5th Quarter God and the Little Mermaid

Intro: Explain 1 Samuel 1-4.

Hannah was barren and prayed to God. Promised her firstborn to the Lord.

She has a boy, Samuel. When he is old enough entrusts him to Eli at the temple.

Elis sons were evil. They were rejected by God.

God called to Samuel in the middle of the night, told him of the rejection of Eli’s household.

The people of Israel went to battle against the Philistines. The lost a small loss.

They decided to bring the ark of the covenant out with them (Phineas and Ferb were there) and lost in a slaughter.

The Philistines took the ark of the Lord.

1 Samuel 5:1–5 ESV

When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 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. This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

Our Understanding of God

The Philistines captured the ark of God.

They viewed the ark of God as a trophy to be taken from war.

Perhaps they thought that he would fight on their behalf.

What do you think of when you think of God?

Is He like a good luck charm?

Is He your get out of Jail free card?

Is He your safety net?

Is he like a genie?

Or do you treat Him as He really is? The God who created all things.

Do we approach God as someone that we serve or someone who can serve us?

We need to understand who God is.

Eternal

Creator

Holy

Savior

Our Treatment of God

Placed him beside idols.

How do you treat the Lord?

Does your response to God line up with who God is?

As one thing of many in your life?

What idols do you have in your life?

Relationships

Sports

Social Media

School

Friends

What things do you value beside or over God?

I don’t want you to think about what you would say… What does your life say?

What things threaten to be idols in your life?

Anything that you are living your life for other than God, is going to fall short.

Not simply because it is the wrong choice.

Anything you replace God with is going to fall short in satisfying you.

You were created to experience and enjoy God. Anything you try to satisfy you asside from that will fall short.

Our Response to God

The Philistines set their idol back up and then ultimately remove God from their city.

They see what he has done, but they don’t follow Him.

The sad reality is that there are so many people who are in the world today who fall into this same category.

They have been blessed by God. (through good means or through his patience)

They hear or see the rebuke of God.

They decide to turn from God rather than surrendering their life to him.

Where are you tonight?

Do you know God?

How have you responded to God?

Are there idols in your life?