This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
1SAMUEL
1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
In the next four chapters we will see how God accomplished two things. First, He disciplined Eli's house and took away the corruption from the tabernacle.
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.
When Israel went out to fight with the Philistines they were beaten. And the Israelite leaders (elders) suggested that they go and get the "ark of covenant." They believed that the presence of the ark would keep them from defeat.
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.
11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
When the Israelites saw the ark come into the camp, they all shouted so loud there was a great echo ("the earth rang again" --verse 5).
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.
18 And 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.
A Benjamite escaped and ran to Shiloh (which served sorta like the capitol in those days). His physical appearance showed that he was in great grief.
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 Ichabod, 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.
Now, on the same day Eli died (the same day the ark was captured, and the same day Hophni and Phinehas died), Phinehas' wife was having a baby.
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible Study.
CHAPTER 4
Second, H established Samuel as prophet and judge in Israel.
Everyone in Israel listened when Samuel spoke. But Eli is still the major leader right now.
God allowed the Philistines to come toward Israel for battle.
These people knew their history but din't have knowledge of HIS STORY!
They knew that in other times the ark had gone in front of the army with the trumpeters blasting. but they counted on the ARK and not GOD!
The church of Jesus Christ can go into battle against the devil today with the Word of God and get beaten!
If we rely on the Word and not on the God of the Word, we're not going for GOD!
Our use of the Word may not be what God wants. We must rely on Him Who GAVE the Word, and use it according to HIS will.
((For instance: I've seen many people go out to witness to unbelievers and just "beat 'em up" with the Word of God. But they saw no victory and they wondered why. It is God's SPIRIT Who weilds the "sword of the Lord." We are to be humble servants: honor Him, worship Him, and testify of His grace in our lives. THEN, when we share the Word and how God has used it in our lives, HE will make the testimony effective.))
The Philistines exclaimed that "God is come into the camp" (verse 6), and they were very afraid.
Just because we have the church, or just because we have a Bible, doesn't mean we have the PRESENCE of God in our lives. Eli had the church, and Eli had the Bible (of that day), but he had no PRESENCE of God in his life.
The Philistines gathered their courage and fought. Again, they sent the Israelites running.
We cannot resist the devil in our OWN WAY! The Bible tells us that FIRST we must "submit" ourselves to God; THEN we can stand against the devil.
"But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."(James 2:6-10)
The Philistines CAPTURED the ark of the covenant! Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were killed along with 30,000 other warriors!
What a HORRIBLE day in the history of Israel!
But what about our good ole USA? The Word of God has been taken out of many of our schools and public places. The ten commandments are forbidden to be placed in our schools and courtrooms.
Have we Christians in the US been like Eli, and allowed ourselves to be too long in sin without repentance? Are we genuinely experiencing the PRESENCE and POWER of God in our lives? Why is there so much gambling? Why is abortion growing?
Could it be that the church (Christians) are too interested in doing their own thing rather than doing God's WORK?
He wen to Eli and told him of the terrible thing that had happened.
Eli said nothing when the man told him that his sons were dead.
But when the man told him that the ark had been captured, Eli fell of the post and broke his neck and died.
If we lose everything and still have God's presence in our lives, then we can stand by grace through faith. But if we lose the presence of God in our lives, there is nothing left with which to stand!
Eli had been Israel's judge and leader for forty years.
She was grief-stricken at the loss of her husband and father-in-law and at the loss of the ark. And she named her child "Ichabod."
Ichabod means "the glory has departed!"
Again, it was an AWFUL day in the history of Israel.
As soon as she had named the child, Phinehas' wife died.
Phinehas' wife had given birth to another son some years earlier. His name was Ahitub. He became the new High Priest of Israel (1Samuel 14:3)