1 Samuel 4
Philistines Take the Ark; Death of Eli
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.” 1 Samuel 4:3 (ESV)
Study
1. Why did God allow the Israelites to be defeated?
2. Did God leave Israel when the ark was taken by the Philistines?
Application
1. Do we ever try to control God and make Him do our will? What is the result?
2. Have you ever felt that God had deserted you? What was really happening? (Think about the ‘Footprints’ poem.)
1. I do not see a specific verse to address this question. The word of the Lord given in 1 Sam 3 addresses the death of Eli's sons and himself but not all Israelite's. Maybe I am just missing it.
ReplyDelete2. Again I didn't find this in the passage.
Application
1. Sure we do. Often even with good intentions. For a plant to create new life it must 1st die, the seed be planted then it can be fruitful again. Even a living plant must be pruned to grow in fullness and produce the greatest harvest. Yet both death and pruning are painful and we in our flesh do everything we can to not go through such a process.
2. Yes and no. It has usually been in my darkest hour that I feel his presence the greatest. Yet his hand appears to not be moving on my behalf. Holding me,wiping away my tears yet battling not for what has afflicted my soul.
Yet there is another time I have felt deserted by the Lord and that is when I haven't made time for him. My life seems good, busy and the less time I spend with him the more external trouble comes my way. Yet it isn't the Lord that has left it has been me.