1 Samuel Series Wk 6 - “Commendable Starts”

 Almost a year ago today, Jake Odey-Jordan, a British teen, was running in the Under 18 European Championships. He was participating in the 200 meter race and was the favorite to win. When the race began Jake took such a commanding lead that it was as if his opponents weren’t even trying. With 50 meters left, Jake took a second and looked around him and found that no other runner was close. He began slowing as he approached the finish line, preparing to embrace his win. But just as he thought he had the victory, four of the other runners zoomed passed him. Jake took fifth in that race and was eliminated from the competition.

Jake’s story is one where he started off wonderfully, but his overconfidence made him falter at the end. 

It’s this idea of starting off good, that brings us back to our summer series in the books of Samuel, where we’ll be picking it back up in First Samuel chapter 9, verse 1. And as we open up to First Samuel 9:1, let’s talked boat the first section of the book.

Last week we finished the first section of First Samuel. In that section, we saw how a heartfelt desire aligned with God’s will moves us to see God’s work. We saw how we need to keep our eyes on Jesus so that we can recognize and call out spiritual abusers. We talked about how we need to hear God, surround ourselves with spiritual mentors, be willing to hear the bad news God might have for us, and share the bad news if God directs us. We saw how God is holy and we need to worship in his holiness. And finally we need to develop a moment-by-moment abiding in Jesus. 

If we were to summarize this section, I would put it like this, God calls us to abide in his holy will, that we might follow his direction and see his work. If we take this as a foundational teaching for both the books of Samuel, we will see that how this understanding will be followed and rejected time and time again. 

Now with that understood, we can jump into our passage of First Samuel 9:1.

1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today's “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” 24 So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 26 Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”

v.1 - For the last five chapters we have had a focus on the tribe of Levite through both Eli’s family and Samuel’s. But now the focus shifts to the tribe of Benjamin. Why does that matter? Well, if we’ve were reading straight through from the book of Joshua to Judges to Samuel, this would be strange. The tribe has a mixed history. In the book of Joshua, the Benjaminites fought alongside the tribe of Judah and were considered warriors. But in that same book, they were one of the tribes that did not run the Canaanites out of the land. Then in the book of Judges, Ehud, one of the first Judges was a Benjaminite, but their tribe is also the one that the rest of tribes massacred because of the vile things they were doing in their cities. 

So for the attention to change to the tribe of Benjamin we can see a healing that has taken placed over the course of the last hundred years. 

v.2 - Once the focus on the tribe of Benjamin has been established, we get the answer to who will be king of Israel, from the last chapter. A man named Saul. Notice however what is described about him. It’s not his spiritual prowess, but his physical. Saul is good looking and he’s tall. Though we might not think that should make a good king, a situation in our own history shows how easily we judge on appearance. 

In a review by Purdue University about the 1960 debates between Kennedy and Nixon, they write, “One of the most discussed issues with the 1960 debates was the notion that people who listened to the radio were more likely to vote for Nixon while people who watched the debates on television were more likely to vote for Kennedy. One of the explanations to this phenomena was presidential candidates physical appearances during the debates with Kennedy appearing better on television than Nixon.”

Physical appearance plays a significant role in who we think makes the better leader, and Saul’s appearance played a major impact as he becomes king. This also leads to a significant theological point that is made later on in First Samuel, but that is seven more chapters away. 

v.3-10 - In verse 2 we’re told about Saul’s outer appearance, but starting in verse 3, we get to see a little about Saul’s inner appearance. Though Saul was obedient to his father to go get the donkeys, he grew weary after he was unable to find them, only three days later. This led him to want to turn back. However, his servant gives him another option, there’s a seer, or prophet, in the area, they could inquire there. Yet Saul gives an excuse to why they can’t see him, only after the servant produces a gift, does Saul agree. Later on, we will see how his tendency to be easily wearied and allow others to make sacrifices he is not willing to do, will get him in trouble. 

v.11-14 - Dropping down to verse 11, Saul and the servant then meet several women who inform the duo that Samuel, the seer, is in the city and he is currently headed up to bless the food. Then the women mention something interesting. The people won’t eat until Samuel has blessed the sacrifice. No matter how long it takes, they wait until Samuel comes and blesses the meal. This is bit of foreshadowing of a moment later in Saul’s life were he wouldn’t wait for Samuel. And because Saul would not wait for the prophet, he would lose his kingdom.

v.15-21 - It is here in verses 15-21, that we get a little insight into the relationship that Samuel has with God. This is the type of conversational, on-going type of prayer life that Paul calls us to in First Thessalonians 5:17, were he writes, “pray without ceasing.”

