JOY "God Chooses a King" October 24, 2012

October 24, 2012

God Chooses A King

1st Samuel 9:1-10:27

I         Acquiring a King   9:1-27

          

          A. Searching for Donkeys  1-14

          B. Finding a King 15-27

II        Anointing a King   10:1-27

        

         A. Saul is Anointed 1-8

         B. Signs are Fulfilled 9-16

         C. Saul is Chosen

In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. So, he went to Prior Richard at the local monastery, and made a petition to be accepted as a monk, so that he could spend the rest of his life in silence and service to God there. 

"Your Majesty," said Prior Richard, "do you understand that the pledge here, is one of obedience? That will be hard for you,  because you've been a king.

"I understand," said Henry, "The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you."

"Then I will tell you what to do," said Prior Richard. "Go back to your throne and serve faithfully, in the place where God has put you." And King Henry did.

When King Henry died, a statement was written, "The king learned to rule, by being obedient."

When we step outside of God's perfect will, and ask Him for something that we think we want, or, that we think we have to have, and He gives it to us; or when we are called to a task or a job that we didn't ask for or we didn't seek; 

or, we're given a task that gets thrust upon us, out of necessity; or, when we tire of our roles and responsibilities----- it helps to remember, that God is always in control, no matter what, and that He will plant us in certain places, for specific purposes. 

We need to remember, that when God calls us to a place, that He wants us to be in that place, the best that we can be, for as long as He needs us there-----and He wants us to make sure, as much as it is in our power to, to try to be a blessing to everybody, and an example of Him, while we're there. The Lord doesn't expect us to be perfect, and He doesn't expect us to never get weary, and He doesn't expect us to understand everything------ but He does expect us to be to be obedient, to His call, and to be faithful to His guidance. (This story shows that Samuel is obedient to God and that Saul is obedient to his father and to Samuel, which in the beginning of his reign, will lead Saul to be faithful to God))

The Israelites had looked around, and had seen that the surrounding nations had a monarchy, for their government---- with the power invested in one man----a human leader who led them into battle and whose word was law. To the Israelites, that type of government appeared to be tangible and real and concrete. But they were supposed to be different, their government was a theocracy----they had been chosen by God; they were sustained by God; and they were ruled by God. He led them into battle; He judged them; and His word was law, and He had called them to be His people.

But as a people, they had chosen to reject His kingship and to jump on the same bandwagon, as the surrounding nations. But God loved them so much, and in His mercy, He was prepared to give them the king they wanted. 

And He didn't take His hand off of them----- God being God, hand-picked the man that He wanted to work through---- and He orchestrated every single detail, which set Saul up, as Israel's leader. And He dictated, through Samuel, the rules that the king and the Israelites would have to be obedient to, if they wanted to insure His favor. We are going to see, from this point forward, how even when they stepped out of His perfect will, He didn't turn away from them.  He let them step into His permissive will, and continued to bless and work through His people, in a gracious, and righteous and mighty way. 

I       Acquiring A King

A.    Searching for Donkeys   1-14

Chapters 9 and 10, record the appointment of Saul, as the reluctant ruler over Israel. This is where he was anointed 1st, privately, by Samuel, and then presented, publicly, to the Israelites, as their prince. And, it's where they named him their king, in a moment of patriotic pride and high emotion. I think that Saul might have been reluctant, at first, because the call to the job, seemed to come out of nowhere, out of the crystal clear blue sky. The people had been clamoring for a human king and God had decided to give one to them, but what they didn't know was, that He had decided to give them one of His choosing. We know from the scripture, that giving them a king, was not God's best for them, but we can clearly see, in every single word of this story, the truth, that all things---- not just some, not just a few, not just when it's convenient for God, not just when the chips or down and the storm clouds gather, and not just when everything seems to be sunshine and laughter----but all things, are under the control of Sovereign God, who directs and orchestrates every single detail of our lives, to their appointed end. 

Saul appeared in the pages of scripture, as a young man who was brimming with good health and good looks and a presence about him, that God, would use, to command respect and authority, from the Israelites and from their surrounding Canaanite enemies. His genealogy shows that he came from a respected, responsible and wealthy family. The fact that he was from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest of the 12 tribes, was a strategic move on God's part----because a leader, chosen from the Benjamin tribe, wouldn't threaten the established prestige, and it wouldn't ruffle the feathers of the 2 strongest tribes, Judah, in the south and Ephraim, in the north. If a ruler had been elected from either one of those 2 tribes, he would have had trouble, in enlisting the allegiance ,of the other big powerhouse. 

The private anointing of Saul took place while he was searching the hill country for his father's lost donkeys. Donkeys were important in that culture----they were the pick-up trucks of that time period---and their loss would have created a hardship on Saul's family, even though they appear to have been very rich. The search for the donkeys, took Saul north, from his home at Gibeah, which was about 3 miles north of Jerusalem, through many little towns, that don't exist any more, in a circuitous route, back through Benjamite territory to Ramah, the hometown of Samuel. 

( I think its significant to make a note, that Samuel, was living, in his hometown. It was the place he left from and came back to, on his circuit-preaching and people-judging journeys---- I think that, that maybe, this means that Hannah and Elkanah got to spend time with Samuel, after he was an adult, that they didn't get, during his growing up years. 

I hope that they got to experience first hand, the joy, of the fruit of His labor, and the blessing of the sacrifice that they had made, in giving him back to God. 

God is good to us that way-----many times, the reward He gives us, for being obedient, is to give us the desires of our heart, in a way, that is for better, than we could ever have imagined or orchestrated for ourselves. Seeing our children walk in the ways of the Lord and witnessing their service to Him, is the greatest blessing to a mother's heart. 

We work so hard, in the years that we have them under our rooftops, guiding them through the training ground----it is pure joy, to see them walking, sure-footed and uncompromisingly, even though, sometimes, with trepidation, through the proving ground, on the path that God has laid out for them. 

And not just when they're at church, but in the lives they show to the world, on an everyday basis----(this summer, our son, Griff was doing an internship, at a company in Charlotte. One of the directors of the company wanted to spend time with him, to get to know him----so, he picked him up at 7 am, on a Sunday morning, to go skeet shooting. Which at first, doesn't sound very good------but the best thing about it was---- they went that early, so that they could both be back in time for church! 

That story speaks volumes to me, about Griff's witness, and about the director's----I was very proud of Griff, in the Lord, and I have continued to thank God for his witness. 

And in the same way, I hope that Hannah lived long enough, to see her boy come back home and serve the Lord with his whole heart.)

 I think its important to realize that Saul was a very obedient young man and that he was very loyal to his father----scripture doesn't tell us that he whined or complained, about having to go out after, those donkeys. We just know that he did and that he searched for 3 days, before he mentioned giving up and going home. And even at that point, it seems like he was more concerned, about being the cause of his father's worry, than he was frustrated, with the loss of the donkeys. 

Later on in the story, Saul did hear, from the men at Rachel's tomb, that his father was worried about him---That speaks to me, of a special relationship between the two of them. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing if his concern about his father's worry over their absence, was a sign of love and respect for him, or just an excuse to go home. I personally think, that it was love for his father, because he hadn't hesitated to obey him, and go on the thankless journey in the first place. Saul was a grown man, he didn't have to fulfill his father's wishes---I think that he chose to. But, no matter what his reasoning was, Saul had been given a task to accomplish, and he needed to do everything he could to see it completed. He was fortunate that he had his servant there to spur him on. 

How long will we stick with a task that God has called us to? Even a task, like Saul's, that was impossible from the start. Saul would never have found those donkeys. God didn't intend for him to. God had another plan---the donkey search was just a means of leading Saul to the place, where God wanted him to be. Do we continue doggedly on, till He tells us to stop? or do we quit, when the going gets tough? or the search seems futile with no end in sight? 

