1 Samuel marks a transition in the covenant life of Israel from Judges to Kings. It also marks the fall of a great house. The House of Aaron, servants in the House of God.
In 1 Samuel 4:1-2 Israel experiences a minor defeat at Aphek where 4,000 men die. Israel responds by falling into idolatry and then suffers a major defeat in 1 Samuel 4:3-4, 10.
Here, the Ark of the Covenant, God’s footstool, is used as a rabbit’s foot, and why not! It worked for Joshua (Joshua 4:6-7).
The judgement on Israel continues with Eli and his household prime targets. The wife of Phinehas dies, as does Phinehas and Hophni, and finally, Eli as the glory departs from the Tabernacle and the tabernacle is destroyed.
And the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines who take it back and sit it before their own God, Dagon in their own temple.
Utter defeat. This is the way it goes when men turn the things created – even when ordained by God – into lucky charms. When we view God and His things as useful instead of holy.
The Ark is taken and God (as represented by the Ark) goes into exile in the land of the Philistines.
Has God been defeated? Has God forsaken His people? No, God was off fighting the Philistines by Himself (1 Samuel 5:1-4).
Warfare was always warfare against the idolatry of the Nations (1 Samuel 5:6-7). Therefore this is a war against Dagon, and Dagon, it turns out, can’t protect his people.
The picture here is embarrassing.
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.
But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. (1 Samuel 5:2-4)
What is going on here? This Ark – which is just a very expensive box – is defeating a nation!
The Philistines are descendants of Mizraim, that is, Egypt (cf. 1 Samuel 6:6). This is the second mention of the Egyptians by the Philistines. They know their history. And so, God treats the gods of the Philistines as He treated the gods of Egypt. The Lord Defeats Dagon and Plagues the Philistines with tumours.
As a result, the Ark of the Covenant is sent packing and after seven months God brings Himself (the Ark) back to Israel (1 Samuel 6:12).
Some in Israel rejoice (1 Samuel 6:13). Some don’t (1 Samuel 6:19). Finally, Samuel, who has been strangely quiet since chapter 3, calls Israel to repentance and that repentance will be marked by faithful worship. Worship to God using means authorised by God. This is quickly followed by the defeat of the Philistines at Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:10-14).
This is what faithful worship looks like. Faithful worship means putting away your idols. It means serving God by our obedience to Him in all of life – not just on a Sunday.
1 Samuel raises a number of questions for Christians. Questions that challenge our claim to faithful worship. Is God a good luck charm? What is behind our planning and doing as Christians?
What’s behind our prayer meetings or bible study groups or church attendance? Is there the idea that if we perform the right actions God will be forced to grant our wish? What about our daily devotional exercises?
Do we meet because we delight in God or because we have this idea that if I do X then I will have earned or deserved, Y?
God cannot be charmed. Whenever we move from, “Thou Art Worthy”. to “Thou Art Useful” we can be confident that the Ark will soon be taken from us.
God is interested in bringing down idols and every thought and imagination that exalts itself above Him. What kind of battles are you currently engaged in? What idols and imaginations are you currently pulling down?
Who are you fighting for and what are you fighting against? Is it the church furniture? The liturgy? The organist and her song list? Is it a pre-occupation with exposing and becoming outraged at the supposed sins of others.
All of these might appear to be noble and even godly battles over the truth, but are they the battles God is currently fighting?
Martin Luther once said (and why wouldn’t he?),
If I profess, with the loudest voice and the clearest exposition, every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christianity. Where the battle rages the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle-field besides is mere flight and disgrace to him if he flinches at that one point.”
The other thing worth noticing here is that God sometimes allows Himself – and therefore His People – to appear defeated.
God is willing to suffer shame rather than let you carry on a false relationship with Him. He will allow you to be disappointed with Him if it will awaken you to the sort of God that God is.
And what sort of God is He?
He is the sort of God who is willing to send Himself into exile and bear the curse of the covenant on behalf of His people. He is a God who goes outside the gate in order to be wounded in the house of His friends. Who bears their humiliation in His own body.
What do You Want to Read About?