May we worship God together. May we sing praise to his name, singing in Psalm 1 of the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 1, Scottish Psalter, that's on page 200 of the Blue Books.
Psalm 1, Scottish Psalter, that man has perfect blessedness, who walketh not astray, in counsel of ungodly men, nor stands in sinners' way, nor sitteth in the scorner's chair, but placeth his delight upon God's law, and meditates on his law day and night.
We'll sing the whole psalm to God's praise, and we'll stand to sing, that man has perfect blessedness.
That man has perfect blessedness, who walketh not astray, in counsel of ungodly men,
nor stands in sinners' way, nor sitteth in the scorner's chair, but placeth his delight upon God's law, and meditates on his way.
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the standard oflad of truth is born, and ascending on his way.
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And his sleep fadeth never.
And all he does shall prosper well,
The wicked are not so,
But like they are unto the trough,
Which when rise to and fro,
In judgment therefore shall not stand
Such as ungodly are,
Now in the assembly of the just
Shall wicked men appear.
For why the way of godly men
Until the Lord is known,
Where does the wave of wicked men
Shall quite be overthrown.
Amen.
Let's pray together in prayer before God.
Let us pray together.
Our heavenly Father,
You are that Father to us,
Who shows an love that we cannot comprehend,
A care that we pray that we all know and understand of,
And a concern for us, over us,
As a people that you have chosen,
And a people whom you love.
And Lord, we come before you tonight.
We pray that we would see ourselves
In a new light as we do so.
We pray that your light
Would illuminate our understanding of ourselves,
Who we are,
Who we truly are.
And as we meditate upon your words,
And the holiness of God
Comes forth before us
And arrests our souls,
We pray that we may acknowledge
The sin that lies within us,
Deeply rooted within our hearts,
A sin that many of us
Wish were not present within us,
Thorns in our flesh
That we cannot rid ourselves of,
But seem to grow and sprout like seeds
That we water ourselves at times,
Because our nature
Does so enjoy these things
That are so terrible for us,
And things that separate us
From the presence of God.
Pray each of us
Acknowledge ourselves
Truly before you,
And that we approach you
With a right heart,
And in the right nature.
Lord,
We are not deserving of your presence.
And who are we to call upon you in prayer?
Other than you have commanded us to do so,
And you do listen to our prayer.
Of course we have that great interceder,
Intermediator for us,
The Lord Jesus Christ.
Otherwise, how could we approach you?
And Lord,
We pray that you hear our prayers.
You are one who does graciously listen to us,
And does not cast them from your ear.
Lord, you hear the prayers
That are not vocally uttered tonight,
This evening, this night.
You hear the anguish of many hearts,
Hearts that are
In deep turmoil,
Within their own lives,
Within their own experiences.
But you are one that knows our experience also.
You know the hairs on our heads,
And you know
What we need.
You are that loving Father
Who can provide for us in a way
That we cannot
To one another.
And even,
We ask that you would be the
Loving Father
That would wrap around those
Who mourn this night.
And that loving arm
Would be felt as a
Caring
Provision
And reassurance
To those who have lost loved ones
In recent days.
We do not know how best
To comfort others.
We feel at loss at times
When we try to.
And so we commit
The mourning,
Grieving
People
And families
To you this night.
We pray for our nation,
We pray for our people,
We pray that your word
Would go with power
Amongst us.
We pray for the
Proclamation of your gospel
Throughout our nation,
Whether it be
In amongst the cities
Or within
Amongst the rural communities
Of our land.
We pray that the spirit
May be
Present with them.
May be a spirit
That would draw
Our hearts
To you.
A spirit that would
Engage
And arrest us
To
Bring us to a place
Where we must go.
To acknowledge
That we are lost
Without
The cleansing blood
Of Jesus Christ
Atoning for us.
The sacrificial lamb
That was
Slaughtered
For our behalf.
That paid the penalty
Of sins.
And through
His death
We are enabled
To great
Privileges.
We are
Acceptable
Before
God
Only
In the sight
Of Christ.
He is the one
Who has taken
All our sins.
As we stand
Before you
We bring them
Before you
And acknowledge
Our sins
And it is Christ
That takes them
And washes
Our garments
That are stained
And gives us
The new
Cleansed
Garment
And throws
That old garment
As far as
East is
From the west
And a place
Where it shall
No longer be seen
And
They are sins
That are forgotten.
We find that
Hard to understand.
We are
People
That hold
Grudges
But you are
A God
That will
Forget
Our sins
Because
Of what
Christ Jesus
Has done
For us.
Lord
You are
One
Who is
Almighty
You are
One
Who is
Long
Suffering
With us
You are
Uncomprehensible
In many
Ways
Even to the
Best of
Minds
Of our
Days
And previous
Generations.
