1 Samuel 4:1-11 | Food for Thought

 

1 Samuel 4:1-11

Food for Thought:

  • Right question; wrong answer. The Israelites rightly attribute their wins (and losses!) to the Lord’s hand, and so they ask why they were defeated at His hand. However, they immediately came up with their own solution, which was to bring the ark of the covenant - the very presence of God - to their military camp. They ended up losing even worse then before!

    • When something has gone wrong, why is it not always a good idea to move forward with your first instinct? Is there a personal story when immediately jumping to a solution hasn’t worked out well for you (…or someone else)?

    • The ark of the covenant isn’t just a “magical relic ” to be wielded like a supernatural weapon in battle. The ark was where the actual presence of God showed up. How is the error of the Israelites highlighted by the fact that it was Hophni and Phinehas (unrepentant priests condemned by the Lord) who were carrying the ark?

    • What does any of this tell you about why the Lord might’ve let them be defeated the first time and the second time?

  • Hype doesn’t equal holiness. It’s true that the people of God were ecstatic and the Philistines were terrified by the presence of the ark. It’s true that God is the “Lord of Armies,” and given God’s track record, those were right responses! And yet, the hype didn’t match what happened.

    • Have you ever been hyped up or excited about something spiritually, only to have it fizzle out or not turn out to be what it was?

    • Read Romans 10:1-4. What does zeal contribute to a life not built on truth?

    • Neither God’s people nor the Philistines were amped up about personal holiness; they were simply excited about results and “success”. Their excitement didn’t push either group towards self-examination, repentance, and greater faithfulness. Why is this such a miss?

    • How does this show up in your own life? Are there parts of your spiritual life sustained merely by the excitement of possibilities, big feelings or movements, results and progress?

    • When you suffer “spiritual defeat,” do you look to “bring new things in” or do you reflect on your own heart?

    • How does this story emphasize the importance of who you have around you and what they’re amping you up about?

 
1 SamuelScott O'Donohoe