THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHALL DO
June 28, 2025THE LORD UPHOLDS US ALL
June 30, 2025There is a very sad and tragic incident recorded in the Bible in 1 Samuel 4:19-22. It would be good for us to study this passage, see what is context and the reasons behind it, and learn for ourselves, a very important lesson.
– “19 Now his [Eli’s] daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. 21 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”” – 1 Samuel 4:19-22
ICHABOD – “The glory has departed from Israel!” – the Shekinah glory of God, which indicated the presence of God the Almighty, not only to the people of Israel, but to the whole world, is now departed. The question one should be asking is “WHY?” The answer lies in the rampant sin, and the intentional disobedience of the sons of Eli, and the willing participation of the people of Israel. The context and the background story.
– “12 Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.” – 1 Samuel 2:12
– “17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.” – 1 Samuel 2:17
1- Eli himself confronts his sons about their sins – 1 Samuel 2:22-25
2- The LORD warns Eli about the coming judgement upon his two sons though a man of God – 1 Samuel 2:27-36
3- The LORD speaks about the coming judgement on Eli’s two sons to the young Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:10-14
Despite all the warnings, there is no visible change, nor any remorse, regret nor any sign of repentance in the two sons of Eli. Then this incident happens.
1- A BIG PROBLEM
– “1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.” – 1 Samuel 4:1-2
2- A RIGHT QUESTION, BUT A WRONG CONCLUSION
– “3 And when the people had come into 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 from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” – 1 Samuel 4:3
3- THE SIN OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD, WITH NONE TO QUESTION THE SACRILEGIOUS ACT
– “4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.” – 1 Samuel 4:4
4- A TERRIBLE SIN, AND THE FALSE SECURITY OF ISRAEL
– “5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. 6 Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. 7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, “Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before.” – 1 Samuel 4:5-7
5- THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE SIN OF ISRAEL
– “10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.” – 1 Samuel 4:10-11
“ICHABOD – DANGERS OF TAKING GOD IN TO OUR WARS” is the lesson for us this morning.
– When we sin, we should repent.
– When God wants to justly punish our since, we should fall at His feet and seek forgiveness.
– We should not only ask the right questions, but arrive at the right conclusions that will lead us to right actions.
– If not, we will end up at *”ICHABOD”* – where the LORD, and His glory, departs from us, and we are left with absolutely nothing.
– “The elders rightly sensed they needed God’s help to win the battle. But they were wrong in the way they sought help. Instead of humbly repenting and seeking God, they turned to methods that God never approved. They only cared whether it worked. i. They believed the presence of the ark would make God work for them. “Their idea was that God should be forced to fight for them. If He was not willing to do it for their sake, He would have to do it for His honour’s sake.” (Ellison) ii. No doubt, it seemed like a brilliant suggestion. They were probably pleased to arrive at such a great solution.” – Enduring Word Commentary
May the LORD help us to walk uprightly, and allow God to speak to us, and not we take God “captive” to make Him do what we want. When we do so, we are not Christians, nor our God is Jesus. Simple truth silly, we are serving our own “gods” and not the God of the Bible. ICHABOD – “The glory has departed….”