It is
Much
Untold
Of you
In your
Word
But there
Is
Sufficient
Clarity
Revealed
To us
In order
To understand
What
Salvation
Is
And what
Duty
Is required
Of us
Before you
A holy
God.
Lord
May
Reverence
In our
Hearts
Grow
For you
And our
Love
And devotion
In our
Lives
That shows
Itself
Through the
Way that
We speak
And the
Way that
We act
We would
Understand the
Immeasurable
Riches of
Christ Jesus
Lord we
Pray
Your
Word
To be
Our
Guide
In every
Step that
We take
In life's
Journey
Whether it
Be in the
Wilderness
Experience
Or whether
It be
When we
Walk in
Our
Comforts
Lord we
Pray you
Be your
Guide
Lord we
Thank you
For the
Provision of
An assistant
Minister in
Callum
We thank
You and
Anticipate
With excitement
That he
Will come to
Our congregation
And be one
That will
Expound the
Word over us
And teach
And pastor
And work
Alongside
James
In their
Work
Lord we
Pray for
Them both
We pray
That you
Would uphold
Them in the
Difficulties of
Pastoral
Ministry
But Lord we
Remember the
Congregation of
North East
As well
As they
Will part
With their
Pastor
We pray
That you
Will provide
For one
In his
Place
Who will
Be an
Under
Shepherd
For them
And a
Guide for
Them in
Their days
And a
Teacher to
Them
And a
Man that
Will go out
With the
Gospel
To these
People
To these
Lord we
Ask that you
Would be a refuge and our strength as we gather and worship you this night
You are the Lord of hosts who is on our side and you are one that doth constantly
remain with us so we ask that you would be that God that father that does remain with
Consistency at our side even in this hour as we gather may you unblock our ears and open our eyes to see the wonders of God and the provision of Jesus Christ may your spirit be with us as our guide open our eyes we pray all these things we ask in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ amen
May we continue in our praise by singing to God from Psalm 11 in the sing psalms this time
Psalm 11 sing psalms that's on page 13 of the blue books
We'll sing from verse 4 down to verse mark 7
Psalm 11 sing psalms from verse 4 the Lord is in his holy place the Lord is on his heavenly
throne his eyes observe the human race and in his sight each one is known the Lord examines all the just the righteous ones he proves and tests but all those who love wickedness and violence his soul detests
upon the wicked he will reign his fiery coals and sulfur hot a scorching wind will beat on them such punishment will be their lot for God the Lord is righteous still in righteousness he takes delight and they alone will see his face who are in heart and life upright
we'll stand and we'll sing these verses to God's praise the Lord is in his holy place
the Lord is in his holy place
the Lord is on his heavenly throne
his hands
His hands
The Lord is now with all the just, the righteous ones in bruise and death,
but all those who have wickedness and violence, it so deters.
Upon the wicked he will bring his fiery colds and suffer not,
a scorching wind will be on them, such permission will be their cause.
For God the Lord is righteous still, in righteousness he takes delight,
and they alone will see his face, through all in heart and life of Christ.
Amen.
We'll turn now and read from the Word of God, and we'll turn to the book of 1 Samuel.
Please turn with me to the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 4, and we'll read the whole chapter.
It is an account that follows on from the memorable account where God speaks to the young boy Samuel in the night hour,
and he prophesies a word against Eli the priest's family.
And what we see in chapter 4 is that word come to fulfilment.
So let us hear God's word, and may we know it as God's revelation to us this evening.
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.
Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines.
They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Afek.
The Philistines drew up in line against Israel,
and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines.
Who killed about 4,000 men on the field of battle.
And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel asked,
Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines?
Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh,
that it may come amongst us and save us from the power of our enemies.
So the people sent to Shiloh,
and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts,
who is enthroned on the cherubim.
And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,
were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp,
all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded.
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting,
they said,
What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?
And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp,
the Philistines were afraid, for they said,
A God has come into the camp.
And they said,
Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before.
Woe to us, who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods?
These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.
Take courage and be men, O Philistines,
lest you become slaves to the Hebrews,
as they have been to you.
Be men and fight.
So the Philistines fought.
And Israel was defeated.
And they fled.
Every man to his home.
And there was a very great slaughter.
For there fell Israel 30,000 foot soldiers.
And the ark of God was captured.
And the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phinehas, died.
A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line
and came to Shiloh the same day.
With his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.
When he arrived,
Eli was sitting on the seat by the road watching.
For his heart trembled for the ark of God.
And when the man came into the city
and told the news,
all the city cried out.
When Eli heard the sound of the outcry,
he said,
What is this uproar?
