Study In 1 Samuel Presentation 004. THE WITHDRAWAL OF GOD Chapter 4v1-22 Presentation 004.

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Study In 1 Samuel Presentation 004

Transcript of Study In 1 Samuel Presentation 004. THE WITHDRAWAL OF GOD Chapter 4v1-22 Presentation 004.

Page 1: Study In 1 Samuel Presentation 004. THE WITHDRAWAL OF GOD Chapter 4v1-22 Presentation 004.

Study In1 Samuel

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THE WITHDRAWAL OF GOD

Chapter 4v1-22

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IntroductionAt the time when Israel had left Egypt, the Philistines were extensively settled along the coastal strip between Egypt

and Gaza [Ex. 13.17]. After taking possession of the Promised Land some Israelites had adopted the Philistine gods cf. Jud.10v.6-7. When

Israel entered into a moral and spiritual decline. God then used the Philistines to be a scourge of judgment to his people.

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IntroductionSamuel lived at the transition between the

judges, like Samson and Gideon and the establishment of the monarchy. Unlike the

judges, Samuel's principal contribution was not that of a warrior leader.

The changes he brought about in the nation lasted considerably longer than any of the previous judges due, in measure, to the energy he directed towards teaching the people of God and to his intercessory

ministry.

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Defeat in BattleIn 4v1 we read that Israel went out to

meet the Philistines in battle. The Philistines had begun to flex their military muscle [it seems from the

geography outlined in the passage that the Philistines had taken the initiative].

Israel was defeated in this conflict. Note that the elders of Israel were

quick to recognise that God had brought the defeat upon them as they

ask. 'Why did the Lord bring defeat upon us today...?’ v3.

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The elders in Israel had greater clarity of spiritual insight than many of the leaders in our churches today. How so?

Well this conclusion, ‘the Lord has brought defeat upon us’, is probably the last one that many of our leaders would draw when we are confronted with and try to explain the reverses experienced in both church whether in our individual or corporate life.

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Now sadly, having made such an accurate diagnosis, the elders in Israel sought the wrong remedy. They chose the wrong path.

They could have turned to Samuel, who was God's mouthpiece, [v1] and asked for guidance and instruction but chose not to do that. They could also have benefited from the lessons of history, e.g. Joshua 7v1ff, but they didn't do that either!

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They could have searched for guiding principles in God's word cf. Deut 28v25 but they didn't do that either. Often people's failure to turn to God's word to explain their circumstances is that they suspect that the answer will be unpalatable and unacceptable.

Instead, Israel put their trust in what was clearly a religious superstition; ‘We need the ark of the covenant with us in battle’.

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The ark was the item of tabernacle furniture that among other things symbolised God's presence. So that to carry the ark into battle was, in their view, to carry God into battle. It would force God’s hand and would guarantee their victory!

Behind many superstitions their lies a grain of truth Num. 10v35 and also lso Josh.6v6-7 when the ark led the Israelite army around the walls of Jericho before their collapse.

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What the Israelites failed to recognise was that on previous occasions when the ark had been carried into battle, success was not due to the presence of the ark but upon the obedience of God's people. The Israelites were treating the ark like a lucky rabbit's foot.

Today, some people, who have little interest in obeying God, nevertheless believe that wearing a cross around their neck or keeping a Bible in their book-shelve, will keep them safe. But religious symbols are no substitute for moral obedience.

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Religious excitement is never a substitute for the conviction of faith. The shout of assurance as the ark is brought into Israel's camp v5 falls into this category. [Interestingly, the words used to describe the arrival of the ark are exactly the same as those to describe Israel’s shout, when the walls of Jericho fell down]. Despite the obvious tactical advantage which the ark brought - it steeled Israel and terrified the Philistines - Israel were again defeated. Indeed, they lost more men with the ark than they had without it!

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God allows his people to suffer defeat rather than support their spiritual and moral complacency. Why? Well one reason is that defeat can humble God’s people and bring them to repentance.

Many Christians describe the defeats in their lives as God’s means of helping them uncover the depths of their backsliddenness.

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This defeat also reveals an important aspect of God’s character. He is not a partisan God supporting his people no matter what the rights and the wrongs of an issue may be.

A young boy moved home and a classmate introduced him to the local gang culture. The ‘champion’ fighter was introduced like this. 'He will help you if you are being picked on for no good reason but he will fight for me no matter what I have done!' God does not come to his people's help no matter what they have done.

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Before both the news of Israel's defeat, his sons' death and the capture of the ark was brought to Eli, we read that, ‘his heart feared for the ark of God’

v13. Why?

Eli should never have let the ark be used as purveyor of superstition, or a substitute for moral obedience. And it

was the news of the ark's capture contributed to Eli’s death v 18.

A Telling Portent

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Did Eli remember the awful judgement pronounced by God that both his sons

would die on the same day? Did he also grasp that the loss of the ark

symbolised what his family had contributed to - the withdrawal of

God's presence and protection for the nation. Was the cloud of dull spiritual perception suddenly lifted so that he

could see the horror of what he’d been responsible for?

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The loss of the ark produced uproar in the city v13. What kind of people

bemoan the loss of the religious symbol more than the reality it represents?

Today we might press this home by asking a very basic question, “What is the more important to a congregation, the loss of their church building or the

withdrawal of God’s presence from it?”

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News of Israel’s defeat not only precipitated death it brought about a premature birth v19. Note Phineas’ widow refuses to take comfort in the birth of her son. Without the presence of God she could see no

future for Israel and with her dying breath names her child ‘Ichabod’ which means, ‘the glory has departed’.

It is said that death sharpens the mind wonderfully, this woman saw with startling clarity exactly what had happened in Israel on that day.

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