Study In
1 Samuel
Presentation 004
THE WITHDRAWAL
OF GOD
Chapter 4v1-22
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Introduction
At the time when Israel had left Egypt,
the Philistines were extensively settled
along the coastal strip between Egypt
and Gaza [Ex. 13.17].
After taking possession of the Promised
Land some Israelites had adopted the
Philistine gods cf. Jud.10v.6-7. When
Israel entered into a moral and spiritual
decline. God then used the Philistines to
be a scourge of judgment to his people.
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Introduction
Samuel lived at the transition between the
judges, like Samson and Gideon and the
establishment of the monarchy. Unlike the
judges, Samuel's principal contribution
was not that of a warrior leader.
The changes he brought about in the
nation lasted considerably longer than any
of the previous judges due, in measure, to
the energy he directed towards teaching
the people of God and to his intercessory
ministry.
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Defeat in Battle
In 4v1 we read that Israel went out to
meet the Philistines in battle. The
Philistines had begun to flex their
military muscle [it seems from the
geography outlined in the passage that
the Philistines had taken the initiative].
Israel was defeated in this conflict.
Note that the elders of Israel were
quick to recognise that God had
brought the defeat upon them as they
ask. 'Why did the Lord bring defeat
upon us today...?’ v3.
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Defeat in Battle
The elders in Israel had greater clarity
of spiritual insight than many of the
leaders in our churches today. How so?
Well this conclusion, ‘the Lord has
brought defeat upon us’, is probably the
last one that many of our leaders would
draw when we are confronted with and
try to explain the reverses experienced
in both church whether in our
individual or corporate life.
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Defeat in Battle
Now sadly, having made such an accurate
diagnosis, the elders in Israel sought the
wrong remedy. They chose the wrong path.
They could have turned to Samuel, who
was God's mouthpiece, [v1] and asked for
guidance and instruction but chose not to
do that. They could also have benefited
from the lessons of history, e.g. Joshua
7v1ff, but they didn't do that either!
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Defeat in Battle
They could have searched for guiding
principles in God's word cf. Deut
28v25 but they didn't do that either.
Often people's failure to turn to
God's word to explain their
circumstances is that they suspect
that the answer will be unpalatable
and unacceptable.
Instead, Israel put their trust in what
was clearly a religious superstition;
‘We need the ark of the covenant
with us in battle’.
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Defeat in Battle
The ark was the item of tabernacle
furniture that among other things
symbolised God's presence. So that to
carry the ark into battle was, in their
view, to carry God into battle. It would
force God’s hand and would guarantee
their victory!
Behind many superstitions their lies a
grain of truth Num. 10v35 and also lso
Josh.6v6-7 when the ark led the Israelite
army around the walls of Jericho before
their collapse.
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Defeat in Battle
What the Israelites failed to recognise was
that on previous occasions when the ark had
been carried into battle, success was not due
to the presence of the ark but upon the
obedience of God's people. The Israelites
were treating the ark like a lucky rabbit's foot.
Today, some people, who have little interest
in obeying God, nevertheless believe that
wearing a cross around their neck or keeping
a Bible in their book-shelve, will keep them
safe. But religious symbols are no substitute
for moral obedience.
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Defeat in Battle
Religious excitement is never a substitute
for the conviction of faith. The shout of
assurance as the ark is brought into Israel's
camp v5 falls into this category.
[Interestingly, the words used to describe
the arrival of the ark are exactly the same
as those to describe Israel’s shout, when
the walls of Jericho fell down].
Despite the obvious tactical advantage
which the ark brought - it steeled Israel
and terrified the Philistines - Israel were
again defeated. Indeed, they lost more
men with the ark than they had without it!
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Defeat in Battle
God allows his people to suffer
defeat rather than support their
spiritual and moral complacency.
Why? Well one reason is that defeat
can humble God’s people and bring
them to repentance.
Many Christians describe the
defeats in their lives as God’s means
of helping them uncover the depths
of their backsliddenness.
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Defeat in Battle
This defeat also reveals an important
aspect of God’s character. He is not a
partisan God supporting his people no
matter what the rights and the wrongs
of an issue may be.
A young boy moved home and a classmate
introduced him to the local gang culture.
The ‘champion’ fighter was introduced like
this. 'He will help you if you are being
picked on for no good reason but he will
fight for me no matter what I have done!'
God does not come to his people's help
no matter what they have done.
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A Telling Portent
Before both the news of Israel's defeat,
his sons' death and the capture of the
ark was brought to Eli, we read that,
‘his heart feared for the ark of God’
v13. Why?
Eli should never have let the ark be
used as purveyor of superstition, or a
substitute for moral obedience. And it
was the news of the ark's capture
contributed to Eli’s death v 18.
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A Telling Portent
Did Eli remember the awful judgement
pronounced by God that both his sons
would die on the same day? Did he also
grasp that the loss of the ark
symbolised what his family had
contributed to - the withdrawal of
God's presence and protection for the
nation. Was the cloud of dull spiritual
perception suddenly lifted so that he
could see the horror of what he’d been
responsible for?
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A Telling Portent
The loss of the ark produced uproar in
the city v13. What kind of people
bemoan the loss of the religious symbol
more than the reality it represents?
Today we might press this home by
asking a very basic question, “What is
the more important to a congregation,
the loss of their church building or the
withdrawal of God’s presence from it?”
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A Telling Portent
News of Israel’s defeat not only precipitated death it brought about a
premature birth v19. Note Phineas’ widow refuses to take comfort in
the birth of her son. Without the presence of God she could see no
future for Israel and with her dying breath names her child ‘Ichabod’
which means, ‘the glory has departed’.
It is said that death sharpens the mind wonderfully, this woman saw
with startling clarity exactly what had happened in Israel on that day.
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