Then the man hurried and came and told Eli.
Now Eli was 98 years old
and his eyes were set so that he could not see.
And the man said to Eli,
I am he who has come from the battle.
I fled from the battle today.
And he said,
How did it go, my son?
He who brought the news answered and said,
Israel has fled before the Philistines.
And there has also been a great defeat among the people.
Your two sons also,
Hophni and Phinehas are dead.
And the ark of God has been captured.
As soon as he mentioned the ark of God,
Eli fell over backwards from his seat by the side of the gate
and his neck was broken and he died.
For the man was old and heavy.
He had judged Israel for 40 years.
Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas,
was pregnant, about to give birth.
And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured
and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead,
she bowed and gave birth.
For her pains came upon her.
And about the time of her death,
the woman attending said to her,
Do not be afraid for you have born a son.
But she did not answer or pay attention.
And she named the child Ichabod,
saying the glory has departed from Israel
because the ark of God has been captured
and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
And she said,
The glory has departed from Israel
for the ark of God has been captured.
Amen.
May the reading of God's word and her presence
be blessed to each of us.
May we continue in praise to God
by singing in Psalm 67 of the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 67 of the Scottish Psalter.
Find that on page 300.
First version.
Lord, bless and pity us.
Shine on us with thy face
that the earth thy way and nations all
may know thy saving grace.
Let people praise thee, Lord.
Let people all thee praise.
O let the nations be glad
and songs their voices raise.
Thou'lt justly people judge.
On earth rule nations all.
Let people praise thee, Lord.
Let them praise thee, both great and small.
The earth her fruit shall yield.
Our God shall blessings send.
God shall us bless.
Men shall in fear.
And two earths at most end.
We'll stand together
and we'll swift our voices to God's praise.
Lord, bless and pity us.
Shine on us with thy face
that the earth thy way and nations all
may know thy saving grace.
Let people praise thee, Lord.
Let people all thee praise.
O let the nations be glad
in songs their voices raise.
Thou'lt justly people judge
on earth rule nations all.
Let people praise thee, Lord.
Let them praise thee, Lord.
Let them praise thee, both great and small.
The earth her fruit shall yield.
Her God shall blessings send.
God shall bless.
Men shall have fear.
Unto earth's utmost end.
Let them praise thee, Lord.
May we turn back, well,
not to quite the passage that I read,
but I'd like you to turn to
chapter 3 of 1 Samuel
and cast our eyes together
to the words of verse 11.
This is the words that God spoke
to Samuel in the night out.
We know the story, but many of us are maybe not so familiar with the words that were actually spoken to him.
These are the words.
Then the Lord said to Samuel,
Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house from beginning to end.
And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew,
because his sons were blaspheming God and he did not restrain them.
Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.
Particularly these words,
Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
What is it that makes our ears tingle?
What was the last thing that you heard that you could say pricked up your ears, made you listen?
And occasionally we hear good news.
Unfortunately, most of the time it is something bad.
Or even news that is scandalous, news that is unhealthy for us that pricks up our ears or tingles our ears.
But I believe the news that tingles our ears more than any other news is when we hear that someone has died.
Or when we hear of some sort of tragedy.
And certainly our ears may tingle at that news.
But we can all probably admit that that tingle would go a little further and even send shivers down our backs.
There is always some sort of unbelievable element to that sort of news when we hear of someone's passing.
Even when we expect it.
I want to kind of be sensitive in how I say this.
We do get surprised when we hear of that news.
But what that news does to us is it speaks almost a silent voice in our ears.
In a way that nothing else can do.
It makes us consider eternity when maybe we haven't been.
And we've just been passing over it.
Even if it's only for a moment that it brings it to our minds.
It's like the voice of God reminding us of our humanity.
And it is a lesson for us all to listen to when we hear that voice speaking to us.
And we read in the fourth chapter here of 1 Samuel.
But as I said it was all in the context of what has previously happened.
Hence our text from chapter 3 is our basis.
And that memorable account of God speaking to the boy Samuel in the night hour.
And revealing to him the future judgment of Eli and his sons.
They would be punished.
Because his sons had no regard for God.
In offering sacrifices to the Lord.
They had no regard for the people of Israel.
And they sinned directly before God.
So that it was said in chapter 2 that it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
And what we see tonight is the outworking of that revelation.
The outworking of God's will.
It's the follow-up to that revelation.
And what I find strange about this is how he brought these sons to their death.
God could have struck them down at any time.
Like he did with Aaron's sons.
When they disregarded God.
And did what they wanted before the Lord's presence.
But he let them go on in their lives.
In their own apparent confidence.
Arrogance before God.
Even after they had this word prophesied over their heads.
