1 Samuel 3 is very significant. We see how God chooses and establishes the person he has chosen. The callings of God. There is no dispute is there? Not like today when anyone just says they are called to do this and that.
1 Samuel 3
God visits Samuel.
‘The Lord came and stood…’ (1 Samuel 3:10).
It’s time to clean up. Eli’s family is going to be dealt with. Of course, Samuel is frightened to tell him what was said, but Eli wants the whole truth. And in true grace, Eli says, it is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good’.
Samuel is established as the prophet of Israel because the Lord was revealing himself to Samuel through those prophetic words.
1 Samuel 4
How many people think they can pull out the things of God when they need them and it will solve their problem? It’s fascinating.
Israel are battling the Philistines. Being defeated. And they think, let’s get the ark of the Covenant out of Shiloah, God won us battles before this way, and he’ll do it again.
Ummm….no.
And in this instance, the ark is taken captive by the enemy, and so many are killed. Presumptuous people in error. The consequences are Eli’s sons are killed in battle, and also Eli himself dies.
But it’s interesting that the Philistines knew and were fearful of the reputation of the Hebrew God. These days the church barely even believes in the power and fear of God, and the world mocks and pulls down regularly, while so many just let it happen. It’s horrific.
1 Samuel 5
The Philistines are signing their own death warrant without really understanding.
They take the ark of the covenant into the house of Dagon – their god.
But in the morning they come to find that the idol had fallen on its face before the ark of the Lord. Incredible when you think about it. This happened consecutive days. Even the idols head and hands were cut off, it was just left a stump.
God destroyed those people. Those remaining thought to solve the problem by removing the ark to another place. But the ‘hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction’. They tried to move it on again but those people said No way, we don’t want to die too.
They had to get rid of it.
1 Samuel 6
They called for the priests and the diviners to find out what to do with it. These Shamans and the like, the ones they love in Hollywood now, with their spiritualism and powers, are no match for the Lord of Hosts.
What fascinates me, is that in this era of history, God does not dwell in the ark. His anointing, his power – Christ in YOU, the hope of glory. This same fearsome power, this word of God, is in everyone that believes and is saved. What is impossible with man, is possible with God. Do we know the scriptures? Do we believe God?
This chapter follows the story of the arks return, the consequences of not handling the ark correctly and the realisation of the people:
‘Who is able to stand before his holy Lord God? And to whom shall he go up from us?”
