THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S but did not consult Samuel or God. They decided to bring the Ark into the battlefield. They believed the presence of the Ark would be sufficient. The Ark had a dwelling place (Psa. 90:1). Its abode was between the cherubim (Num. 7:89). It was where God met with His people (Ex. 25:18-22). Eli’s sons were the custodians of the Ark (Num. 4:5- 15). The elders knew that there was some good reason for defeat. When God tests, tries, disciplines, He always has a good reason. (1 Cor. 11:31). They recognized the hand of God in their defeat. The failure was theirs, not God’s. There is no repentance, no prayer. They propose to force the pres ence of God by bringing the Ark. They forgot that this was the Ark of the Covenant, and a covenant implies two parties. They should have called upon the God of the Ark (Deut. 30:1-4). They should have confessed and re pented (Isa. 1:16, 17). Picture the procession with Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phineas, leading, and contrast with Moses in Num. 10:35, 36. “ And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scat tered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.” (3) THE ADVENTURES OF THE ARK; the DISASTROUS RE SULTS, vs. 5-11. The Ark was received with a shout by Israel. Here was something new— “ the Ark of God.” Victory must be theirs. The Philistines were afraid. Israel’s history was known to them. The God of Israel was a mighty God. But after their panic was over they re covered themselves and “ Be strong and quit yourselves like men” was the mes sage throughout the camp. From cow ardice to courage; from fear to faith.
484 as every prophecy of God will be to the letter. They had sown to the wind and reaped the whirlwind. Outline. (1) The Armies in Array and the Defeat of Israel, vs. 1, 2. (2) The Ark of God and Its Dese cration, vs. 3, 4. (3) The Adventures of the Ark; the Disastrous Results, vs. 5-11. (4) The Announcement of Defeat, and Death of Eli, vs. 12-18. (1) THE ARMIES IN ARRAY and the DEFEAT OF ISRAEL, vs. 1, 2. The Word of God came now through Samuel who was probably eighteen years old, and ■through Samuel to the people. The people took it for granted that having now a prophet all would be well. The giving of a prophet was a sign of the need. The presence of a prophet a call to them to repentance. The Philistines made war against Israel and Israel went out to meet them. They went out in the energy of the flesh. They presumed upon God’s help, but they did not prepare for it by confession and prayer. They lost four thousand men. Something was wrong with Israel. (Josh. 7:11, 12). They were wrong with God (1 Sam. 17:24). The trouble with Israel was their sins, — unconfessed, unforsaken sins. And this is the secret of defeat in the be liever’s life. (Isa. 59:2). “But your1 iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” The Philistines are a type of God’s fleshly foes, always arrayed in battle against God’s anointed. (2) THE ARK OF GOD AND ITS DESECRATION, vs. 3, 4. “Why are we defeated?” A natural and practical question. The people and the elders conferred over the matter,,
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