Chapter 4 is the fulfillment of the word.
And there are two significant events in it.
Firstly we can see that there was a battle.
And following that battle comes the news from Benjamin.
Which we can call the bombshell.
So in our passage tonight we have the battle and the bombshell that we will consider.
So in taking that battle first.
Every battle as you know will usually be a fight.
People generally fight with a purpose in mind.
But we're not really told of the purpose here.
And we can ask why?
Why on earth were this right fighting?
It doesn't specifically tell us.
But we can trace it.
We know that they are fighting the Philistines.
And before we go further.
I don't know about you.
But quite often I get muddled up with these people groups within the Bible.
Philistines, Assyrians, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites.
It gets confusing.
I hope I'm not the only one that's saying that.
But it's hard to fit them into the passage.
And fit them into the books of the Bible.
And what stories they relate to.
So in order to grasp what we're looking at here.
It's entirely beneficial for us.
Just to give a bit of background on the Philistines.
And who they were.
They appear firstly in Genesis.
As far back as Abraham.
And when he moved.
When he moved to settle in the land of Canaan.
After separating from Lot.
The Philistines were a people group of the land of Canaan.
They always lived in Canaan.
And they remained there.
Even when Abraham's descendants left for Egypt.
And then they came back under the leadership of Moses and Joshua.
Back into Canaan.
But the Israelites didn't drive out the people.
They didn't drive out the Philistines.
They didn't drive out the Ammonites.
But they actually came to adopt their gods.
Rather than driving the people out.
And this is told to us in the book of Judges.
I'll just quickly read a passage there.
That really sets a picture of what's going on.
The people of.
Well firstly.
The people of Israel did what was evil.
In the sight of the Lord.
That's the first thing to note.
And they served the Baals.
The Asheroth.
The gods of Syria.
The gods of Sidon.
The gods of Moab.
The gods of the Ammonites.
The gods of the Philistines.
They forsook the Lord.
They did not serve him.
So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
And he sold them.
He sold them.
Into the hand of the Philistines and the Ammonites.
For 18 years.
And they oppressed the people of Israel.
And then.
That was chapter 10.
In Judges.
And then.
Later on.
Chapter 13.
There's another wee bit where it says.
The people of Israel.
Again.
Did what was evil.
In the sight of the Lord.
Again.
This happens.
So the Lord gave them.
Into the hand of the Philistines.
For 40 years.
The Lord used this people.
The Philistines.
Israel kept rejecting God.
And through this people group.
God.
Oppressed.
Israel.
For their.
Evil.
Before.
God.
You'll.
Come to mind.
That it was Samson.
He was a Philistine.
Oh no.
Samson.
Samson fought against the Philistines.
And then.
In the times of David.
Goliath.
Was a Philistine.
But in due time.
Their might of the Philistines.
Is overcome.
By this power of Assyria.
This is when the Assyrians come in.
And they conquer the Philistines.
But then the superpowers of Babylonian Empire.
Come and overwhelm them all.
And it is believed that the Philistines of.
Whatever remained.
Were taken away.
With the people of Israel.
Into exile.
In Babylon.
And from my understanding.
Of this passage and timelines.
We are highly likely in this period of the 40 years.
Elijah.
Eli was a.
Classed as a judge.
As was Samuel.
And it would seem that we are overlapping.
From this latter part of the book of Judges.
But we are going on with this new change with Samuel.
In this book.
Samuel is this faithful servant of God.
Who trusts in him.
And relies upon him.
And who declares to the people.
They must put away.
These foreign gods.
They are not your gods.
Return to the Lord.
Is what he tells them.
In chapter 7.
This is a change.
When Samuel comes along.
And tells you.
You must return to the Lord.
And then.
To answer their question.
So why was there a fight?
Well it would seem that Israel.
Has had enough.
Of Philistine rule.
And oppression.
Israel.
We see.
Provoke the battle.
In verse 1.
It says.
Now.
Israel went out.
To battle.
Against the Philistines.
Seems.
That they just.
Had enough of it.
But very soon after.
We learn.
That they were defeated.
They lost.
4,000 men.
And they return.
To the camp.
With their tails.
Between their legs.
In a sense.
Beaten.
And.
We can kind of ask.
Well how.
How could they ever overcome.
What God had already.
Ordered.
When he sold them.
Into the hands.
Of the Philistines.
It's as if they were just.
Doing it out of their own.
Confidence.
Look at verse 3.
What did they ask one another.
When they came back.
After this defeat.
Why has the Lord.
Defeat.
Why has the Lord.
Defeated us.
Today.
Before the Philistines.
Why has the Lord.
Let this happen.
To us.
It's often the case.
When something goes wrong.
