Here’s this week’s Bible study (8-14 October)! Go for it!:
Read 1 Samuel 4.
Things to think about:
v3 – The Israelites were defeated, so they tried to gain victory again through taking the ark with them to battle. God hadn’t told them to do this, but they did what they thought would work.
v4 – Eli’s sons went along with this idea and accompanied the ark as the Israelites took it to battle. Eli seemed nervous about the idea. (see v13).
So why did the Israelites decide to do this, and why did the priests go along with their idea? Did they feel the ark was like some kind of magic charm?
In the end, the ark didn’t help them. They were beaten and the ark was taken by the enemy.
Do I have anything like this in my life? Am I trusting in any ‘arks’ – things which seem great and good and right – even Christian – but expecting God to do what I want because of that?
When things go wrong with me, who or what is the first thing I turn to? Is it someone or something good, that has proved their worth in the past? Or is it God Himself?
Any other thoughts?
