In 1 Samuel 4, the Israelites are at war with the Philistines and losing every battle. They decide, quite foolishly, to take the Ark of the Covenant onto the battlefield, hoping that it will turn the tide of the battle in their favor. The Ark of the Covenant represented God’s presence on earth. Just a side note - If you are a movie buff, or just old, you will remember a movie called Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The lost ark that Harrison Ford was searching for was the Ark of the Covenant.
In the book of Exodus, God instructs Moses to make a wooden box or chest from Acacia wood. It was 4 feet long, about 2 ½ feet wide, and 2 ½ feet tall. It was covered inside and outside with gold. It had a lid of solid gold, called the mercy seat. On this lid were two wide-winged angels facing each other called Cherubim. Inside the chest were 3 items. One, the rod that Aaron threw down before Pharaoh that turned into a snake and later budded and produced almonds. Two, a gold jar containing manna, and three, the tablets on which the 10 commandments were inscribed. As the COI wandered through the wilderness for 40 years, the Ark of the Covenant traveled with them. It represented God’s throne on earth. It was the center of the nation’s worship and its most sacred possession.
So, in 1 Samuel 4, Israel is on the losing end of a war with the Philistines. Thinking they had devised a brilliant war strategy, they bring the Ark onto the battlefield. When the Israelite warriors saw the Ark, there was an enormous celebration, a cry of victory was in the air. They thought - the battle will now turn. God is with us. But was He? Did they ask God, and seek His counsel, about bringing the Ark to the battlefield? No. In fact, in the next battle, 30,000 Israeli soldiers were killed. And worse yet, the unthinkable happens. The symbol of His presence, the relic of His majesty, the Ark of the Covenant, was lost to Pagan hands. The Philistines captured the Ark and bring into their territory.
For the Israelites, it was an utter catastrophe. If flood or famine, drought, or disease invaded the camp, it would be okay because God was with them. But, now the symbol of God Himself was in the hands of the enemy. When the Prophet Eli heard the news, he was so distressed that he fell over and died.
What is the moral of the story? God is not a good luck charm. God is not a magic genie lamp that we can rub in times of need or stress, and expect Him to appear to serve our needs. If you don’t have a healthy fear of God you can treat Him flippantly in such a way that you try to use Him, or use your relationship with Him, for your own benefit, to serve yourself. It doesn’t work that way. He is the Lord of all creation and will not allow HImself to be used for human glory and achievement. Value God for who He is and not what He can do for you.
And for the Philistines who captured the Ark, Dr. Phil would ask them - How’s that working out for you? To be continued…..