God speaks to Samuel in an almost conversational way. He speaks of choosing a prince, an interesting word, because the people wanted a king. Yet to God, there is only one King and he’s it. No, the people will receive a leader, a regent as it were, who is a representation of God to humanity. This is very similar to how Moses represented God to the people. 

But notice Samuel in his old age, as he’s been the Prophet and Judge of Israel for many decades. His communication with God is natural, hearing and responding as if he is walking alongside God on a stroll. When meeting Saul, he is not shy about his position of being the seer, letting the two men know right away and not playing coy. And he shows how much he knows when we speaks of the donkeys Saul was looking for, and how the animals have already returned home. Though his sons are not following God, Samuel has a close and intimate relationship with God and it shows through his words and actions. A maturity we should all aspire to.

And in his office of prophet, Samuel alludes to the grand plans God has for Saul. Plans that humble Saul in that moment. Showing that at this point in time, though Saul is young, he is a good candidate for the position of king. 

v.22-27 - It’s here that we come to the final six verses of the chapter. Samuel brings Saul to the table to eat, and we can see Jesus’ Parable of the Wedding Feast in Luke 14:8-11 playing out. Jesus’ parable goes like this, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Samuel elevates Saul to a position of honor, and shows God’s preparation for this moment by revealing that there was a portion of food set aside for this occasion. It is here that we see that Saul is obedient to everything Samuel asked of him.

At the end of this chapter, Samuel and Saul stand as what it looks like to spend a lifetime following God, and what it looks like to begin the journey. Samuel is the runner that’s ahead in the faith, while Saul is just beginning. In Samuel, Saul has a great mentor and example of following God into a deeper and personal relationship. 

Saul has everything going for him: a great mentor, great looks, even a bit of humility. The two things that we see as being a problem is a slight unwillingness to finish a task and a slight to let others do what he should do. 

Saul is a great mirror for all of us. We all have commendable and non-commendable attributes. Gary L. McIntosh and Samuel D. Rima, in their book, Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership, share a quote from Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln writes, “All human beings have their weaknesses, but not all of us realize them, come to grips with them, or offset their negative impact.” The authors would go on to write, “It is God’s desire that we soberly examine ourselves to learn about the things that are motivating us and the fear and anxieties that always accompany leadership.”

Later on David, Saul’s successor, would write about the need of self-examination in his Psalm 51. Jesus would speak of it when he said, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matt 7:2)”

God calls us to this type of self-evaluation, because as we seek him to show us what he sees in us, we put ourselves into a place of transformation. I had a professor one time compare us to unbaked cookies. All we can do is put ourselves into the fire of transformation, which begins with an openness to see God work in us.

We can be surrounded by the greatest mentors and teachers. We can attend the greatest church services, and read the best books, but unless we take seriously our own walk with God, the commendable things that might begin in us, will fall away because they were not developed, and we will wonder, “Why we can’t hear God,” and “Why isn’t he acting in our lives?”

My challenge for you this week is to take a moment every morning to come before the Lord and simply ask for him to reveal something he wants to work on in you, and then ask him for the strength to be willing for him to work. It’s a simple thing to daily seek God fro transformation, it is harder to walk in that transformation process. But that is why we are called disciples by Jesus, because following him brings with it discipline.

So, let us be a people who strive for the work God wants to do in us, that we might be commendable at the begging and end of our race. Amen. 

1 Samuel Series Wk 5 - “Abiding in The King”

  Have you ever heard a really good inspiring speech that got you onboard with whatever the person was selling? A politician said something so compelling that you decided to vote for them? A salesman sold you that car? You believed someone’s story because they told it so well? Whatever they said, they swayed you from one idea to their cause. Costco is one of those places that has so many free samples to get you to buy a product they’re trying to move. We’ve boughten so many of those things because we were persuaded to, either by the sales people or our kids. 

Well it’s this idea of being swayed to something, that brings us back to summer series where we’ll be picking it back up in First Samuel chapter 7, verse 3, as we wrap up the first section of the book of of First Samuel. Now as we open to First Samuel 7:3, lets recap the last four weeks. 