I think Saul was very willing to do his father's bidding, until his lack of success took his focus off of his goal.  We need to be willing to see our human failures and lack of success and unanswered prayer, as the means and the vehicle, for the Lord to work in a mightier way than we can imagine. Sometimes at the bottom of a pit of failure, is where the Lord will meet us and reveal Himself to us, like he never has before. He'll tie a knot, in the end of the robe that He throws down to us, and then He'll pull us up, to a mountain-top of success, that is beyond our wildest imaginings. 

Regardless of our motivation, the bottom line, is that we just have to be so careful, that we don't get distracted and lose sight of the goal, that's at the end of the big picture-----because, in the end, God's got a plan and there is no room for coincidence in that plan----God uses everything in our lives----the good, the bad and the ugly, to accomplish His plan. He also uses other people, like he did Saul's servant, to help keep us on the right path----sometimes, our encouragers are our greatest treasures. Our heavenly Father, would rather have us as willing participates, rather than reluctant bystanders, but He will take us and use us, any way that He can get us.

Saul is introduced to us, significantly, as a young man who knew how to be obedient to authority. I think that's why God chose him----not just because he was handsome and popular and could entice people to follow him, and not because of anything he'd done-----I think it was because Saul, was so willing to follow authority, in the little things, that God knew that would prove that he could follow authority, in the big things too----I think God knew, that Saul would follow and go where he was told to, by Samuel, which was ultimately, following God's own voice.

This is an important characteristic for a king, who was not going to be the authority, but who was going to be under the authority, of God Almighty. Unfortunately, we're going to see, later, how pride and arrogance, and lack of judgement, and lack of spiritual insight and maybe, even lack of intelligence, got the better of Saul, and he chose to go his own way, forfeiting a deep relationship with the Lord. 

But in the beginning, Saul was a young man who had been given much, and from whom, much was going to be required------and He seemed to be up to the task.

Failing in the search for the donkeys, Saul's servant suggested that they go in search for the well-known prophet, who lived in the vicinity. They thought he would be able to give them some clues about where to keep looking. We know the prophet they were looking for, was Samuel, and it is clear, that God had led them every step of the way. ( I don't believe that there is anything in our lives that comes our way, that isn't first filtered though the Lord's nail-scarred hands----I think He uses everything, as a way to draw us closer to Him and to His will.) The sovereignty of God is very apparent, in this passage.

God was clearly directing the circumstances that brought Saul to Samuel, there in Ramah. 

* the Israelites wanted a man, to be their king

* Saul's father Kish, lost his donkeys

* Saul's search for the donkeys was unsuccessful

* Saul's servant just happened to have a gift for the prophet. The priests had no way of supporting themselves---they owned no land and no businesses----so the people had to take care of them, by giving them honorariums and tithes----I don't think Saul was using his lack of having one, as an excuse, I think he was a respectful young man, whose good manners, truly wouldn't let him approach a man of God, without a gift. 

But, we do need to be aware of the fact, that we use not having a gift, as an excuse, sometimes, when God calls us to a task. We think we don't have anything to offer, or we think we don't know what to say or we think we don't have enough Bible knowledge to make a difference-----but one of the basic principles of being a child of God is, that God loves to use the very fact that we have nothing, so that He can equip us, for the task He calls us to, with exactly what He wants us to use, to complete the job.

* they ran into the women at the well who told them that Samuel was in town

* the man they ran into at the city gate to ask directions to Samuel's house, was Samuel, Himself.

* and God had already told Samuel that Saul was coming and to be prepared for him---and then He pointed him out when Saul got there

Nothing was happenstance, God had orchestrated it all---as He does in the mundane things of our lives too. When we take our focus off of ourselves and put them on Him----and give Him credit and glory for all things, its nothing short of a miracle. What a blessing and an encouragement and a relief it is, to know that we can rest in God's control.

B.      A King is Found 15-27

God had prepared Samuel for his encounter with Saul, the day before, by telling him to be ready to anoint Israel's ruler-----and then by whispering in his ear, that Saul was the one, when they came face to face.

Samuel authenticated himself to Saul, by letting him and the servant know, that his father's donkeys had been found, before they could even ask about them.  Samuel hinted, in pretty strong words, that Saul had a different destiny, staring him in the face, than he had ever thought about, by saying, that "Saul and his family were the desire of Israel."  Saul's evident surprise, and his self-deprecating words, in the face of Samuel's greeting, seem to show us, that being king over Israel, is the farthest thing from Saul's mind.

 A burning desire and ambition to be king, more than anything else, would have disqualified him from the position. God wanted Saul to claim the role and the task and the position, with no preconceived ideas, or ambition, so that he would have to trust God and look, only to Him for direction, through Samuel. God, was looking for Saul----Saul was just looking for some lost donkeys----but the two searches connected and God's will was done.

The day must have just gotten stranger and stranger for Saul------he must have been so surprised to find himself seated at the head of, what most theologians think, was a family celebration, which required a priest to preside over it, too oversee the sacrifice that they gave, in thanksgiving for some one or some thing.  

The banquet must have taken place in a room that was somehow connected to what they called the" high place". The "high place" was an elevated place of worship and sacrifice, located on a hill or a high place or on an artificial platform. The custom was essentially a Canaanite one, but Israel used the same kind of places, for their worship, too, with God's blessing, before the Temple was constructed. 

At the banquet, Saul was given a huge portion of the sacrifice that was usually reserved for the priest---- Samuel wanted to make sure that Saul got it, in such a way, that honored him above the other guests. Then Saul went home with Samuel, to spend the night, in hospitable comfort. Scripture says that they had a private conversation the next morning, when Samuel woke him up, before he sent him on the road toward home.

Saul entered his new place in history indirectly, unselfconsciously and I think, with no hidden agendas. We don't know how well Saul knew about the things of the Lord, at this point, because he didn't seem to know who Samuel was----but  God, though Samuel, gave him a crash course in understanding. 

Regardless of what happened later in his reign and in his life, Saul's journey with the Lord started out with promise and possibility and obedience. He was looking for his father's donkeys, but it turned out, that he was the one being looked for. After 3 days of aimless, unguided and unsuccessful hunting, he, was himself found, by someone who wasn't out searching for him, but was just, simply waiting, for him to show up. Saul got frustrated with his search on his own, and so he trusted the wisdom of his servant, to look for spiritual guidance, and when he did, he found, not only the answer that he was looking for, but one that was far deeper and far richer and brought him much closer to God, than he'd ever been before.  

Scripture makes it very clear, that even though an earthly king, was the last thing that God wanted for His people--- when it became apparent, that the Israelites would settle for nothing less, God, engineered the process of selection, in the most minute of details. Saul was looking for the donkeys in all the wrong places, and Israel was looking for their king in all the wrong places. But God, in his mercy and His sovereignty was still in control. What are we looking for, in all the wrong places, that we need to be looking to God for? Whatever it is, that we're fretting over, right now----we need to stop, wherever we are, and wait, until we here the Lord telling us which way to go, and what to do when we get there. He already has the plan worked out----we don't need to wander aimlessly----we just need to listen for his voice and then, obey it.(Isaiah 30:21---("You will be walking down the road to the right or the left, and you will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it")

II   Acquiring a King 

A.   Saul is Anointed 1-8

The next morning, Samuel sent Saul on his way home, and told him to wait 7 days, for him at Gilgal, and then he would come and tell him, what he needed to do next. But first, he anointed him with oil, and kissed him, and told him that he was to be the ruler, over God's people. To be anointed with oil, in biblical times, signified, that whatever was being anointed---whether it was a person or an object, was being set apart for service to God. The anointing of a ruler, was actually a religious act, that established a special relationship between God and the king, making the king, God's representative to His people. It was a symbol of the Holy Spirit, being poured out onto Saul's head, symbolizing the power and presence of God, in his life.