We ask.
Why.
Lord.
Why have you done this.
To me.
Why have you ruined.
My plans.
And I wonder.
How many people.
Sitting here.
Have asked.
Or said that.
Before God.
Why.
God.
I'm sure.
All of us have.
At some point.
Probably most of us.
And it's not a.
Bad thing.
To ask really.
Why.
God.
It can be at times.
A very.
Healthy thing.
To ask.
Not that we're questioning God.
But.
Struggling to reason.
Why God.
Does things.
There's nothing wrong.
With a question.
But.
You know.
We can.
Create for ourselves.
Great problems.
When we.
Try and answer it.
When we.
Try and answer it.
And we don't.
Look to God.
For the answer.
And it's strange.
That in our lives.
We can.
Maybe.
Try and.
Answer.
Our own problems.
And have this kind of.
Superstitious.
Outlook on life.
That's.
Well.
I did it myself.
Years ago.
You'd.
Say.
Well.
God.
I'll.
Go to church.
Or I'll.
Read my Bible.
And.
If you do this for me.
It's like.
You know.
Like.
If we had exams.
We'd say.
To God.
Well.
I'll.
Read my Bible.
Every night.
And morning.
If.
If you help me to do well.
In my exams.
I'll go to church this week.
If you help me get the.
Job.
That I'm.
Getting interviewed for.
And what that comes down to is that.
Well.
We're making deals with God.
So that we.
Can fulfill.
Our.
Ideals.
It equates.
To using God.
To satisfy.
Our.
Desire.
As if we.
As if we could somehow fool.
God.
By.
Our works.
Fool him.
That our hearts are better.
Than they actually are.
And that we are in a sense.
Deserving of.
Something.
Back.
We don't deserve anything.
Back.
Really.
When we see ourselves.
And.
That's the kind of thing.
That's going on in the passage here.
When the elders agree.
On a solution.
To the problem.
Let us bring the ark.
Of the covenant.
Of the Lord.
Here from Shiloh.
That it may come amongst us.
And save us.
From the power.
Of the enemies.
Essentially.
It was an agreement.
To use.
God.
For their.
Desire.
They wanted to be free.
From the Philistines.
For their own benefits.
Alternative.
To what God.
Had actually commanded.
He sold them.
Into the hands.
Of the Philistines.
Because.
Of their.
Disobedience.
They weren't deserving.
Of God's.
Goodness.
And there's a few points here.
This is where we really see.
Their errors come.
Their errors come to light.
Shiloh.
Is where the ark.
Had rested.
From Joshua's day.
When they entered the land.
And.
And who are they to move it?
Why.
Did they reason.
That they could move it.
There was no cloud.
Telling them to move it.
There was no pillar of fire.
Leading them.
They did not get the word of God.
Like Joshua did.
To.
Get the Levites.
To lift.
The covenant.
The ark of the covenant.
And walk into the river.
There's none of that.
Going on.
Here.
Who on earth are we.
To tell God.
Where to go.
And what to do.
Who are we.
To tell God.
What he must do.
In a sense.
It's a back to front.
Belief.
We.
Come.
To God.
In all reverence.
Fear.
And awe.
There's something far wrong.
When we.
Start.
Telling God.
What the deal is.
What we want.
It's a wrong.
Answer.
Essentially.
And what it is.
Doing.
Is turning the.
First.
Catechism.
On its head.
You're going wrong.
Straight away.
When you're doing this.
Essentially.
It is.
God's chief end.
Is to glorify man.
Like.
We.
Get something.
Back from God.
And God.
Should be doing things.
For us.
All the time.
But also.
Who comes.
With the ark.
It's Eli's.
Sons.
Sons who gave him.
No honor.
And it says.
In chapter 2.
That.
They were men.
That did not.
Know.
God.
And it would seem.
That.
The whole of Israel.
In a sense.
Did not know.
God.
As they should have.
At least.
And.
Well.
When you have priests.
Like them.
Who is going to teach you.
They didn't know him.
They didn't honor him.
They didn't have reverence.
For him.
And they treated God.
As his bargaining chip.
Or lucky charm.
In a day.
When they failed.
And they needed.
An escape.
I'll remember.
You God.
If you do.
What I want.
And that whole behavior.
Just reveals to us.
Of how little.
They know of God.
God looks.
At our hearts.
God knows our hearts.
How on earth.
Can we.
Fool.
God.
But we can.
So easily go wrong.
At this first step.
We can.
So easily go wrong.
If we don't know God.
God.
And when we don't know God.
You know.
We can.
We just start getting.
Distance from him.
And we don't understand.
What we should be doing.
And how we should treat him.
And we start going wrong.
When we don't.
Know him.
