1 Samuel: Chapter 4
This chapter records the fulfilment of the prophecy against the house of Eli and the related consequences.
Chapter Recap
The chapter is no doubt very bleak. We have Israel in war with the Philistines, which takes a huge toll of 4,000 casualties in one day and 30,000 in another. The ark of God is captured. The predictions in the foregoing chapters concerning the ruin of Eli's house begins to be fulfilled, with the death of Eli's two sons, Eli and his daughter-in-law in the same day. The disgrace and loss sustained by Israel would subjugate them under the hands of Philistines for few more years.
Israel
After studying individual characters in the previous chapters, now we get to see how the nation of Israel acts. At this point, it is evident that the majority of the people, including the elders, were ignorant to what was written in the Law. There is no mention of people seeking the will of the LORD before the battle, but when they suffer casualties, they blame it on the LORD, and then ask for the ark of covenant to be brought to the battle.
When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies." I Samuel 4:3
The ignorance and sin of Israel here are fourfold. One, they never enquired the LORD, but blamed the LORD for the loss in battle. Two, they never understood the cause of failure as their sin, and continued to do what they thought was right. Three, they were ignorant of the Law which says that the ark of covenant isn't supposed to be moved for such reasons. Four, they wrongly attributed the LORD's presence and will to an object, and treated the ark as a mere talisman.
With the ark being brought into the camp, there was a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing this uproar, the Philistines learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. Now, the Philistines, who were outsiders, testify the power of the LORD and what had happened in Egypt, and brace themselves to fight till the end else they would be subjected to Israel. The LORD used this scenario to teach the people of Israel a hard lesson, and 30,000 fell on Israel's side, with both of Eli's sons dying and the ark captured. And as a result, the people fleeing in disgrace.
Eli
We see Eli for the last time here. The high priest sitting by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the elders asked for the ark, Eli could have stood his ground and explained that the ark shouldn't be moved like this, but rather encouraged the people to consult the LORD. But, either he didn't, or the people didn't listen. Either way, he was anxiously waiting for any news. A Benjamite ran to Shiloh, where Eli resided, cloths torn, bearing bad news. Hearing the news he brought, the whole town sent up a cry. Eli asks about the outcry.
The man who brought the news replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backwards off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel for forty years. I Samuel 4:17,18
One bad news after another. Perhaps he was holding hope for one last miracle, "all this happened but the ark of the LORD is safe and we are bringing it back", alas, he didn't get this. He had to face the truth, the fulfilment of the prophecies against his family, the humiliation of Israel, the loss of the ark - a symbol of the LORD which he was to guard and which he loved, gone and so shall he. With this, the old judge dies unceremoniously.
Ichabod
Eli's daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, hears the news of her husband and father-in-law's demise, goes into labor, and begets a baby boy. An otherwise joyful event is now shadowed in sorrow. The encouragement of the women attending her did not cheer her up. For she knew what laid ahead for her family. The sign was fulfilled and so will the reminder of the prophecies. She was maybe more pious than her husband, or probably considered the recent happenings in Israel - the loss of the ark, the loss of the high priest and judge - there was no more glory in Israel, it had departed, and so she named her son with her dying breath, Ichabod, inglorious.
So, what do we take away from this chapter? The written word, often has cautionary tales to its readers. So that one might not repeat the same mistakes of the past. The will of the LORD is always to be respected and heeded, lest hardships follow us. The LORD or objects dedicated to the LORD aren't talismans. Just having something doesn't automatically guarantee victory or joy or peace. Rather, wholehearted obedience and earnest seeking of the LORD's way places us in the path to peace and glory. Often we get warns to change our course towards what is right, if we willfully do it, we would save ourselves and our legacy. See you in the next one. Take care of yourself and each other!
Comments
Post a Comment