battle meant.) Or, they may have had the belief that having it their would bring them favor from God. Similar to standing up a number of idols to receive favor from them all.
What happens next is just awesome! Not just because of what does but how He does it! It is very powerfully demonstrates His supremacy!
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.
Just in case they thought it was a coincidence He made it clear by having the statue fall down in front of the Ark as IF prostrating before it. Then destroying it in to demonstrate that Dagon is nothing and powerless.
The point is very powerfully made that God makes so many times in scripture that HE IS THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD! He is incomparable, He has no competition, the is nothing is the same category as anything else, HE DOES NOT SHARE SPACE IN TEMPLE OF OUR HEARTS WITH ANYTHING! (It might help us understand why sin is so serious when we choose to go against Him and choose something over HIM!)
God continues to demonstrate His power and glory by striking the people of Ashdod with tumors and death. 5:6-7 says the “hand of the Lord” was heavy on the people so and they realized it is God so they send the ARK to Gath. Insert map of travels of Ark.
The Philistines needed to learn that God was supreme, THE Only God…the Israelites needed the same lesson... WE MAY NEED THE SAME LESSON...
P/A: DO WE TRY TO SET GOD UP, BESIDE FALSE gods in our hearts?
What false gods do we try to stand up beside God as if they are even in the same category as God. (What things do we trust in as much as God). We have many gods today!
The gods of success and achievement…AND BUSYNESS (that we think will make us secure and fulfilled…so we try to add God as just another thing in our lives for success so He can help us get the achievement we want (THE busyness that takes us away from...)
The god of money because if we get just a little more then we won’t have to worry so we chase it and we are helped because everyone respects that.
The god of self when most of our thoughts and efforts revolve around me, me, me. In our culture this god is ingrained that even GOD Himself is talked about and exists mostly for our purposed and needs and what He can do for our lives.
Closely related the god of entertainment and pleasure. This might sound ridiculous to you but especially now, we spent more time being entertained than ever. There are plenty of stats that prove people are addicted to their phones much of which is for entertainment. Check your screen time and see how many hours you spend a day on it or just the entertainment and social media sites alone. (You can be cynical about this but compare your time you spend you spend with a phone in your face compared to the time you spend daily seeking the face of God by prayer and in His word and what it says.
The god of sex that we is so worshipped in our culture and in the hearts of some of God’s people because they run to it secretly and will not take steps to change.
And other like the god of comfort, (which we want more than anything, when we really need peace in Christ), the god of politics (don’t scoff if that is all you talk about or at least way more than you do Jesus), the god of food among other things.
WHAT is an indicator might be what we think about most, which is sometimes what we desire most or are really living for. Think about it honestly.
Trans: continuing in our text...
GOD RETURNS THE ARK AND ISRAEL RETURNS TO GOD
TO GATH: (INSERT SLIDE) The people of Gath panic and God strikes them as well until they send it to EKRON and the people there panic as well knowing what will happen. FINALLY after the ARK is with the Philistines for seven months(6:1) they decide to send it back to Israel, but not without doing to things (1 sending it with a guilt offering of five golden tumors and five golden rats…(yep, people were weird then also, Ha)(and give glory to God) (2 To make sure if it was God who struck them…send the Ark on a cart pulled by two milk cows who had never been yoked (wouldn’t normal behave) and put their calves up (which the cows would not have gone far from. The cows went straight to the Israelite Beth-shemesh. The people there rejoice and sacrifice to God.
IT IS INCREDIBLE BECAUSE GOD HIMSELF THROUGH ALL THESE THINGS brought the ARK BACK TO ISRAEL HIMSELF (without Israel being involved) and He providentially brought it back to a a city that belonged to God’s priests of the Levites.
The Ark does not stay there however because some of the men their made the mistake of looking into the Ark and many men die. So it is sent to Kiriath-jearim.
After 20 years Samuel calls Israel to “RETURN TO THE LORD” as we find in chapter 7. Notice what God says to Israel through Samuel.
ISRAEL RETURNS TO GOD!
And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
Israel had been trying to serve God and have and rely on idols both. The reason they were oppressed by the Philistines and being defeated in battle was they were trying to do just what the Philistines did and trust in multiple gods.
They could not return to God and be restored until (it was with all their hearts) and they were willing to give up the gods they were serving. (The wonderful thing is they finally do…)
So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.
P/A: What “false gods” do we need to get rid of? What do you need to change, get rid of, give up to serve God only, first…(i.e. gods talked about before…)
If you want to know what your false god you might be tempted to worship, think about the thing you want most when you are struggling? What do you look to, rely on or put your confidence in? Or the thing you want most when you are alone and uncomfortable. Or what do you run to, to bring relief or run after believing it will bring you security.
Q: WHAT false gods do you need to put away? Are you willing to give them up and put your trust in God alone with all your heart?
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
THE END OF THE STORY
Samuel calls all Israel together at Mizpah, Israel confesses their sins (7:6) and Samuel intercedes for them AND GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS.
THE LONG STORY that started with defeat after defeat and many years of being away from God AND trusting in things that could not help ends in BEING RESTORED TO GOD WHO GIVES THEM VICTORY over their enemies.
P/A: THEIR STORY MIGHT parallel yours. Feeling or being defeated again and again, feeling or being away from God because you have been trusting or chasing other things.
It may be that the difficulties and defeats in your life in the last year or two or five or more or the journey you have taken is leading you to the moment when you realize you cannot live without God. That you need him in every battle, in every day, in every thing you are doing in your life and more importantly, what He is doing in and through you.
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FIGHT YOUR BATTLES WITHOUT THE LORD FIGHTING FOR YOU!
YOU CAN BE HELPED OR RESTORED OR HELPED TO HAVE THE VICTORY THROUGH CHRIST.