So the most important thing.
For us.
Is to.
Know who God is.
Reading our Bibles.
Understanding who he is.
His character.
His attributes.
It's.
It reinforces to us.
That.
That we need to know.
These catechisms.
The catechisms.
That.
Men have.
Completed.
And.
So that we would know God.
But I don't think.
We as a people.
Really.
Value them.
As much as we should.
Catechisms.
Confessions.
The work that has been.
Gone into them.
So that we may know God.
Better.
And give him the honor.
And glory.
That he deserves.
And that we would be a people.
That would not do evil.
In the sight of God.
But that we would be a people.
That would come to him.
Humbly.
And submitting ourselves.
And.
Seeking to glorify.
The name.
Of God.
In a sense.
When we're going through.
This passage.
And you see what's happening.
And.
They're.
Taking the Ark.
Of the Covenant.
And then.
Eli's sons.
Are carrying it.
And leading it.
And you just start.
Feel like.
Alarm bells.
Are going off.
In your head.
That's what we feel.
But it's interesting.
How the.
Arrival of the Ark.
Made.
Israel.
Feel.
Verse five.
As soon as.
The Ark of the Covenant.
Of the Lord.
Came into the camp.
All Israel.
Gave a mighty shout.
So that the earth.
Resounded.
They made a great noise.
You know.
It must have been some moment.
Even just to see this Ark.
Out.
Of the tabernacle tent.
I believe it would have been covered.
Well.
It should have been covered.
Maybe they didn't cover it.
But even just to see it in the daylight.
Would have been quite something.
It's on the move.
And the only reason it's on the move.
Is because.
Well.
Really some men thought it would be a good idea.
It would appear that they felt so confident.
That this Ark had come.
And it symbolized.
The presence.
Of God.
How could they be defeated?
Now God is with us.
Well.
Certainly God was there.
Maybe.
The with.
Them.
Is questionable.
Regardless of how they feel.
And how we feel.
Has a massive impact on our lives.
There's no greater blessing.
And feeling.
To know God directly working.
And his presence.
With us.
But in a sense.
It's true that.
We can work up these feelings.
We can have our ideas.
We can have our plans.
We can get excited about them.
And our feelings can be uplifted.
With these things.
That we.
These ideas.
That we create.
We can feel sure about it.
We can make a lot of noise about it.
But if it's not God's will.
Then.
It can be a lot of energy.
A lot of time.
A lot of resources.
With no gain.
And it may.
It may even be contrary.
To God's word.
Again.
We're back to God's word.
And knowledge of God.
But on the other side.
Of building ourselves up.
We can also.
Take ourselves down.
In our feelings.
We can feel discouraged.
At times.
We can feel like.
We are not the people.
We want to be.
We can convince ourselves.
We're not the people.
We should be.
We can in effect.
Be like the people.
That were left in Shiloh.
You know.
The people came.
And took the ark.
Away from them.
And the people.
Have the presence of God.
Taken from them.
And we can feel like that.
Like the presence of God.
Like we knew.
Before.
Has been taken.
From us.
And maybe.
It can be.
The people of the day.
That do it.
They can take it from us.
We can feel like.
The feeling of the day.
Has robbed us.
Of our joy.
In the Lord.
And maybe we feel like.
We aren't the people.
To make a noise.
That God.
Has been mistreated.
God.
The word of God.
Has been mishandled.
What is happening.
Is not right.
You know.
We have no record.
Of Eli.
Or anyone else.
Questioning.
That they were taking.
The ark.
Of God.
Out of.
His dwelling place.
The tabernacle.
You see.
We must be careful.
With our feelings.
And especially.
The feeling.
Of the day.
These feelings.
Can sway us.
So easily.
And so far.
To each extremity.
They can draw us.
From the word of God.
Either in confidence.
Blind confidence.
Or blind despair.
In a sense.
We must.
Come back.
To the word of God.
Come back.
To that word.
That is.
Our stability.
Our steadfastness.
In our lives.
To be a warning.
To us.
When.
When we are being led.
By our feelings.
More.
Than by God's word.
To be a warning.
To us.
When our feelings.
Are leading us.
Feelings are leading us.
More than God's word.
But after.
The fight.
What happens.
To their feelings.
They were so confident.
Before.
It has turned on its head.
So.
You know.
I can't imagine.
How despair.
They felt.
The foolishness.
They would have felt.
The ark of God.
Has fallen.
Into the hands.
Of the enemy.
This has never.
Happened before.
They've lost.
The presence.
Of God.
This should have.
Filled him with fear.
And you know.
There seems.
There's a key verse.
To what's going on here.
Which we.
Probably.
You've read it.
Without realizing it.
Verse one.