The fact that Samuel didn't use the word, king, but used the word prince or ruler, instead, is significant. It wasn't an accident-----God was making it clear, that Saul was being brought to a position of leadership, in the way that God wanted him to be brought there. The term "king", would be used later, as a title, for the ruler of Israel----- but by putting it off for as long as possible, we are able to see, the-behind-the-scenes action, that God used in His selection, of the proper ruler for Israel. And we're able to see the way that He prepared Saul to be presented to the people, so that they would accept him, as their choice, to lead them----and it also shows us how God works behind-the-scenes, in our lives, too, on a personal, national, and global level, to bring about His perfect and permissive will, in every situation.

When Samuel kissed Saul, I think it shows Samuel's faith in God and his faith in Saul, to be obedient in what he was being called by God to do, and it was an acknowledgment of God's blessing on Saul, as His chosen one.  

This was a radical moment, in Israel's history----God had given them their first king, but nobody but Samuel and Saul knew about it. 

In our world, we are so tuned in and trained, by the media, to notice even the most insignificant of things, as significant, in a blaze of flashbulbs-----that we miss, most, of what really makes history. But the God-moments----the real moments, of the only history that matters, are moments of obedient faith and faithful prayer----which characteristically take place, in obscurity, inaccessible to anybody, unless they have the eyes and heart to see them.

Before he could be presented as Israel's king, Saul had to be prepared-----his heart had to be prepared to receive the task, that God was calling him to. God will never call one of His children to a task and then expect them to obey Him, until He has prepared them for it, first. He's not going to send us out unarmed and uninformed and clueless-----we would never do that to one of our children, and He loves us, infinitely more, than we can even comprehend, loving our children. 

If Saul was going to wear kingship well, it needed to be more than a role that was hung on him, like a suit of ill-fitting clothes. At first He must have been blown out of the water; sacred to death of Samuel and his words, fighting a strong desire, to flee as far as he could, from what was being pressed on him. So he needed some material signs that would validate Samuel's words and his actions, and he needed a deep change in his heart, that would make it possible for him to understand himself, and what he was being called to, not in human terms, but in God's terms.

Samuel promised him 3 signs, to affirm in Saul's heart, the truth of everything he'd been told, about it being God's hand, that was on him, and God's call, that he was supposed to answer and obey.

The signs were impressed upon Saul, in such detail, that there could be no doubt, that God was orchestrating  the whole thing, because they were every one fulfilled, down to the most minute detail, just like Samuel had prophesied.

But that's how God is, He is a God of order and certainty, not a God of chaos and doubt.

The 3 signs were: 

* he would have an encounter with 2 men at Rachel's tomb who would tell him that the donkeys had been found. And he did.

* he would have an encounter with 3 men holding 3 goats and a skin of wine, at the Oak of Tabor, who would give him 2 loaves of bread, from the 3 that they were carrying. And he did.

* he would have an encounter with a company of prophets, singing prophetic messages, accompanied by a rhythm band, playing very specific instruments. And he would start singing and prophesying with them. And he did.

Samuel told Saul, that when these signs were fulfilled, he could do whatever the occasion demanded, because God would be with him, and then he instructed him to go to Gilgal, and wait there until Samuel could join him, in 7 days time, and then, he would tell him what to do. 

B.  Signs are Fulfilled 9-16

God didn't wait, till after the 3 signs, to change Saul on the inside. As he walked from Samuel-----God made him on the inside what Samuel had made him on the outside----a person set aside for God, to be used by Him, for the kingdom. 

It's funny that the elders said that they wanted a king, "like other nations", because even though they got their king, he was nothing like the kings of the other nations. He was chosen by God, not the people, he was anointed in secret, not by public ceremony, he was going to be guided by one priest, not by a counsel of elders, and his authority was not going to come from his own prowess and strength, but was going to come from God's own hand. 

It's significant that he first came to public notice, in association with prophets, whose primary identity was associated with God, in worship and praise. The identification stuck, because a proverb was created from the questions, "is Saul among the prophets?" and "who is their father?" which is believed, by most theologians, to mean, that true prophets don't have their prophetic gift by virtue of birth or natural talent or learned behavior, they have it  because it has been given to them, by God's sovereign will. God can give any gift, including the gift of prophecy, to anybody He wants to. So this verse seems to be implying, so that everybody could hear and see and understand, that God had chosen Saul and that the gift was a sign of that choice.     

I think that it is wonderful, and a continuing encouragement, that God never takes His hand off of His own, in that He gave to Israel, a ruler, who was far more like His own prophets, than he was the rulers of other nations. Because, In the long run, Saul had to deal with God, far more than he had to deal with the rulers of competing nations. Its the same way for us-----there is nothing in our lives, that does not come back to our relationship with God, nothing----everything we are, and everything we do and everything that we face----all comes down, to where we are, in our relationship with Him. When God answers our prayers----and He always does, with yes, no, or wait------the answers are rarely on our terms-----they are always on God's terms----and we always get more and better(even if it isn't to our immediate liking) than we bargained for. We have got to learn to depend on His sovereignty, no matter what is going on around us---- He is always in control.

When Saul got back home, he explained to his uncle part of what had happened and where he had been, but he didn't say anything about what had transpired between God and Samuel and himself. Because we have the full scripture, and we know that Saul doesn't stay true to his calling, I think that gives the commentators, free reign with their judgement about Saul's silence and his initial hide-and-seek behavior------but I don't think that's the right attitude for us to have, yet. I think Saul was scared and he was reluctant, but I think he was obedient in the beginning. 

I think he was doing what Samuel told him to do and was waiting for him to get there, before he told anybody about what was happening to him. How many of us have been in the exact same place----we're willing to be used by God, we know that He's called us to a task, but we're scared, or we feel inadequate or we sense barriers in front of us-----we might be reluctant, but we're not disobedient----this reluctance comes from human pride and human fear and human lack of trust in God, to bring to fruition what He says He will. Sometimes, all we need is for one person, to acknowledge us, to give us a pat on the back, to pray for us or to go with us. 

(Last year, when Stephanie and Jennifer ask me to speak at the Ladies Retreat-----I immediately said yes, I knew that was what the Lord had told me to do----there was no question---but I was scared to death-----I had never spoken in front of that many people before; I was going to have to be prepared to speak 5 times; and I was responsible for every word that I would say------it took me days before I told anybody and weeks before I started asking people to pray for me. I wasn't ashamed and I wasn't really even reluctant, I was just scared, which in truth was nothing more than, choosing to focus on myself instead of being focused on God. Stephanie and Jennifer and many other people were praying for me and supporting me and encouraging me,and that helped me to be able to step up and step out and complete the task that God had called me to…) 

C. Saul is Chosen  17-27

I wonder if that was what was going on with Saul? I think he needed Samuel to come and redirect his focus on the Lord and to to boost his confidence. Which is exactly, what Samuel did. He called a meeting of the tribes at Mizpah so that he could publicly present Saul to them, as their divinely chosen ruler. 

Before he announced Saul though, he reminded them one more time, that their independent attitude, demanding an earthly king, was basically, a rejection of God, as their king------but that God was willing to give them what they wanted------it wasn't His best for them, but He was going to allow it, and they would wind up having to deal with the consequences. We can't help but see the gospel, in this story-----the remarkable truth is, that God didn't reject the people, even though they rejected Him. He stayed with them through the entire process-----He did what He promised, and didn't leave them or forsake them and He proved that once they were His, they were always His. 

Samuel used the age-old casting of lots to bring God's choice of Saul, into the light. Although the procedure sometimes varied----the priest would use the Urim and Thumim----which were two flat stones, that he carried, and were used to determine God's will by asking yes and no questions. God had instructed them during the Exodus, (Exodus 28:30) that when they cast the Lots, if the stone fell on no, then God was saying no, and if it fell on yes, then God was saying yes. (in Psalm 103:19 says "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.)

They were used, to select the scapegoat, on the Day of Atonement, and they were used to divide the land after the conquest of Canaan, and they were used to determine the guilt of suspected criminals. The principle, underlying the casting of lots, was, that God is sovereign over all human business. What appeared to be chance was really a part of God's sovereign design. Lot casting was used prior to the permanent indwelling of the holy Spirit, in the hearts of believers. Since Pentecost, believers are guided by the indwelt Holy Spirit, so there isn't any more need for the casting of lots.