In our first week, we discussed how God was narrowing his work to bring about the Messiah and he did this by granting the heartfelt desire of Hannah as it aligned with his will. It would be through the Prophet and Judge, Samuel, that God would call David and through his lineage, bring Jesus to the cross. 

Following this, we saw how we must keep our eyes on Jesus, because when people get into power, they can easily become spiritual abusers. By looking to Jesus as the source for our spiritual life, we better see spiritual abusers and can call them out when needed. 

In our third week, we walked through the calling of the boy Samuel. Through his calling we saw four lessons: First, we must learn to hear God; God desires to speak to us as individuals directly and we need to learn his voice. Second, we need spiritual mentors who will point us to Jesus, showing us what it means to put him first in our lives. The third thing we talked about was how sometimes God’s messages to us are bad news, whether because we are under discipline, or because life sometimes brings pain; so we need to be willing to hear those hard messages he has for us. Finally, we talked about how sometimes those hard messages God shares with us are for other people, and we need to gracefully share them as the Holy Spirit leads. 

Finally, last week, we saw how the nation of Israel had turned the ark of the covenant into an idol. Because of this, God allowed his ark and the symbol of his presence to leave Israel. Yet the point of Israel’s defeat was to show God’s holiness. He did this through the destruction of Dagon’s idol, and the judgment of tumors upon the Philistines. God’s holiness was also shown to the Israelites when men tried to look inside the ark and were struck down. A holy fear and reverence moved through the Philistine and Israel nations after these events, and led to what happens in our passage today.

Like last week, we are covering multiple chapters to see the bigger picture of what is happening. In this case we are covering chapters 7 and 8. Since we are covering so much to read in one setting, your default challenge is to go back and re-read these two chapters this week.

With that said, let’s read together starting in chapter 7, verse 3, of First Samuel.

3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.

5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. 7 Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.

15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord.

v.7:3-11 - The holy fear and reverence that God displayed through the capturing of the ark that we looked at last week, has led the people of Israel to finally do what they should have done before: sought God through God’s prophet Samuel. 

Seeking God should have been the default response that the Israelites took, but instead they sought an idol to help them. But now, as they have a new reverence for God, they are now seeking his prophet, and thus, seeking God.

Samuel’s question “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart … (v.3)” is a reference to the Shema of Deuteronomy 6, where Moses told the Israelites, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (v.4-6)”

Samuel’s if-then statement of, if they seek God with all their heart, then they must destroy the idols of Baal and Ashtaroth; two Canaanite deities that had become imbedded into Israelite culture and have led the Israelites away from their God. This isn’t the first time, there has been a call to destroy these idols, we saw it in the book of Judges, and it won’t be the last, when we will see it again during the time of the prophets before Israel is sent away into captivity. 

In response to Samuel calling the people to repent and destroy the Canaanite idols that they have been worshiping, they comply. Samuel calls them to gather to worship God and make atonement for their sin at Mizpha, and they comply. If we read through the book of Judges into Samuel, this is the first time in almost two generations that the people have finally stopped seeking after idols and chosen to follow God. We cannot fully appreciate this moment without seeing all the rebellion and destruction Israel’s sin has caused for almost a hundred years. 

However, the Philistines take this as an opportunity to come attack the Israel. Here we can see the difference in the response of the Israelites. Just a few chapters back, the people sought after an idol and went out to battle, this led to their defeat. Yet this time, instead of seeking the idol and fighting, they seek God through Samuel. It is God who then defeats the Philistines. It is God who sends the something that confuses and causes the Philistines to scatter, allowing the Israelites to win the day. Just as it was God who brought his ark back to Israel, it is God who defeats the Philistines. 

v.12-17 - It is then that the Israelites make a memorial to God for what he has done. They place a stone and call it Ebenezer, which means stone of help, because it was the Living God, not a lifeless idol who helps the Israelites. 

From here God restores the lands that the Philistines had taken, leading to Samuel and most of Israel to live in relative peace for the next several decades. 

And if we were to end there, we finally have a moment of hopefulness in Israel. Everything is as God intended: Israel is restored, both politically and spiritually. Yet, we must see the contrast between this moment and the next. 

Dropping down to chapter 8, verse 1, we see that at the end of Samuel’s life, things begin to spiral down once again. 

