Bible in 365 Days

1 Samuel 4-8

1 Samuel 4

The crisis of judgment foretold by Samuel to Eli now arrived. It was a Philistine attack on the people, in which large numbers were slain, among them the two sons of Eli. On hearing the news Eli himself died, as did also the wife of one of the sons in giving birth to a boy, whose name in dying she pronounced Ichabod.

It was a terrible and significant name, indicating that the glory of Jehovah had departed.

Perhaps the most significant teaching in this story is derived from a consideration of the action of the men of Israel in the presence of the Philistine attack. Realizing their peril, and hoping in some way to save themselves, they carried the Ark of God into the midst of the fray. It was an entirely superstitious use of the Ark, and was utterly unavailing. The Philistines were afraid, but, strengthening their hearts, went forward, gained a great victory, and captured the Ark itself.

How often men who have neglected God, and the rites and ceremonies of His worship, hope in some crisis to save themselves by superstitious use of some of the holy things of the faith.

It is always not only unavailing, but blasphemous. In any hour of peril a genuine return to God is of value; but an attempt to make use of sacred things to procure personal safety is the worst form of blasphemy.

1 Samuel 5

This is a story of supreme and arresting interest, showing as it does how, when the people of God fail to bear testimony for Him among the nations, He becomes His own witness.

The Ark was not a charm equal to delivering disobedient Israel. It was, however, the center and symbol of their life, and Jehovah would not permit Philistia to trifle with it. If men hold their peace stones will cry out; and if the chosen people are unfaithful to God, then the very Ark, which is the symbol of His presence among them, becomes the instrument, wherever it is brought, of judgment on His enemies.

They first lodged it at Ashdod in the house of the fish-god Dagon, with disastrous results to the idol, which was brought to the ground, and broken. With speed and in fear, the people then carried it to Gath. There judgment fell on the inhabitants which, in all probability, was a plague of mice. While this is not stated in our text, it is found in the Septuagint Version, and the subsequent action of making images of mice makes it probable. In any case, some discomfiture came to the people with the coming of the Ark.

Again they moved it as hastily to Ekron, where painful and troublesome tumors broke out among the people. Thus, at every move, judgment became more severe, and Philistia found that if she had been able to conquer and break the power of Israel, it was a different matter when she came to deal with Israel's God.

1 Samuel 6

The authorities in Philistia now called a council, and sought the advice of their diviners. It is intensely interesting to observe how unanimously they recognized the action of Jehovah. Whatever the long years had done for Israel itself, it is perfectly certain that the fear and the dread of Jehovah had been implanted in the hearts of the surrounding peoples.

The counselors advised sending the Ark back, accompanied by offerings intended to indicate their recognition that the plagues of mice and tumors constituted a visitation of God.

The method of sending the Ark back was in the nature of an experiment, and the facts which followed show how conclusively their own test must have proved to them that God had been at work. As the kine drawing the new cart took their way directly to Beth­shemesh, it was clearly evident that God was overruling. That they should go quietly, lowing as they went, was in itself a remarkable fact, for they had not been trained to draw loads. That they should travel away from their calves was even more remarkable, and that they should thus take their way directly to the first city of Israel was conclusive. Joshua of Beth­shemesh received the Ark in a way worthy of an Israelite. He clave the cart for wood, and slew the kine for sacrifice, and worshiped.

Moreover, so jealous was he for the honor of the sacred symbol that he smote seventy men who, with curious eyes, had dared to attempt to examine it.

1 Samuel 7

The Ark found its resting place temporarily at Gibeah, in the house of Abinadab. A dark period of twenty years is passed over without detailed record. It would seem that during all that time Israel was under Philistine rule, without any definite center of worship; for while the Ark was resting in the house of an individual, the Tabernacle was in all probability dismantled.

During this period Samuel was advancing from youth to manhood and approaching the hour of his leadership. This period was ushered in by the people's lamentation after God. Of this Samuel took advantage, calling them to return to Him and put away all strange gods.

They obeyed, and then were summoned to Mizpah. Here, by a direct divine intervention, the power of Philistia was broken, and her cities restored to Israel. Here Samuel erected an altar and called it Ebenezer.

This was a great word uttered in the hearing of the people, "Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us." The "hitherto" included all through which they had passed, not the victories only, but the discipline and the suffering also. This man of clear vision recognized both the fact of the divine government and its beneficent method. Jehovah had helped them through chastisement to sorrow for sin, and through such lamentation to freedom from oppression.

1 Samuel 8

This first Book of Samuel at this point merges into its second division, which has to do with Saul. First we have the account of the clamor of the people for a king and the divine answer thereto. The occasion for the request on their part was that of the maladministration of the sons of Samuel, and their sinful practices. The real principle underlying their request was their desire to be, as they said, "like all the nations."

This is the revelation of the supreme wrong. They had been chosen to be unlike the nations, a people directly governed by God. In communion, Jehovah made plain to Samuel the real evil in their request when He declared that they had rejected Him from being their King.