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Dailies March 2021 |
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04/11/2021 Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. 2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. 3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. 7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. 8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight. 10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. 13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. 16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son? 17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. Samuel probably was proven to be a prophet, and his prophesy is known through out Israel concerning the change coming to Israel. Philistines are coming against Israel and the Israelites are in fear because they lost four thousand men, and so they send to Shiloh for the Ark of the Covenant the house of God and Eli two sons come with the Ark of the Covenant. Now we must remember you can not go grabbing the ark like some lucky rabbits foot. God is a God to be feared and he would be the one defeating Philistines but not in the battle that would cause Israel to be defeated first. Philistines were in fear of God, to the point they were going to fight hard in battle. Yet they did not fear the Ark of the Covenant in regards to the point they would and could be defeated by God themselves. Now the Ark of the Covenant would be taken in battle by the Philistines, Israel would have a great slaughter. Israel fear not God enough to go to him before the beginning of the battle only in the middle of the storm of battle. First error in fighting is not seeking God first. Second is to think you go get God like a lucky rabbit foot and display his dwelling place to the enemy, without it be taken. God is not a luckly charm piece. Did God say put me in the middle of your battle, no, did he call you to repent, oh yes he did the chapter before, even called the Priest Eli to repent, but he repented not. Destruction was coming to Israel and to Eli family, and yet Israel takes God and puts him in the middle of the battle field not out of fear that God can defeat the enemy, but as if he is a lucky rabbit foot. The charm without saying God we humbly seek you for your assistance, it let's go get God and place him in the battle on the frontline and watch him do his magic. God does not work that way. He does not work his magic because Israel put him in the battle, or because you think you can control God by saying okay God go ahead and do what we seemly can not do. After all Israel is scared, they had already lost four thousand men, when they went seeking God, but not seeking him by showing humility and making a request, but ordering God to take control. God takes control of the situation and allows Israel to suffer not only defeat but loss of their precious Ark of the Covenant that had won many battles going on before them, since the wilderness. Eli perished when he heard the news, he fell off his cart with the news his sons were dead, and it killed him. His one daughter in law that was pregnant would die giving birth, and her last words declared that the glory of God had been removed from the land of Israel. God's glory never left Israel, only the Ark of the Covenant. What is God's glory, what is his beauty, it not the defeat of the enemy, it is not the defeat in battle, it not the defeating the enemy for Israel. Israel was defeated before because of their unrepentance, and with making sacrifice not according to the law of God. Israel caused their own breach of protection by not honoring God who always protect them. Do not think that God would not defend himself among the heathens, but he allowed himself to be taken to demonstrate his authority and power to both Israel and the Philistines. Philistines were in fear of God but after victory, they thought they had beaten Israel and their God but they had not. God is not a lucky charm or magic lamp we rub and get what we want, but God is a God of honor and respect whose glory is not departed by man, but reigns forever despite the act of man. God seems to be absents from his people during judgment, but did he abandon Christ. God is going to take care of the heathens by going into the enemies land, because his people fear him not. Israel fear of God was suppose to be example to the heathens. How many times did Israel's God had used his power during the time of Moses in their life and lead them to the promise land, and even clearing the land of the heathens before them. Philistines had more fear of Israel's God then Israel, yet when they were able to take God of Israel they thought they had defeated Israel and their God and had not. God was going to bring Israel to their knees and bring them to a place they realized they needed to obey God, not just for the storm of battle but rightfully in their life, making the sacrifice and obeying law as God had instructed them. God would restore himself to Israel, just wait, his glory may appear to be gone, but God not through with the message he is giving Israel. Judgment is not lasting, only lasting for a time period. When judgment comes we might think that is the end of all things, but for Israel it was the awaking to the rest of the prophesy of Samuel, that God was going to send a tingling in their hears of Israel, because of what He does. Israel is not without hope, just without understanding. They run in fear of the Philistines not knowing God was going to defeat them without Israel priesthood being involved. God would perform the victory. Right now they feel the judgment of God. If you ever feel God's judgment or correction, there is a time of victory if we repent, if we fall before God in our humbleness and humility. God is faithful to his children even when he passes judgment on his people. The hope of God should never leave us, but our realization God is passing judgment should be enough. God would restore Israel faith, hope and love. He would destroy their hope and their joy for a time, to bring repentance and shouts of joy. God wants to rebuild Israel faith, love and joy in him. He will do that even bring the fear of him to the enemies camp. See God wants to restore his people not destroy them, he allows the enemy to do so much before restoration of nation begins. It was not for us to know the hour of Israel restoration after the resurrection, but it would come according to Acts chapter 1, but our job as believers in Christ is and was to be the witness of the restoration. If we look at Israel current state, we are witness of the events over seas. God is doing his reconstruction project in each of us as we repent fall on knees and trust in God's ability to restore his people and the gentile nation unto himself. Dear Heavenly Father, despite your judgments in our life, bring us to repentance and renewal to that place that you strengthen our faith, hope and joy that only you can bring. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study: Acts 1:6-8 KJV6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
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