Reading in First Samuel 8:1 we read, “1 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

“4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

8:1-9 - We find out that there are things that have begun simmering below the surface for years. The peaceful time that is thought to have been going on, was brewing sin. Like Eli before him, Samuel’s sons were abusing their spiritual office. Again, whether Samuel, like Eli, didn’t know, or turned a blind eye towards the abuse, we don’t know. What we do know is that because of this abuse, the people call on Samuel to appoint a king. 

The reasoning of the people was twofold: First, they were upset that Samuel’s sons were spiritual abusers, a trend that has come multiple times from the Judges. And twice from the most recent ones. Second, the people wanted to be like other nations, such as Egypt. 

However the people aren’t thinking through their request and the problems that it will bring. See, God’s Judge system was only supposed to be one generation of lineage. God would call a person to live out the call of Judge and then call a different person after them. These were only called when necessary due to internal or external strife. The sons of the Judge were not to take over their parent’s position, yet as we saw with Gideon, this idea had begun to take root, and had already created a mindset of a semi-monarchy; something that wasn’t God’s intention. 

The second problem with their request, was that the people were unwittingly inshrining into their governmental system a lineage approach that would not allow for the replacing of a son who was bad. Whereas the Judge wasn’t a king and therefore his children had no divine appointment, a king’s lineage would. They weren’t stuck with a Judge’s son, but they would be stuck with a king’s. The problems would show themselves in Solomon’s son Rehoboam in 1 Kings 12, where his defiance would lead to the nation of Israel separating into two.

It is here that we get an interesting insight into Samuel. He felt that their request was wrong instinctively and yet, he still took the request to God. Samuel is putting into practice what Proverbs 3:5 would later state, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Though Samuel knew that the people’s request was outside of God’s desire, he still took the request to God to see if it was in his plan. 

And it’s a good thing that Samuel did this, because God explains that Israel was rejecting him and not Samuel. They were rejecting God’s governmental system. They were rejecting God’s position as king in that system. They were calling for an amendment to the covenant they had with God. They were rejecting that God is going to fulfill his side of the covenant. And they were wanting to look to a man, rather than to God.

How vastly different than just a chapter earlier. In one chapter, and several decades of time earlier, the people were ready to follow God as he led. They were willing to recognize their sin, and trust God for his help rather than look else where. But now, with having a cycle of Judges or their kids turning out bad, the people want a change. God’s help isn’t enough, they want some one else. 

We might think that this is something out of the blue, but God had foreseen this happening and had already put a provision for a king within his covenant way back in Deuteronomy 17. God knew this day would come and prepared for it in his law. 

v.10-18 - So God grants their request, but in verses 10-18, he communicates through Samuel just what that will look like. Samuel begins this list in verse 11, saying, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you …”

The list goes like this: Some sons will be be made warriors, while others will be made to plow and reap the king’s harvest and not their own, while still other sons will be called upon to make weapons. The daughters will be made to serve as food prepares. The king will take the best land for himself, and on top of that will take a tenth of their production as tax. The king will also take the peoples’ servants and animals and a tenth of the flocks. 

In other words, the king is going to become an oppressor over the people, and then when they cry out to God, he will not answer because they have chosen this path. As the old saying goes, they will have made their bed, and now, they have to sleep in it. All this will end up coming about as the kings progressively get worse until God does step in and exiles the people from the land. However, this is a part of the God’s plan to show the lack of ability in human kings, that we might seek Jesus, the King of kings, when he descends.

v.19-22 - In verse 19 we get the people’s response to God’s word through Samuel, “But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, ‘No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’(v.19-20)” 

The people have rose colored glasses on about how the king will treat them. They are not seeking God as they did in the last chapter, and we can see how quickly within one lifetime society can drastically turn away from God. Something that we have seen in our lifetimes today.

It is here that we come to the end of the first section of Samuel’s book, as Samuel brings the peoples’ response back to God. “And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.’ (v.21-22)”

The section doesn’t end as the last chapter did, on a high note, but on an almost ominous one. Who is this king that is to come? Where will he be from? What will his lineage produce? Is this the hope for the nation that was hinted to in Ruth? Is this David? 

The tone is ambiguous, yet there is an underlying truth that the people think that by looking to a man they will experience greater freedom and peace, when God knows, that this will lead to both their spiritual and physical bondage. 