Samuel called for all the tribes and clans to present themselves and then he started to cast the lots, for who would be king. The lots narrowed down to the tribe of Benjamin, then they narrowed down to the clan of Matrite, and then they narrowed down, to the family of Kish, and then finally, they narrowed down to Saul------, but, bless his heart, he was no where to be found. 

And, ironically, the people who had badgered God for a king, had to turn to Him in prayer, and ask God to find the one, who had been chosen. And God did.

When Samuel presented him, the people went wild and started shouting, for the first time, "Long live the King." Then, Samuel wrote down the ordinances of the kingdom which were probably the laws, from Deuteronomy 17:14-20, which had already been written, regulating the activities of the king, that God had always known they would ask for. 

After the ceremony at Mizpah Saul went back home to Gibeah, to get ready for battle with the Philistines. Gibeah served as the first capitol of the nation of Israel. As the Israelites's first king, Saul had active supporters---most people jumped on the bandwagon of joy, that having an earthly king provided them with-----but there were a few grumbling dissenters, as there always are----and they became political enemies-----those worthless men questioned His leadership, and they refused to honor him, in the way they should, but Saul wisely held his peace, so he wouldn't provoke the situation and divide the nation. 

This is the very beginning of Israel's experience, of living under their own king----but it will end tragically, 500 years later, when they are taken into Babylonion Captivity. And they never were united as one nation again, until 1948. Which is when they became recognized as a state, in the world's eyes, except, just like it was in the days of the Caananites, by their Palestinian neighbors.

JOY "The Ark of God -- Part Two" October 10, 2012

October 10, 2012

The Ark of God------Part 2

1st Samuel 5:1-6:21

I.    Traveling With the Ark       5:1-6:18

II.    Returning the Ark             6:19-21

"Most people have never heard of Bernard Coffindaffer, but a lot of people have seen the results of his work. He was born in 1935, in Craigsville, West Virginia, and was orphaned at the age of ten. He managed to finish high school when he was 14, serve 6 years in the US Marines, and go on, to graduate, from the University of Charleston, with a  business degree. He established a coal-washing business and made a small fortune in the mountains of West Virginia.

But the coal-washing business is not the work, that has touched the hearts of so many people. His really memorable work, began, when he became a Christian, at the age of 42 and God called him to preach. He served seven churches in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. And his most profound ministry began, when he had, what he called "a genuine, marvelous, glorious vision."

Coffindaffer had sold his business and had netted nearly $3,000,000. The Holy Spirit, gave him a vision, to take that money and erect, sets, of 3 large crosses, along the highways and roads, in the United States, and the world. And starting in 1984, that's exactly what he did. In the last nine years of his life, Coffindaffer set about erecting clusters of 3 crosses, in 29 states, the District of Columbia, Zambia, and the Philippines. Because of his vision---- a total, of 1,864 clusters of crosses, now stand beside interstates and local highways and country lanes. 

Have you ever seen them, these silent witnesses for Jesus Christ? (I've seen them in the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia---you will round a curve and unexpectedly, in the distance, there a set will be). The crosses are made of California Douglas Fir, with the center cross, painted gold, befitting the royalty of the Messiah. The crosses on the left and the right are painted pale blue. There are 3 nails in each cross, one at each of the cross-arms, and one, halfway down the main shaft of the cross, representing where the hands and feet of Jesus and the 2 thieves, on either side of him, were nailed. When each set of crosses, was erected, a consecration ceremony was held. Scripture was read and a prayer of dedication was offered.

In 1993, Bernard Coffindaffer was 68 when he died, penniless, of a heart attack. But, he left a tremendous legacy for the world to see. His testimony about the crosses was simple----" he wanted to remind people that Jesus was crucified on a cross at calvary, for our sins….. his prayer… was, that the crosses would encourage people to think and ask questions, and eventually, lead them, to a saving knowledge, of the Lord Jesus. 

Most of those crosses are still standing, today, and the are powerful symbols, or our faith. They point to a decision, that eventually, every person has to make. Coffindaffer was wise---instead of erecting just one cross, he didn't forget that 3 men, were crucified on that fateful day---- the Savior was hung on one of them, but the men hanging on either side of him, were just ordinary men. And the only difference between the 2 thieves, was in their decisions---- One decided to humble himself before the Lord, and one decided to reject Him. The cross is the symbol of the sacrificial death of our Savior, and I hope that we don't ever take it for granted."

I. Traveling With the Ark

A.) The world's gods are powerless before God Almighty. 5:1-5

After the Philistines seized the Ark of the Covenant, they took their captured trophy, to Ashdod, one of their 5 cities, and placed it there, in the temple of their god, Dagon. Their purpose was clear-----Yahweh, as the defeated, humiliated God, deserved to be placed, in a subservient position, for all their people to see, before the victorious Dagon. They either believed, that the man-made Ark, was actually Israel's God, or they at least, regarded it, as the visible throne, of an invisible deity. Whichever it was, the Philistines believed, that since they had won the battle, against the Israelites, then their god Dagon, must have defeated the God of Israel, on the battlefield too. They honestly believed, that just like the Israelites were going to have serve them now, Yahweh was going to have to serve Dagon, too. But they didn't have very long to wait, before God's sense of humor, showed them just how wrong they were. 

Early the next morning, the people of Ashdod found their god laying on the ground, face down, as though the idol was prostrating itself, in worship, in front of the Ark of the Covenant. God, was being very clear, about who was worshiping who!------the so-called victorious god, of the Philistines, needed the help of men, to put him back on his pedestal. It was powerless, in the presence of the God of Israel. The Philistines couldn't see, that their man-made idol, couldn't sustain himself without their help. 

The next morning, it happened again, except that time----Dagon's head and hands had been broken off, and were laying on the threshold, so that his worshipers couldn't even go into the temple, without stumbling over them. 

This is really, a hilarious story, for us who know the truth, of God's omnipotent power, but to the superstitious Philistines, it was intended, by God, to teach them a valuable lesson.

God had created a deliberate contrast between Dagon and Himself. Because, unlike Dagon, Almighty God, doesn't need anybody, to fight His battles or to set Him up, on any kind of pedestal. God could have leveled the Philistines with just a word, if He had wanted to. 

And, He didn't need the Israelites, to capture the Ark, and get it back for Him. He had a plan to rescue it, which was a better one, than anything, a man could devise. Israel didn't need to carry God----God was able to carry Israel. 

God does want our love and our obedience and our service, but it would be arrogant of us to assume, that God is dependent on us, to do His will. God loves us and wants to work through us, to spread His good news, but we can never forget that He's God. He doesn't need us for anything---but, in His grace, He allows us, to come and participate with Him, where He's already working. 

(In 1996, the US astronaut, Shannon Lucid spent 188 days in space, along with 2 cosmonauts from the former Soviet Union. One night, after supper, she and 2 cosmonauts began talking about their childhoods and what life was like for them during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union.

They surprised each other. Lucid told them she had grown up fearful of the Soviet Union, and most American adults would have felt the same way. But the cosmonauts said they had been equally afraid of the US.

Lucid was shocked that they were afraid of the US. The idea that Russians would think we wanted to destroy them was incredible to her, as it would be to most Americans.

Those Russian cosmonauts, are like people who don't know God. They think that God wants to harm them, or to control them or take everything away from them----- but nothing could be further from the truth. Although there is a spiritual, cold war, going on, where people who don't know Jesus, actually are God's enemies, because of their sins, they aren't enemies that God wants to destroy. They are enemies, that God dearly wants to love and to save, and teach how to be His friend.)

God wanted to make the Philistines His friends----but, eventually there came a time when He chose to turn away and take His mercy with Him---- and He wasn't able to allow them to continue being a powerful nation, because they never learned to trust Him as their God. 

