1 Samuel 4:4–5: “So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.”

May 13th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Israel went to battle against the Philistines and lost, so they decided to bring the ark of the covenant to the battlefield in the belief that it would make the Lord give them victory. It was bad enough that they brought the ark but even worse, they brought the two sons of Eli, both of whom God had already given a pronouncement against. Relationship was being replaced with superstition as they tried to use the ark to exercise authority over God, rather than the other way around. Bringing the ark into battle wouldn’t guarantee victory anymore than a rabbit’s foot or horseshoe brings its owner good luck. Not only did the Philistines defeat them for a second time, but they also captured the ark and took it back to one of their cities.

The Lord will not allow His people’s spiritual condition to deteriorate down to a superstitious use of Himself. Spiritual power cannot be obtained by carrying a Bible or wearing a cross. Just like the ark, these religious things have value only if they move our hearts to draw closer in our relationship with God. No matter how many religious props a person may collect around them, God will not be manipulated. Most of us are guilty at one time or another of trying to manipulate God when we pray. Augustine said, “We are restless until we find our rest in God.” This is what God offers, rest for our souls. But often we have something different in mind, something more material. Sometimes even well meaning and sincere believers confuse faith and superstition, relying on prayer as some kind of magical chant. Prayer isn’t our opportunity to tell God what to do, but our privilege to lay our needs (and other peoples) before our loving and caring heavenly Father. The simple prayer of Bobby Richardson, committed Christian and second basemen for the New York Yankees during the 50s and 60s, serves to remind us of Who has the power when we pray:

“Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen.”

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1 Samuel 4 KJV

¹ And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. ² And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.  ³ And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.  ⁴ So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. ⁵ And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. ⁶ And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. ⁷ And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.  ⁸ Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. ⁹ Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight. ¹⁰ And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. ¹¹And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.  ¹² And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. ¹³ And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it , all the city cried out. ¹⁴ And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. ¹⁵ Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. ¹⁶ And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?  ¹⁷ And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. ¹⁸And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. ¹⁹ And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.   ²⁰ And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it .  ²¹ And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.  ²² And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.