And this is the reality that we are to walk away with. In chapter 7, when the people turned their hearts to God, God fought for them and brought peace. One chapter, and several decades later, the people sought another king which would lead them in strife.

How easily this happens in our lives? We do not need decades for our heart to be swayed from God, someone’s mean glance, a news article’s inflammatory headline, a headache, can send us to seek a new king to help us.

It’s because of this tendency to have our hearts swayed away from God that Jesus speaks these words in John 15, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (v.1-11)”

We are to live in the joy of the Lord. Even when we struggle against sin, or the weight of the world is pressed against us, we are to find joy in Jesus. But that joy comes from a constant reminder to abide in him. We are to abide when that mean glance comes our way. We are to abide when we read that headline. We are to abide when we get those physical alignments. 

And how do we abide? By putting into practice God’s word. We see Samuel, though he knew the request from the Israelites was wrong, he still did not lean on his own understanding and took it before God. What would have happened if Samuel just responded, “No?” Would there have been another civil war? Would God’s plan changed in how he brought about David’s lineage? We don’t know. What we do know is that Samuel abided in God and sought him. 

The Israelites didn’t abide in God, and though God would work it out to bring about Jesus’ cross and the forgiveness of sins, it led to hundreds of years of bondage for them. 

God desires that we abide in him, seeking after him above all other things; above idols, and above people. And when we are abiding in him, seeking his will, like Hannah, our desire will match his, and he answers us in those godly desires. 

My challenge for you this week is to have this word “abide” on your lips when you wake up, and throughout the day. When you wake up let it be one of the first things you request of God, “Lord, let me abide in you today.” When you get that glance, “Lord, let me abide in you.” When you read that headline, “Lord, let me abide in you.” And when you have those physical alignments, say it with me, “Lord, let me abide in you today.”

Let us be an abiding people, who find joy in the Lord no matter the circumstance. Amen.

1 Samuel Series Wk 4 - “Knowing God As Holy”

 When Marika and I first got married, we talked about our dream home. If we could build our own house, what would we put in it? I took all the ideas and made a three bedroom, two and a half bath, open floor plan, yellow farmhouse with a wraparound porch. It had an office but I added something a little extra. There’s a trope of dad’s meeting their daughter’s boyfriend with a gun. Singers sing about it, shows show it. But I thought ,that was a little on the light side. 

My idea came was put into our dream floor plan. There would be a short hallway to the office. In that hallway would be animal heads, and weapons with little notes on them: “This sword was from the battle of such-and-such,” “This gun was used in such-and-such war.” The hallway would be dimly lit to create an uneasy atmosphere. Then the office would be open with books and weapons on the walls. No words would need to be spoke of what those weapons could be used for. The ambiance would speak for itself. 

We never built that house, and missed out on a golden opportunity. But the idea of daddy’s cleaning their guns in front of a boy taking their daughter out is based on the idea of healthy respectful fear. Fear that the dad has the ability to take out the boy if the boy takes advantage of the daughter. 

And it’s this idea of a healthy respectful fear that brings us back to our summer series in the books of Samuel, where we’ll be picking it back up in First Samuel chapter 4, verse 1. As we pick up First Samuel 4:1, let’s recap where we are so far.

In our first week, we saw how the books of Samuel begin to narrow the work of God to bring about the Savior. Through Hannah’s heartfelt desire aligning with God’s will, God shows that he is taking his big plan of bringing salvation to all the earth and narrowing his work to bring about Jesus. It was in this first week, that we talked about how we need to seek God’s will and that when our heartfelt desire aligns with it, we see great works of God.

Following this, we saw how the spiritual abuse of Eli’s sons was under God’s judgment and that God was raising up a new Prophet and Judge in the boy Samuel. Because of this, we talked about how we need to make sure our focus is on God rather than those who are in authority over us. When we look to people instead of God as our end to spiritual authority, abuse of that office of authority can easily happen. Yet when our eyes are on Jesus, we can see when spiritual abuse happens and call it out.

Finally, last week, we looked at the call of Samuel. The passage had started out with letting us know that God’s speaking was rare, but through Samuel it became a regular occurrence. This is because, Samuel fulfilled his calling to share even hard messages. This is where we talked about four lessons: first, we need to take time to hear from God. Second, we need spiritual mentors in our lives that will point us to God. Third, God doesn’t always send messages of comfort, so we need to be willing to hear those messages. Finally, sometimes God calls us to share those uncomfortable message with others. 