And the word of Samuel.
Came to all Israel.
The first thing.
We hear.
Is that the word.
That God.
Spoke.
Through Samuel.
Came to all.
Israel.
The prophecy.
Against Eli.
And his household.
The judgment.
It was disregarded.
Everyone.
Knew it.
Came to all.
Israel.
Everyone.
Knew the word of God.
And no one.
Cared for it.
The word of God.
Didn't tingle their ears.
They were quite happy.
To blanket out.
And go on with their own plans.
So God.
Employed.
Another way.
To tingle.
Their ears.
Church.
He gives them.
A hard lesson.
In order that they would listen.
And it's important to remember.
That those people.
They didn't forget God.
They didn't forget his power.
But they didn't honor God.
In their lives.
They didn't come to God.
In their hearts.
The word of God.
Wasn't taken seriously.
And it's often the case.
That God will drop.
Some kind of bombshell.
In order that we will listen to him.
So very briefly.
Let us look.
At the bombshell.
That comes here.
The man.
Called Benjamin.
Comes to the news.
As Eli.
Was sitting in his seat.
By the road.
Watching.
You know.
Have you ever done something.
And you thought.
Boy.
I shouldn't have done that.
And it's so bad.
That you're thinking.
And it's keeping you.
Awake.
And you're realizing.
This is not good.
I shouldn't have done that.
I've made a mistake.
And you can't sleep.
And you can't relax.
Until you.
Know the outcome.
Of the situation.
You know.
I see Eli like this.
I see Eli like this man.
Who sat there.
And maybe he's.
Pondering over.
The ark of God.
Being taken.
And maybe he didn't do anything.
To stop it.
And.
The words of Samuel.
His prophecy.
Are coming.
Back to him.
And the more he thinks of it.
The worst.
Gates in his head.
And he sat there.
Watching.
Which is a.
Funny thing to say.
About a blind man.
To seem as if every fibre.
Of his being.
Was consumed.
In watching.
For this.
News.
And what was it?
Israel is defeated.
Your sons are dead.
The ark of God.
Has been captured.
You'll notice.
There's a huge loss.
Of life here.
30,000 soldiers.
Have been killed.
Verse 10.
The sons of Eli.
Had been killed.
Verse 17.
Eli himself.
Fell over.
and died, verse 18, and the daughter-in-law died when giving birth, verse 20. If there was ever a
time that ears would tingle, surely this was it, this tragedy. God's word came to be.
God has graciously revealed his intent to the people of punishing Eli's household, but they
didn't. No one regarded it. They didn't take heed of it, and it was not just the departure
of life that they had to deal with, it was Ichabod, the departure of glory, the departure
of the glory of God. I don't know what you think about that, or what would it look like
for you, the departure of the glory of God? And the more you think about it, the more terrifying
it gets. You think, well, where is the glory of God? Well, within his people, within his
word. You go, well, within actually a life, because we are created in the resemblance of
God. And you go through all these things, and well, we have new life here, coming in
in the final passage of this new baby. And well, there's no joy. There's no joy here, because
God's glory has gone. And maybe it would be more provoking for us to ask, well, where does
the glory of God stop? Well, there is a place where the glory of God stops. And it's a place
called hell. And that is truly a place where the first catechism is turned on its head, because
there will be no glorifying God and no enjoyment of him. Man will have no meaning. It'll be empty.
It'll be hopeless. So in conclusion, what lessons do we have to learn from this battle and this
bombshell? Well, first thing surely it is that we take heed of the word of God. Listen to God
when it comes to our ears, and we give our mind to it. It's worthy of our consideration. We must not be
like those of the day that had no regard of it, though they knew it. And that's the thing. We know
the word of God, most of us here. But where do we place it in our lives? How do we regard the word of
God? Do we disregard the word of God? We come to church, but what do we do with it after church?
How do we treat God himself? Is there a reverence for God in our hearts? Does God dwell within us? Do we
know God? Do we desire to know God? To keep us on the right path? Do we desire to know him above our
ideals? Do we desire to know our desires? Considering of all that we do and all that we act before God,
would be pleasing to him. We will all find failures within ourselves if we look close enough. Life is
this battleground for each of us. We've all got this different battle. And ultimately, a battle with the
oppressor of the devil. And I'm not saying that we will never have battles. We will never face tragedies.
But there is some sort of self-infliction here. And the chastisement of God being self-inflicted
by turning against him. We can't ignore that. The Christian has confidence that God will be their
deliverer through these times. He will keep him in the wilderness journey as we thought of this morning
and when times are good, when times are bad. But we would need to have that heart like David
to come to God with the same sort of hearts.
We come with that heart of thankfulness and grace for whose grace and his mercy towards us.
