1 Samuel 4:2 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. 3 After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”
4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
1 Samuel 4:10 So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
observation
“Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated”
The Israelites thought that God would continue to protect them despite replacing him with substitute "gods" and then they had the nerve to question why he didn't come through for them. You didn't live according to his commands and love him without compromise like he told you to do then how can you try to require God to live up to his part of the covenant that you made with him.
“Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, it will saves us"
Eli and his sons were disrespectful and now we see that the whole country has decided that they can use God to accomplish whatever they need help with.
The people decide that the best way to win this battle is to use the Ark as if it had its own mystical power or maybe the thought that God would not allow the Ark to be destroyed or taken from Israel. God's people can get in trouble when they think that the religious accessories have some sort of magic, they are not the source of salvation and can not give you any special power.
We must respect God and obey his commands, to think think that we can use religious icons or a cross or misinterpret scripture to get some benefits is wrong and it will prove to be powerless.
application
I must live in obedience to God's command in order to have the power to be victorious. God doesn't owe me anything and I cannot use him.
prayer
Help me to always live according to your word and to rely on your power.