All this leads up to several chapters of God displaying his holiness. This happens from chapter 4 through the beginning of chapter 7. Because our summer series are focused on the big connecting thoughts of the books we study, we have to cover these three chapters. Due to this, your default challenge is to read the chapters we’ll be covering today in their entirety, as we will only be reading snippets of them.

Let’s being with reading from chapter 4, starting in verse 1.

1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9 Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.”

10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

v.1-11 - This passage starts out in someways where the book of Judges ended. The last we heard about the Philistines, they had capture Samson, and he, in a last moment of God’s mercy and judgment, killed many of their leaders. The battle we just read about is happening roughly forty plus years later, since we learn later in the passage that that’s how long Eli had judged Israel. (v.18) 

The war between the two nations had not ceased, but rather halted for a time, as it seems the Philistines were regrouping due to their lost of their leadership and the power vacuum that most likely occurred afterwards. It is here that the Philistines come out against Israel and the Israelites loose. 

There are three verses that we need to point out here as we understand this passages, and we start with verse 3. After their defeat, the people ask, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines?” The question is only natural, because, who can defeat the God of Israel if he is all-powerful? If we’ve been paying attention as we have read through Joshua and Judges, we would understand that it’s due to Israel’s sin. They have not turned back and repented. They are several generations deep into it and show no signs of turning back to God. The only thing keeping them afloat is God’s faithfulness on his side of the covenant relationship. 

But instead of repenting, instead of seeking God, which Samuel was already known to be hearing from, the elders decide that they should take the ark of the covenant out to the battlefield. This is important, because the ark represents the presence of God in Israel. Where the ark is, there is God; at least that is the mindset of the people. In this mindset, they have take the concept to far, and made the ark an idol, and so look to it to save them, rather than to the living God.

Verse 4 shows how this sin of not seeking God and instead using a relic as an idol is bolstered by Eli’s sons who go with the ark without questioning if they should. They are the keepers of the ark, and yet in their sin, they participate in idol worship with the rest of Israel. 

In verse 7, we see from the perspective of the Philistines who also associate the ark as an idol, for they say, “… A god has come into the camp.” Yet, the idol does not work as the Israelites had hoped. They loose the battle, the ark is taken by the Philistines, and verse 11 is one part of the fulfillment to God’s message to Eli through the unnamed prophet and Samuel, that Eli’s sons would died. 

We then drop down to after Eli hears the message that his sons have died and he himself falls off his chair, breaking his neck, and dying himself. 

Though this is an important moment, we are quickly taken from that to Eli’s daughter-in-law who dies in childbirth after hearing of her husband and father-in-law’s death. It is here that we get an important declaration. In the naming of her son before she dies, we are given a hint into the state of Israel. The baby’s name is Ichabod, which is two words meaning “no glory.” In her mind, since the ark has left Israelite possession, God’s glory has left Israel. However that’s an idolatry mindset. God’s presence is still there, we will see then when God speaks through Samuel as he has now become the next Judge after Eli. It would be more appropriate to say that God’s protection has left Israel. The reason Israel has suffered defeat and lost the ark, is because of their multiple sins, which are encapsulated in the idolatry they just revealed. Idolatry was forbidden and due to this, God was in his right to not protect the people against their adversaries.

This is judgment against Israel, that they are left, for a time, in defeat without God’s present protection. But God is not defeated, which we will see in the next two chapters.

In chapter 5 we’re told how the Philistines take the captured god and bring him to their god, Dagon. While the ark is present with the idol of Dagon, we’re told that the first night Dagon falls prostrate in front of the ark. The second night Dagon’s statute’s head and hands had been severed. This scares the priests and they begin to avoid the area altogether.

Verse 6 of chapter 5 lets us know of God’s judgment against the people in Ashdod where the ark is being housed. We learn two things: First, God is active in other people groups, not just Israel. Second, these people, like Israel are under God’s judgment, one reason being idol worship. 

Apart of this judgment was the people of Ashdod were being afflicted with tumors. This has actually led some people in modern times to believe that the ark is a nuclear weapon of some sort. It due to the tumors, the people send the ark to another Philistine city, this time Gath, but God sends judgment there as well, and tumors continue to spread. The ark is moved for a third time, this time to Ekron. It is not clear if the people of Ekron were also afflicted with tumors, or they just had heard what had happened, but either way, everyone agreed to send the ark back to Israel. 