His long-suffering with us in our transgressions. He lets us go on in our lives when we
sinned and maybe we were greatly ignoring him and greatly disregarding him in our younger days.
But he let us go on. He's long-suffering with our transgressions.
But there's another thing, a lesson. The people of the Israel, the people of the church,
must be the same. The people that are God's people must be the same.
They must hold the word of God so tightly and embrace it. We must understand the word of God.
The word of God is our guide. But we would be people that see God worthy of honour.
Worthy to be glorified.
So if we lack in that knowledge, we'll misunderstand God.
We'll mistreat God. We'll start taking a diversion away from the right path.
Nope. And we'll be like Israel. We'll put God in our own box and we'll take him
to fulfil the ideas of our day and the feeling of our day.
We'll put him in where we want him to go.
Sadly, we have seen churches do this today that put the feelings of the day higher than the word of God.
And can we expect any good to come from it, really?
There is a lesson before us that God calls us to listen.
That's what he's saying to us.
Listen to the word of God.
Not disregard it.
It's hard to listen to every word of God because there is plenty in it that we do not like.
There's plenty in it that speak of and speak right to our hearts and condemn our hearts.
And there are unfavourable prophecies that we like to ignore in a sense because, well,
what else are we going to do with it?
The fact is we don't like death.
We don't like that unfavourable word or thoughts.
We don't like that God will condemn us for our behaviour.
But we must remember Ichabod, the departure of God's glory.
If we go on ignoring God's word, being complacent with God, mistreating God,
not reacting to the duties that he requires of us, a sinner,
we'll see Ichabod.
We'll see the departure of the glory of God.
We'll see hell if we walk in a way contrary to the word of God.
You know, you can blank it out all you want.
You can be ignorant of it.
But there will be a day where I leave the man that does these things in a feeling of utter foolishness.
I knew.
I knew the word of God.
But what did I do with it?
I didn't regard it.
I mistreated it.
I used God in a way that I shouldn't have.
Does the word of God tingle your ears?
Have you ever felt the voice of God speak to you?
Condemning you of your sins?
Have you ever felt the words of the Bible make an overwhelming compulsion on you?
Did you listen?
God's word for our eternity should tingle our ears before the bombshell comes.
He has set it before you tonight and this evening.
And there is the undeniable truth of Ichabod.
But also within its pages is the escape from what we deserve.
The escape provided in the Son, Christ Jesus.
A saviour that will bring us and save us from that departure of his glory and bring us into that glory.
Into that glory that we do not deserve a sinner and receive a glorious eternity.
Glorifying God for all eternity.
Where our joys will be restored and we will know joys in a way that's far beyond what we know of in this world.
And in full measure we'll understand what is the chief end of man.
To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
So what we have in the battle and the bombshell.
Really it's a lesson to us to listen to the word of God.
May these thoughts be blessed to us tonight.
We'll conclude in praise in a short prayer.
And we'll sing to God's praise in Psalm 85 of the Scottish Psalter.
And we'll find that on page 340.
Psalm 85 of the Scottish Psalter.
We'll find it on page 340.
Verses 8 to 13.
The last four stanzas there.
I'll hear what God the Lord will speak.
To his folk he'll speak peace.
And to his saints.
But let them not return to foolishness.
We'll stand together and we'll sing these words to God's praise.
I'll hear what God the Lord will speak.
To his folk he'll speak peace.
And to his saints.
But let them not return to foolishness.
To them the fear is surely near.
This is salvation.
That glory in our land may have a reputation.
Good bread with mercy, righteousness,
And peace is mutually.
Lord his roads coming in the night or dead.
And there is no may not end to this Is还有 or till his dominion.
Let them also rise in tomorrow.
To my country in the night.
And our取得 networks.
Let them not return to foolishness.
And communists will speak peace.
Thank you.
All hail and a chiefly...
And open up earth to sin.
For love and a family.
Shabbat Shalom
Father in heaven, may we hear what you say to us tonight. And Lord, we pray that your word would be a word of peace to our souls. Lord, we pray that we would know who you are and understand the fullness as much as we can of your being. Lord, if that word be a word of conviction that is needed, let it be so.
But Lord, we pray that your spirit would apply your word in a way that would be for your glory and the ability of your kingdom. So Lord, we pray. Speak to us even as we part this night. Be your meditation in the night hours.
And Lord, if it be even your will that you would awaken us from our sleeps and speak to us.
Lord, may we know who you are. May we treat you with utmost reverence and see you as a holy one above all kings of kingdoms of this world.
You are the God of our salvation. And our God that has provided salvation in Jesus Christ. And so we ask all these things in his name. Amen.
Amen.