Their cities were located in a coastal, fertile, foothill valley----and iron-mongering was their greatest asset.  

Because they lived at a cross-roads, to the then known world, their influence touched anyone, who passed their way ---- and because they wouldn't give up their pagan ways----God couldn't allow that influence to continue. But, as the story goes on, we're going to see, that He gave them chance after chance, to recognize Him as the only true God-----and at any point in time, if they had learned to trust Him, and if they had asked Him to be their God, He would have forgiven them, and He would have become their God too----but they refused to see, beyond their own importance-----and eventually, they were annihilated.   

B.) There is no one who can manipulate God's power and presence for any reason.  5:6-6:12

The Philistines acknowledged the existence of the Hebrew God, but only as one of many deities, whose favor they sought. Thinking of God in this way, made it easy, for them to ignore his demand, that people worship Him alone. Many people worship God this way. They see God as just one ingredient in a successful life. But God is way more than an ingredient----He is the source of life itself. 

Are we like the Philistines, seeing God's favor, as just one of the ingredients for a good life? We need to be careful that we don't-----we need to see God as the only ingredient to a successful life. 

It doesn't matter who we are, or what we do, or how much education we have, or how much money we have in the bank, or how many friends we have, or how smart we are------if God isn't the center of our lives, whatever is left over, will just wind up being, wood, hay and stubble. (Mary Kathryn has a friend, who has just found out that her little 8 month old baby, has a fatal disease, that will probably take his life before he's 2----when I asked Mary Kathryn, if her friend was being brave-----she said "yes she is, as always…" the reason why Mary Kathryn could answer me with such certainty, and the reason why I can believe that its true, is because, her friend has made Jesus, the center of her life----and she's trusting, that He will give her the strength to walk through, whatever she's going to have to walk through, in the coming days.) 

The Philistines had just witnessed a great victory by Israel's God over their god, Dagon----but they didn't act on that insight, until they were afflicted with tumors or boils, believed to have been caused by rats (which means, as most theologians believe, that it was probably the bubonic plague). Similarly today, many people don't respond to biblical truth until they experience pain. Do we listen to God, for truth's sake---or do we only turn to Him, when we're hurting? If I only had one prayer for us, today---it would be, that we would be so used to trusting God every day, in the little things, that come our way, that when the big things, come, we just go right on trusting Him, without missing a beat. Knowing that we're safe in the palm of His hand, no matter what storms are raging around us.

When the people of Ashdod realized, that the God of Israel, who had inflicted plagues on the Egyptians, had caused a plague of boils to come upon them too----they thought the solution to stop the plague, was to get rid of the Ark, as fast as they could---so they called a council of their rulers together, and decided to send it on a road trip, to one of their other cities, Gath. Immediately, the same plague broke out there-----when the reign of terror became too much for Gath's inhabitants, they sent the Ark, up the road to Ekron. The Philistines in that town, were scared to death, that the same devastation, would happen to them, that had happened at Gath and Ashdod------and as soon as the Ark entered their city, they cried out against it---they didn't want it!!!!!!! The great war trophy, of the Israelites, had become death to anyone who came in contact with it. Sure enough, the plague started there immediately, too!!!! and the people begged, for the ark to be sent back, where it had come from.

The pagan Philistines, had finally begun to have the respect for the Ark, that Israel, should have had, from the beginning. They had played with fire and they had gotten burned badly. It had become clear to them, that Israel's one God, was more powerful, than all of their deities, combined. 

It only took 7 months, for the Philistines, as a whole, to figure out, that they wanted to be rid of the Ark, so they called all their priests and fortune-tellers together, and came up with a plan….

The heathen priests, recognized that they had sinned against Israel's God, by kidnapping the Ark of the Covenant. They were scared to death, to offend Him any more, than they already had, so, they couldn't just send it back to the Israelites, and say "sorry, we messed up." The had to be handle the matter, with care. Their religious leaders were wise in their warning, to the Philistine kings, not to harden their hearts, like the Egyptians had, and wise, in their encouragement to them, to figure out a way to pay honor to Yahweh, the Almighty God. The Hebrew word for "honor", chabod, means glory (its the root word for Ichabod, which Phinehas' wife, named her baby, before she died, which means "no glory") The priests directed them, to give glory to Israel's God----and the irony of this is---- that the glory that Israel had forgotten, to give God, by trying to use the Ark for their own purposes, was given to Him, by the pagan Philistines------its sad, the Philistines, were so close, to an understanding of God, but they just could not accept His sovereignty over them.

The priests recommended that a guilt offering be sent along with the Ark, to atone for their sin, and to compensate for the violation of the Lord's honor. They felt like, that gesture, would would heal the Philistines and appease God's displeasure with them. They weren't really sorry for what they had done---they were sorry, that they had gotten caught

It's easy to justify our behavior and to design our own methods of acknowledging God, instead of serving Him, in the way He requires. The guilt offering, was because the Philistines recognized, that they were guilty of taking the Ark---- not that they were guilty of sinning---- they thought the Israelite God was angry with them, so, they did everything they could to try and placate Him. They didn't understand that God doesn't want excuses from us, or good works or empty words, when we mess up----what He wants, is  remorse and accountability and repentance.

A new cart was prepared---and two nursing cows, that had never been yoked before, were chosen to pull the cart. Their calves, were taken away and penned up, and left crying, for their mamas. Both the Ark and the chest containing the guilt offering, were placed on the cart, and the cart was sent on its way, with no driver.

The 5 gold rats and the 5 gold boils or tumors, that they sent as the guilt offering, meant nothing to God---but because the Philistines, were idol worshipers, they thought the golden gifts, that they had devised, couldn't help but please Him. 

When they sent the nursing cows, to take the Ark back----- they were testing, to see if it was really God, who was punishing them, or if it was just a coincidence. 

We know, though, that only God, who has the power over natural order, could have caused those cows to go in the direction that they did, toward Beth Shemesh------ because under normal circumstances, those nursing mothers would never have left their babies. They went straight up the road, and didn't turn to the right or the left----

God had destroyed the Philistine's god, and the Philistine's bodies-----and through those mama cows, He was sending them a clear message, that He was the one, true, sovereign God---- He didn't send the cows to pass the Philistines test---He sent them, to reveal to the Philistines, His mighty power, and also, to make the Israelites remember it.

(A TV show, preceding the 1988 Winter Olympics, featured blind skiers being trained for slalom skiing----- impossible as that sounds. Paired with sighted skiers, the blind skiers were taught on the flats, how to make right and left turns.

When that was mastered, they were taken to the slalom slope, where their sighted partners, skied beside them, shouting, go "left!" and go "right!" As they obeyed the commands, they were able to negotiate the course and cross the finish line, depending solely, on the sighted skiers' word. Each skier, had to have, complete trust, in their partner or there would have been, total catastrophe.

What a vivid picture of the Christian life? In this world, we are, in reality, blind about what course we need to take. We have to rely solely, on the word, of the only one, who knows what the future holds----God Himself. His word gives us the direction, that we need, to finish the course.)  

II.   Returning the Ark

A.) Respect and honor, should be given to God and His ways. 6:13-18

When the people of Beth Shemesh looked up from their harvesting, they saw what must have been an amazing sight----2 noisy cows, pulling a new cart, carrying the Ark of the covenant------and they rejoiced. The destination of that cart was not a coincidence----- scripture teaches us, that Beth Shemesh, was one of the Levitical cities-----and was set aside for the clan of Kohath, the Levitical family, who had been given the charge of caring for the Ark. So the cart had gone unerringly, straight to the place, where it was supposed to go. Only Almighty God could have orchestrated that!!! 

