God Ordains Our Ups and Downs

In 1 Samuel 4:12-5:5, we have the account of the capture of the Ark of God by the Philistines. Hophni and Phinehas die in battle and their father, Eli, the high priest, dies when he gets the news (1 Samuel 4:18). The wife of Phinehas, upon hearing the news, also dies giving birth to her son, Ichabod, which means, “The glory had departed”.

The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured (1 Samuel 4:22)

Israel, and especially her priests, had sinned and been unrepentant. Eli and his wicked sons had gone down to the grave and in a surprise twist, God, represented by the Ark, has taken Himself down to Ashdod and to the house of Dagon via the hands of the Philistine army.

The phrase used by the wife of Phinehas in 1 Samuel 4:21 can be more literally rendered, “The glory has gone into exile”.

The scene follows the biblical pattern of death, defeat and resurrection (though we’ll have to wait until chapters 6-7 for the resurrection).

Exiles in scripture tend to be a “going down” followed by a “coming up” to receive a blessing.

And so, both Joseph and Israel go down into Egypt (Genesis 39:1), and those who walk according to their sinful appetites go down to the grave.

Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. (Proverbs 7:27)

And David gives thanks to God who delivered him from all his troubles, singing,

O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. (Psalm 30:3)

Here, in 1 Samuel 4, God Himself goes into exile for the sake of His people, and on account of their sin.

To deepen the grief of this whole (apparent) mess, the high priest has died and a woman in labour has died.

Her death is almost identical to the death of Rachel in Genesis (Compare 1 Samuel 4:19-21 with that of Genesis 35:16-18).

Interestingly, Rachel had just departed Bethel (The House of God). Rachel had said to Israel (Jacob), “Give me a son or I die.”

This longing for a son – and the arrival of one in 1 Samuel – is a sign of hope for Israel. But it would first require an exile, a death.

For the people of God, it would mean weeping, a humbling of the heart and repentance.

Death in childbirth is a reminder of the curse of death for sin and the pain of childbirth declared in Genesis 3.

This same pattern can be seen in Hannah’s song, especially verses 6-8.

The Lord kills and brings to life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honour.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them He has set the world. (1 Samuel 2:6-8)

Notice the order of events in that prayer.

It does not read, “The Lord gives life, and the Lord kills”, but “The Lord kills and the Lord brings to life.”

It does not read, “The Lord makes rich and the Lord makes poor”, but, “The Lord makes poor and the Lord makes rich.” He doesn’t exalt, then bring low: He brings low, then He exalts.

This is the way of the Cross, and therefore the way of life for the believer.

First, Jesus goes down. First, Jesus is humbled. First, Jesus is sent into exile. First, Jesus goes down to the grave. Then, He rises. Then, He is exalted to the right hand of God.

First, we go down. First, we are humbled. First, we die. Then we arise to sit with princes.

This is the way of faith. This is the way of resurrection. Being brought low is painful. It runs counter to our inclinations but leads to joy for those with eyes that see (Hebrews 12:2).

These ups and downs in scripture occur because these ups and downs, or should I say, these downs and ups, are the way God has chosen to work with fallen man in order to redeem him.

This is the path and the glorious hope of God’s people.

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light and I shall look upon His vindication. (Micah 7:8-9)

For the wicked, the day ends with being brought down (Micah 7:10).  For the believer, the day ends with being lifted up.

And so, we should not be surprised or dismayed that these downs and ups are present in the normal course of our everyday lives.

Every one of our daily ups and downs is an opportunity to reflect on God’s way with mankind, which is to say, the way of the gospel. They reflect man’s need to be brought down in order that God in Christ may raise us up.