This is where we pick up in chapter 6, where we find out that the ark, and its three Philistine city tour, all occurs within seven months. 

It’s in verse 6 of chapter 6, that we get an important interaction between the Philistine people as they are discussing what to do with the ark. We read, “Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed?”

It had been a few hundred years since the exodus of Israel out of Egypt, yet the stories of God’s work there, are still known to the people of Canaan. The Philistines reference this work of God to conclude that if they would just get ride of the ark, then the Israelite God would leave them alone. 

However, even after concluding that they need to give the ark back, the Philistines do not take the ark back to Shiloh. This is probably for two reasons: One it’s pretty far north of where it is now, and the Philistines want to gone fast, and two, Shiloh is destroyed due to the battle seven months earlier. 

So they take it to a closer location and with it, they bring statues golden mice and tumors as a peace offering to the God of Israel. When the cart carrying the ark arrived in a field at Beth-shemesh, the Levites offered sacrifices to the Lord in thanksgiving. The Philistines leave thankful to be rid of the ark and probably hoping that the Israelite God is happy to be home. Even though they’re tide heavily into idol worship, God has used that belief that to show how he is more powerful than their gods.

However, something goes wrong. God strikes down some of the men from town. The ESV makes it sound like the men died simply because they looked at the ark, but the wording here reveals that they took to the top off to look inside. This was a bad thing to do, and was forbidden in Numbers 4 (v.20), where not even those chosen to take care of the holy things of God in the tabernacle were to open the ark. 

This might sound extreme for God to strike down some guys just for looking into the ark, but this whole section, from the sins of Eli’s sons, the sins of Israel, and the sins of the Philistines all go back to this one idea: no one took God’s holiness seriously. In the case of Eli’s sons, they abused their offices which God had set aside to be holy and honoring to him.  The Israelites rebelled against God’s restriction of idolatry, and sought a box over the living presence of God. The Philistines thought they had overpowered the God of Israel and now he was subject to their god. 

No one took the holiness of God seriously. Yet Eli’s sons fell just as God had decreed. The Israelites lost their battle and lost the symbol of God’s presence with them. The Philistines experienced embarrassment of Dagon and plague among their people. God is a holy God and we cannot undercut that reality.

This moment of God’s striking down the Israelite men due to their lack of reverence to God snaps the community to humility. Others respond to this moment in verse 20, “Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, ‘Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?’” 

A holy fear and respect was gained that day by everyone who saw and heard of what had happened. Even the people of God were not allowed to be flippant with their reverence to the God of all things. 

As a response, the people of Beth-shemesh send the ark away yet again, and in chapter 7, verses 1-3, the people commission and consecrate Eleazar to take care of the ark. The ark is back with Israel and the Israelites experience a holy fear of their God, who by his own hand, has brought his ark back to the people. There is a sign of grace here, that God has returned, by his own will, to the people he made a covenant with.

This large section points us to the holiness of God. Time and time again throughout the Scriptures there is a call to the people of God to live in his holiness. Peter picks this up in his first letter where he writes, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ (1 Pet. 1:13-16)”

We who call on Jesus, and hold onto the name of Christian, are to be a holy people. This calling of God to the Israelites is no different than his calling to us in his Church. In fact, it is a greater calling because his Holy Spirit rest, not just on us, but lives within every disciple of Christ. We must take seriously the holiness of God. Yes, he is loving, yes he is merciful, but he is also holy and we can never downplay that attribute of him. If we do, we will find ourselves under God’s discipline. Though we are not condemned as disciples of Jesus, because we have Christ, God will not allow us to live in rebellion against his holiness. 

The modern Christian song, “What Do I Know of Holy,” sings this very question, in the chorus and bridge:

What do I know of You, Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood, But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury? Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?

And a God who gave life it's name?

What do I know of Holy? Of the One who the angels praise?

All creation knows Your name On earth and heaven above

What do I know of this love?

My challenge for you this week, on top of reading through the chapters we covered today, is to take a moment and go before God, taking the lyrics of “What Do I know of Holy,” and asking the simple question, “What do I really know of Your holiness, God? Let me be more reverent to You.”

Let us be a holy people worshiping our holy God. Amen.