Joshua, of Beth Shemesh, probably never dreamed, that a large rock, in his wheat field, would become so famous. But that's where the cart stopped, and the cows came to rest. The Levites took the Ark, and the chest containing the gold objects, sent by the Philistines, off the cart and set them on the rock for everybody to see. The people broke up the cart and used it as firewood, to sacrifice the cows, in a burnt offering to the Lord. But, this was an act of disrespect, though, to sacrifice those mother cows---because, Levitical rules stated, that they were supposed to sacrifice only male animals. So, even though they were offering burnt offerings, to the Lord, they weren't really being obedient----they were doing it the way that they wanted to do it.

How often do we do the same thing? We go through the motions of who we're supposed to be, as believers----but we tweak our worship or our service or our behavior or our understanding of the scriptures-----to make it just a little more palatable, or a little more exciting, or a little more inclusive----so that we can have the Lord, and a little bit of the world's standards, too. 

But God is a sovereign God, and the truth is, He calls us to a different standard----- And His standard, is not really a hard one to follow---if we're living in a close relationship with Him. If we really sit back and pay attention, we can see, that there aren't many "thou shalt nots" in the scripture----there are many more "thou shall's" ------but we still, find it so hard, to it His way, not ours (pride). 

The "Thou shall's" that He's given us, are contained in, 10, commandments---that can be summed up into one, "Love the Lord your God, with your heart soul and mind, and love your neighbor, as yourself"-------there's nothing legalistic about that---and there is nothing demanding about that---and there is nothing to be prideful about that------it boils down, to who we believe the Lord God is, and how much do we want to please Him----it comes down to what's in our hearts----because our thoughts and our words and our actions, are a true reflection of who we really are, and what our relationship with the Lord really is.

(In 1994, Rob Mouw, was a high school senior, at Wheaton Christian High School, in Wheaton Illinois, where He was the star of the soccer team. In the final seconds, of a championship game, against, the favored Waubonsie Valley High----his team was behind by one goal. Rob was dribbling the ball, in front of him, running at full speed, to try and score! Just before he shot the ball, in that split second, he caught sight of the scoreboard-----time had run out----there were 4 zeros on the clock. But like any good athlete, Rob shot the ball anyway, and went in for the goal. The referee signaled that the goal had counted, and the game had finished in a tie.

The Wheaton fans cheered. The Waubonsie fans yelled that the time had run out.

Rob had a choice to make. He could either say nothing and avoid a loss and be a hero---after all, it was the referee's job to decide the calls, not his---- Or Rob, could do the right thing…

Before he left the field, Rob asked the referee, if the official time was kept on the scoreboard or the referee's stopwatch. The referee said that the scoreboard time was official, and then ran off the field. Rob went to his coaches and explained that just before the kick, he had seen the zeros on the clock. Since he hadn't heard a whistle, he had continued to play. But his goal was late, and he didn't think that it should count.

His coaches agreed, so they went over to the opposing coaches, explained what had happened, and conceded the victory to the Waubonsie Valley team. When he was interviewed about it later, Rob said, "Every time in your life that you have an opportunity to do right, you should be thankful-----it gives you an opportunity to please the Lord. When a person knows what right is, and then doesn't do it---that is a sin. To have won that game, would have been great-----but it was just a game-----doing the right thing and having peace with God, is much more important."  As tempting as it must have been to keep his mouth shut----Rob did the right thing, because He valued what was right in God's eyes, more than he did what was right, in the eyes of his peers.)

It's interesting, that the 5 rulers of the Philistines, were watching the Israelites and their festivities, from a distance.We can only imagine, what they said to their people, when they went back to their own towns----- But one thing's for sure, they would have told them, that it was the Israelite God, who had caused the plague of boils to come upon them. Its going to be interesting to study David and Goliath, in a few weeks----because we will see that the Philistines saw the hand of God come against them again. You would think they would have been terrified to fight His people another time, but the depth of human arrogance, knows no boundaries-----and eventually, the Philistines did realize, that the God of Israel, would defeat them, every single time. 

The joy of the Israelites turned to sorrow, really quickly, that day. We can just imagine, what it must have been like. There on that rock, was their most treasured possession---The Ark of God-----in addition to that, were the 5 gold rats and the 5 gold boils, one from each city….for all to see-----(until this episode, in their history, none of them had ever seen the Ark----it had always been covered, when they traveled, or it had been behind the curtain, in the Holy of Holies, per God's instruction) so, they were feeling pretty good----because not only did they have the Ark back, but they were able to look at it, and they had valuable gifts too------from their enemies, no less----I'm sure they were laughing and retelling the story, of how they had looked up to see the miraculous sight, of the noisy cows, heading right for them. Some curious men, even tried to lift the lid, to check out the Ark's contents. And when they did-----God struck them down!

The Israelites had to learn a very valuable lesson and it's a lesson that we all need to learn too---- even though, it may seem harsh to us----- disrespect, for the things of God----- including casualness and flippancy, toward His word, His gifts and His presence, will bring discipline.

B.) God will not tolerate sin. 6:19-21

Since God is holy, we are foolish to even presume, to come into His presence with an arrogant and sinful attitude. Those men were killed, for looking into the Ark, because, the Israelites had lost sight of the power and majesty and person, of God, and had made an idol out of the ark. They had tried to harness God's power, to use it for their own purposes (victory in battle). But the Lord of the universe, cannot be controlled by human beings. 

To protect the Israelites, from His power-----He had warned them, to not ever look at the sacred, sanctuary objects, in the most holy place, or they would die. Only the descendants of Aaron, were allowed to see the Ark once a year, when they made atonement for the people' sin-----and only the Levite priests, were allowed to move the Ark, when God told them too. So, because of their disobedience, God carried out His promised judgement, and either 70 men were killed or 50,000 of them were----we aren't sure which, because different ancient manuscripts say different things-----

but theologically, the larger number makes more sense----because, if the military might of the Philistines could kill 30,000 Israelites------ in His holiness, their sovereign God, would have wanted them to know, that His power was far greater than any human military effort.   

God could not allow the people to think, that they could use His power, for their own ends. He could not permit them to disregard His warnings and to come into his presence lightly. He didn't want the cycle of disrespect, disobedience and and defeat, to start all over again. He wanted them to remember, that He was the God who had brought them out of Egypt; who had parted the Red Sea; who had destroyed Pharoah's army; who had provided for them in the wilderness; who had given them the Promised Land; who had, time, after time, when they had cried out to Him, and had turned from their wicked ways, rescued them from their enemies. God didn't kill the Israelite men of Beth-Shemesh to be cruel. He killed them, because overlooking their presumptuous sin, would have encouraged the whole nation of Israel, to continue to ignore Him. 

The Israelite Leaders panicked----they asked the right question, "Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? and they knew the right answer----"no one"----but instead of running to Him, and bowing down in repentance and reverence, before Him, they blamed Him, for dealing them a heavy blow---and then tried to get rid of the Ark, as fast as they could. Unlike the heathen Philistines, they took no responsibility for their actions, their was no self-searching and no confession of sin and there was no remorse. 

They obviously were not ready to receive the Ark, which tells us, that they were not prepared to return to God, and yield themselves to Him yet. So, they ran away from, the only one who could help them----the only one, who had the power and the wisdom and the desire, to save them from their selfish selves----they ran away from their God. 

(Several years ago, and eastern paper reported this story.

One evening a woman was driving home when she noticed a huge truck behind her that was driving uncomfortably close. She stepped on the gas to gain some distance from the truck, but when she sped up, the truck did too. The faster she drove, the faster the truck did too. 

Now scared, she exited the freeway. But the truck stayed with her. The woman then turned up a main street, hoping to lose her pursuer in traffic. But the truck ran a red light and continued the chase. 

Reaching the point of panic, the woman slipped her car into a service station and bolted out of her auto screaming for help. The truck driver sprang from his truck and ran toward her car. Yanking the back door open, the driver pulled out a man hidden in the backseat.

The woman had been running from the wrong person. From his high vantage point, the truck driver had spotted a would-be rapist hunkered down in the woman's car. The chase was not his effort to harm her, but to save her, even at the cost of his own safety. 

