The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "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 among us and save us from the power of the 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.
--- 1 Samuel 4:2-4 ESVThis defeat happened toward the end of the age of judges... the time when... everyone did what was right in his own eyes...
The Israelites... for the most part... were following other gods... neglecting the law... and not listening to... or seeking... God...
God's people... were defeated...
Believers... today... can also live defeated lives...
Those who go to church... do devotionals... Bible studies... even have a quiet time each day... can live defeated lives...
Defeat for a Christian might be addiction... uncontrolled anger... jealousy... hypocrisy... a judgmental attitude... a difficult marriage... rebellious children... giving into the same temptation over... and... over... and... over...
Walking with Christ... is not just about intellectual ascent...
It's not religiously attending church... and reading the Bible... or even serving...
Being a Believer means your whole heart... mind + will + emotion... are engaged in obedience to Him... a life lived for Him... and not self...
The Israelites believed the ark... and a couple of priests... would help them defeat the enemy...
They were wrong... thirty thousand men died that day... the priests were killed... and the ark captured...
The Israelites were trusting in a thing that represented God... but not God...
They had not been obedient to His ways... yet they thought the ark would save them...
Are we guilty of the same thing...? Are you trusting more in religious activity... instead of a surrendered... obedient... life...?
Jesus said pretty much the same thing in His sermon on the mount...
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them
will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house, but it did not fall,
because it was founded on the rock.
And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them
will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
Matthew 7:24-27 ESV
Did you see...? Both builders heard His words... perhaps in church... Bible study... or in their own devotional time...
But only those... who do His Word... can stand against the storm... or find themselves still standing at the end of a battle with the enemy...
So... we need to make a check of our hearts... of our lives...
Are we obedient... to His Way...?
Are there competing idols... in your life...?
Do you have a heart divided...?
As long as we are half-hearted... when it comes to our relationship with Him... we live as defeated Believers...
Struggling without joy...
Falling to temptation... over... and... over...
Samuel had wise words... for the Israelites... words we should heed today...
Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart;
for consider how great are the things He has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24 Amp
Consider joining The Journey... discover how to live whole-hearted toward Him...
This week's readings...
Monday 1 Samuel 13:8 - 14:23
Tuesday 1 Samuel 14:24 - 15:35
Wednesday 1 Samuel 16
Thursday 1 Samuel 17
Friday 1 Samuel 18
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