That's the way the Israelites were and its the way many of us are sometimes, we run away from God, or we turn and fight Him, because we're afraid of what He might or might not do, to us or for us. But God's plans are always for good and never for evil-----in His desire and ability, to rescue us, from the hidden sins, that endanger our lives. 

So, the devastated people of Beth Shemesh, send a short, cryptic message----- to Kiriath Jearim, a little village, 15 miles east of where they were------and they told the men, to come and get the Ark because the Philistines had returned it. 

Which is exactly what they did---- they got it and took it straight to a Levite's house, who was also a Kohathite, named Abinadab, whose son, Eleazar, was consecrated to guard it. Which he did, in obscurity, until 20 or so years later, when David came and got the Ark, and took it to Jerusalem. 

Believers can fall into the same kind of thinking that the Israelites did, if we're not careful-----We want our God to be casual and easy-going---we want to treat Him like He's' the man upstairs, rather than the Lord God Almighty and we want to think that He's our buddy, instead of our heavenly Father. We want God to be our co-pilot but then, we get uncomfortable, or even aggravated, when He wants to fly the plane. 

Probably the best advice we can follow, is from the prophet, Habakkuk--- in Chapter 2, verse 20, of his book---- he said, "But the Lord is in his Holy Temple; let everyone on earth, be silent in His presence" 

The truth is, we serve a God, who is immeasurably powerful. The one who brought the Ark back from the Philistines, is the same one who raised Jesus from the dead----- and He will accomplish His purposes. His victory does not depend on me or on you, any more than it depended on the Philistines or the Israelites. 

God wants us to know Him----He wants us to bow before His holiness, and to revere His sovereignty, and to respect His authority, and to do His will. So, we need to come into His presence, with a quiet humility, and a gentleness of spirit, that allows us to hear, what He wants to say, whether it's to chastise or to praise, us...

JOY "Capturing the Ark" October 3, 2012

October 3, 2012

The Ark of God-----Part 1

1st Samuel 4:1-22

      I Capturing the Ark 

        

A. Israel's Mistake    4:1-11

B. Israel's Heartbreak   4:12-22            

"In January, 1999, Dr. Mark Coppenger, the president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, took a team on an unusual mission trip. It was a bicycle trip along the upper Nile River, in Egypt, from Luxor to Aswan. Escorted by the Egyptian tourist police, they rode more than 152 miles, in 4 days. They distributed literature telling about their cycling team, as well as evangelistic tracts, and scripture portions, to the Egyptian people they met, in the many small towns,  along the way. 

Dr. Coppenger had provided the team, with a specially designed t-shirt, which was printed with the logo of the seminary on the back, and the silhouette of a large cross, against a colorful background, on the front. In the hearts and minds of the bikers, they wore the cross t-shirts to remember who they belonged to, and just why it was so important to spread His good news. To the people they came in contact with, the cross was a symbol of the team's faith in Almighty God-----it was a visible sign, that introduced them to the Lord's invisible presence and His redeeming grace. 

Dr. Coppenger brought along an instant camera, so he could take pictures of the local folks, they met, with the team. In each photograph, he made sure that one of the team members, was standing dead in the center, so that anybody viewing the picture, would automatically have his eyes drawn to the cross. Then he would give away the pictures to the local people. His prayer was, that long after the missionary team had gone on to the next town, and eventually home to America, that the proud owner of the photo would look at it, and not only see his friends, who had visited, but he would see that cross, and would remember, that it was a symbol of the Savior, who had died and resurrected, to save the whole world from their sin.

Religious symbols can be a powerful testimony of a person's faith. But those same symbols can also be abused and misunderstood. The Israelites misunderstood the purpose of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was the symbol of God's presence with His people and it pointed to the glory and power of God, but it was not God. 

And the Israelites had to learn that they couldn't manipulate God's presence, by carrying the Ark into their battles, or moving  it, wherever they pleased. God didn't intend for it to be treated like a trophy or a curiosity, or a good-luck charm. The people were supposed to come before the Ark with reverence and respect, but they had long ago, lost sight of the glory of God, and they had forgotten, that He was all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present. God had to remind them, in ways that they could understand, who He was and what He expected from them-------- and it was a lesson that He had to teach the Philistines too.

    Capturing the Ark:

A. Israel's Mistake

It is the most common thing in the world for human beings to long for God's power-----we all know people who don't really understand anything about faith, and yet, when push comes to shove, they believe that God is powerful. And even believers spend a lot of effort, trying to figure out a way to make God's power work for us. 

I think that's part of the reason why "religion", even a man-made one, is so enticing for most people. A non-believing businessman, weighted down by anxieties, problems and decisions, may, in a desperate moment, pray for God's power to somehow keep him afloat, and to give him success, and even to inhibit his competitors. If his prayers are somehow answered, then the businessman will see value in praying. A gravely ill person, who has never prayed before, will find themselves, desperately begging God, to use His power of healing, to make them well again. If prayer can do that, then the sick person will see the value of having "religion" as part of their lives. A student, who hasn't gone to church all semester, will find themselves, as they approach exams, throwing up prayers, for God to make the questions easy, and to give the student total recall, and to make the teacher curve generously. If they get a good grade, the student will see, if only for a minute, the value of spending some time in prayer. 

"Religion" is nothing more than humans attempting to harness God's power. That's why there has always been a bewildering number and range of religions, in every generation. But the tragedy, of the religions of the world is, that that's all they are, just man-made guesses, on how to access God's power. And the guesses are random, uncertain, confusing, contradictory and even bizarre---- using an array of activities, which range from crystals to fasting and from meditation to sacramental offerings. Formal or intellectualized religion is the worst tragedy of all----because it reduces the power of God, to a concept or an idea. 

We need to understand that "religion" will never get us anything and it will never get us anywhere------the only way that we can access God's power is for Him to give it to us, for a purpose that pleases Him. There is a difference in having "religion" and in having "faith in God". When we have faith, we are admitting that we can't do anything in our own strength, and we are declaring, that we believe that God, in His sovereign will, can do everything. We are declaring that we know, that the power that raised Jesus from the cross, is the same power that God wants to give us, so that we can be the women that He has created us to be, with hearts, who long to be, in close fellowship with Him, all the time.  The Israelites and the Philistines both had "religion", but neither people group, except for the Israelite remnant, at the time of this story, had true faith, which carries with it, the understanding, that God wields His power, when and how and why He wants to. 

In chapters 4, 5 and 6, Samuel isn't mentioned---so we can only assume that for some reason, he was either not a part of the decision making, or the elders and the people weren't listening to him yet------

In this passage, the Israelites and the Philistines went to war against each other-------it isn't clear who or what instigated the hostilities-------but who started it, doesn't really matter----what matters, is that there is no indication that God had led or directed them to fight----there is no evidence that they sought God's will, at all, in the matter. This would have been their (1) first valuable lesson to learn----- if God doesn't tell us to do something, don't do it! Deuteronomy 12:12 tells us "not to burn our sacrifices where God hasn't told us to."This is a lesson for us in every aspect of our lives, because the truth is, we are not supposed to take one step, on any given day that God doesn't tell us too.

 We go about our daily business, doing the things that we think we have to do, and there are many, many days that we do them, without talking to the Lord about them first.

 We have to remember that we are we are engaged in a spiritual war, every single moment of every single day----and that the enemy that we fight, is an unseen one----and that, that invisibility, is what makes satan such an unpredictable adversary. That's why it's so important, that we put on the full armor, that God has given us, before our feet even hit the floor, each morning------Ephesians 6:14-18 says that we are to "put on the belt of truth around our waists; and the breastplate of righteousness, on our bodies; and the gospel of peace, on our feet; and we are to take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, into our hands; and we are to put the helmet of salvation on our heads; and that we are to pray in the Spirit, at all times and on ever occasion, and that we are to stay alert and be persistent in our prayers for all believers everywhere." If we do this, there will be no doubt, that we will witness God's power and be privileged to see Him work. 

There were 2 battles. The initial one went badly for the Israelites-----4000 of them were killed. When the results of the battle were reported to the elders, they asked the right question---"Why did the Lord allow them to be defeated by the Philistines?" The problem was, they didn't stop to listen to His answer. If they had, they would have learned their (2)second valuable lesson------without God, all our efforts, to do anything, are doomed to failure. In God's covenant relationship with His people, the stipulation was, that all their battles were to be fought under God's rules of war. A war that God was involved in, was a Holy war and it had clear, preparation specifications: they were to consult God, to see if it was His will; they were to trust Him, as their sovereign king, to lead them; and they were supposed to have a solemn, consecration ceremony, before the Ark of the Covenant, which included prayer, confession of sins and sacrificial cleansing, by the high priest, on behalf of the warriors.

The Israelites hadn't done this for the first battle, and instead of figuring out what they had done wrong, and going back and righting the wrong, before the second battle------the elders jumped to a foolish conclusion and they tried to offer their own solution------which was the (3) 3rd valuable lesson they needed to learn-------God doesn't need us to fight His battles-----He allows us to be a part of His work, and He chooses to use us in His plan, because of His great grace, but He doesn't need us for anything. 

They made the really ridiculous, and truthfully, horrifyingly, sinful decision, to fetch the Ark of the covenant from Shiloh, and bring it to the camp, so it could go with them, when they fought again. The people had forgotten that the Ark was the representation of God's presence, His Shekinah-glory, dwelling there, with them. It wasn't God, Himself! It was just a beautiful box. They thought that they had god-in-a-box, and that He could be directed and brought to, wherever they decided to bring Him. They saw the Ark, unfortunately, as a substitute for God----which was their (4) 4th lesson----there is no substitute for God. The people of God, put their trust in a religious symbol! Their lack of spiritual insight  was appalling! Apparently, they thought they could manipulate the very presence and power of God, by being in control of the Ark. They had traded their very personal God, living in their midst, for a god-in-the-box, that they thought they could control. 

 And that brings us to the (5) 5th lesson they had to learn-----which was, that God's power and His presence cannot be controlled or presumed upon by us!  We can not put God in a box, or in an order of worship, or in a type of music, or in a building. There is nothing we can do to control His power. 

We, without even realizing it, sometimes, tend to rely on rituals and symbols and traditions and habits and methods and even respected people, in our worship and our daily walk with the Lord, just hoping that it will guarantee the Lord's blessing on us. We need to learn, just like the Israelites did, that the only way that God will release His Shekinah-Glory into our midst, and will show us His redeeming power, is if we will humble ourselves, seek His face, and follow His will. The object, of our faith, must be God---- not crosses, church buildings, sunday morning attendance, bible studies, financial giving or service. We need to reject anything, by which we knowingly, or unknowingly, try to make God accomplish our will. 

At first, the Philistines were terrified when they heard the great shout that came from the Israelite camp, when the Ark arrived. The Phillistines thought that the God of Israel, had come into the camp, to help the Israelites fight against them. They had heard all about what God done with the plagues in Egypt, and about the parting of the Red Sea, and the early conquest of Canaan. Instead of making them turn tail and run, though, it just made them dig in and fight harder. They didn't know, and they didn't understand, that God was going to let them win the 2nd battle too, not because of their military might, but because He wanted to use them, to take the Israelites to the end of themselves, so that He could bring them back to Himself. When God allows a problem to come into our lives, it may be that He is trying to show us a hidden sin or a sinful attitude, that we're harboring in our hearts. And He will use these experiences to teach us the hard way, to trust, only and completely, in Him.  If God doesn't prevent something from happening----He is allowing it----and their is a purpose for it, that will eventually be for our greater good----because Romans 8:28 says "that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."

3 disastrous events resulted from the futility of the Israelties trying to manipulate God that day:

1.) The Israelites lost, 4000 men in the first battle and then, either 70 or 30,000 men, in the 2nd battle; theologians aren't sure which it was, because the ancient manuscripts differ from each other, when they list the exact number killed. It makes more sense, that it was 30,000, because the audacity of what the Israelites did, in presuming to manipulate God, through the use of the Ark of the covenant, deserved a harsh punishment----and while losing any life is grievous----it doesn't seem like 70 lives lost, would have been enough of a judgement. But the bottom line is, they lost the battle.

2.)Eli' s sons, Hophni and Phinehas lost their lives that day. They were the leaders of the Israelite people and it was their responsibility, as Levites, to carry the Ark of the covenant, if it was ever on the move. So, it wasn't happenstance, that they died on the very day, that they grossly overestimated their authority, to bring the Ark into the camp, without God's permission. God will not be mocked. He will always do what He promises that He will, and He will do it when the time is exactly right, so that it can have the most import and influence. The deaths of Hophni and Phinehas, were the fulfillment, of a promise of God.  God's power is not at our disposal; God's power is God's power!

3.)  The Ark of the covenant was captured and ripped from their control. The wonderful, visible, physical reminder, that they were God's people and that He dwelt in their midst, was lost to them---- and it would be 20 years before they would get it back. The Ark of the covenant was so much more than a religious object. It was the God-given bearer of the promise of God! We also have the promise of God. But it is no longer written on stone tablets in a gold-plated box. The bearer of God's promises came to us, through flesh and blood, in the person of Jesus Christ. 

B. Israel's Heartbreak     4:12-22

A Benjamite messenger escaped, and ran the 20 miles back to Shiloh, to let the people, and Eli, know what had happened. His clothes were torn and he had dirt on his head.  Both of these were signs of mourning. And there must have been tears streaming down His face, and sorrow in His eyes and on his countenance, as well. The outcry from the town of Shiloh, where he went first, must have struck terror in blind Eli's heart, as he sat waiting at the gate, for news from the battlefield. The messenger first told Eli, that the Israelites had lost the battle and had suffered many casualties, next, he told him that Hophne and Phinehas had been killed, and last, he told him that the Ark had been captured. We don't know how he reacted, to the first two pieces of news, but the scripture tells us, that the news about the Ark killed him. He fell of his chair and broke his neck. 

 I believe that Eli knew full-well----that God had taken His glory out of the Tabernacle, long before his wicked sons had taken the Ark to the Battlefield, and I believe that he knew that God's glory was not in the Ark, and that God's time of judgment, for the Israelites, had just begun. I believe that the news of the withdrawal of God, from their midst, was more than Eli could take-----death must have been a relief, from his grief. 

Phinehas's wife died in childbirth, but before she did, she named her son Ichabod, which means "where is the glory?" She believed that the glory of God had left Israel, because of the death of her husband and her father-in-law and the capture of the ark. But the truth is, God had removed His glory, from their midst, because Israel had sinned against Him, by disobeying His commands and refusing to acknowledge Him for who He was. 

But God's glory was still God's glory, and He chose to withdraw His hand from them, only to show them what they were missing; He withdrew His hand, so that the loss of it, would draw them back to Him. In spite of what they thought, in spite of their defeat and in spite of the capture of the Ark---God had not abandoned His children----He was just calling them to repentance. Sometime that has to happen-----sometimes, we have to go through a time of wilderness, a time of separation, a time of aloneness, to realize what we're missing-----but the amazing thing is, God doesn't really go away from us----He doesn't take His eye off us-----He's always there, just waiting, with His hands outstretched, to welcome our return to His arms and to His grace. And He was using the Philistines and the battles, to clear the way, for Samuel, His faithful priest, to lead the people back to His glory and His presence; and to establish His kingdom.

We are so blessed to live on this side of the cross-----because God's glory, is alive in the Lord Jesus and if we belong to Him, His power and His presence live in us, through His Holy Spirit----- and we don't ever have to be afraid that He will take it away from us. He promises that He will never, ever leave us-----even when we sin against Him, even when we disappoint him, even when we don't trust Him, even when we turn away from Him, even when we stray into a wilderness of our own making, and even when we disobey Him----He will never leave us. God will always respond to the faith of anyone who will seek Him.