1 Samuel 5:6 Yahveh’s hand was heavy on the inhabitants of Ashdod. He terrified the inhabitants of Ashdod and its territory and afflicted them with tumors. 1 Samuel 5:7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of Israel’s God must not stay here with us, because his hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon.” 1 Samuel 5:8 So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God?” “The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So, they moved the ark of Israel’s God. 1 Samuel 5:9 After they had moved it, Yahveh’s hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors. 1 Samuel 5:10 The people of Gath then sent the ark of God to Ekron, but when it got there, the Ekronites cried out, “They’ve moved the ark of Israel’s God to us to kill us and our people!” 1 Samuel 5:11 The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. Let it return to its place, so it won’t kill us and our people!” You see, the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them. 1 Samuel 5:12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to the sky.
hot potato
What the Philistines initially regarded as a prize became to them something like a hot potato — a burden each city needed to rid itself of immediately. Fear of the God of Israel’s power was increasing even as the reputation of Israel itself was in shambles.
In today’s society, the God of the Bible is once again a hot potato, but for a different reason. In the modern world of multiculturalism, nobody wants to touch a God who demands exclusive loyalty. He is who He has always been. We must acknowledge Him.
1 Samuel 5:1 After the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, 1 Samuel 5:2 took it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue. 1 Samuel 5:3 When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, they noticed Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the ark of Yahveh. So, they took Dagon and returned him to his place. 1 Samuel 5:4 But when they got up early the next morning, they noticed Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground in front of the ark of Yahveh. This time, Dagon’s head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso remained. 1 Samuel 5:5 That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold.
they do not mix
The Philistines were learning that it was not wise to toy with the symbol of the LORD’s presence. They were animistic people, and such displays of power spoke a language they understood. The symbolism was clear. Yahveh’s presence would never be subservient to someone else’s god.
Modern cultures are trying to mix religions and do so under the guise of tolerance. We will have the same amount of luck doing that as the Philistines had combining the ark with the statue of Dagon.
1 Samuel 4:12 That same day, a Benjaminite man ran from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and there was dirt on his head. 1 Samuel 4:13 When he arrived, notice, Eli was there sitting on his chair beside the road watching, because he worried about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out. 1 Samuel 4:14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” The man quickly came and reported to Eli. 1 Samuel 4:15 At that time Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes didn’t move because he couldn’t see. 1 Samuel 4:16 The man said to Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle. I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked. 1 Samuel 4:17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” 1 Samuel 4:18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke, and he died. Eli had judged Israel for forty years. 1 Samuel 4:19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news about the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth because her labor pains came on her. 1 Samuel 4:20 As she was dying, the women caring for her said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay attention. 1 Samuel 4:21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” referring to the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and husband. 1 Samuel 4:22 “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “because the ark of God has been captured.”
lost blessing
The presence of God was a precious thing for Israel, but it departed, along with the glory. The presence of God will not stay where rebellion and wickedness is tolerated — in a nation, or in a church. We should all be warned and take care to follow the God whose presence we enjoy. If we do not, a day such as depicted in this passage awaits us.
1 Samuel 4:1 And Samuel’s words were for all Israel. Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 1 Samuel 4:2 The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield. 1 Samuel 4:3 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did Yahveh defeat us today before the Philistines? We should bring the ark of Yahveh’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it will go with us and save us from our enemies.” 1 Samuel 4:4 So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of Yahveh of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 1 Samuel 4:5 When the ark of the covenant of Yahveh entered the camp, all the Israelites shouted so loudly that the ground shook. 1 Samuel 4:6 The Philistines heard the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of Yahveh had entered the camp, 1 Samuel 4:7 they panicked. “A god has entered their camp!” they said. “Tragedy has come to us, nothing like this has happened before. 1 Samuel 4:8 Tragedy has come to us, who will rescue us from these powerful gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 1 Samuel 4:9 Show some courage and be men, Philistines! Otherwise, you’ll serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!” 1 Samuel 4:10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe — thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. 1 Samuel 4:11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
symbols and reality
This episode in the life of ancient Israel reveals that the Israelites and the Philistines were both inflicted with a mental disorder. Both cultures confused the symbol with the reality behind it. The symbol was the ark of the covenant. It symbolized the presence of Yahveh, the creator of all things. Israel cheered when they brought that symbol into their war camp. No doubt the Philistines also cheered when they captured it. God was grieved by both events. His actual presence was already in both camps. He wants all his creatures to acknowledge his reality, not worship any symbols of it.
Today, there are also symbols of God’s presence among us. A church, a cross, a Christian flag — these are all symbols. They can represent God’s presence, but they must never be allowed to replace it. When that happens, God may just allow those symbols to be taken away.
1 Samuel 3:10 Yahveh came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:11 Yahveh said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that everyone who hears about it will shudder. 1 Samuel 3:12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end. 1 Samuel 3:13 I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God, and he has not stopped them. 1 Samuel 3:14 That is why I have sworn to Eli’s family: The iniquity of Eli’s family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering.” 1 Samuel 3:15 Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of Yahveh’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision, 1 Samuel 3:16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” answered Samuel. 1 Samuel 3:17 “What was the message he gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God do the same to you and worse if you hide anything from me that he told you.” 1 Samuel 3:18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, “He is Yahveh. Let him do what he thinks is good.” 1 Samuel 3:19 Samuel grew, and Yahveh was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied. 1 Samuel 3:20 All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of Yahveh. 1 Samuel 3:21 Yahveh continued to appear in Shiloh because there he revealed himself to Samuel by the word of Yahveh.
the iniquity we know
God did not judge Eli becuse of his sons’ sin alone. He judged Eli because of the iniquity in his family that he knew about, yet did nothing to stop. Our modern culture is surrounded by many blatant sins that in our hearts we know are wrong. We parade these sins as virtues and do absolutely nothing to stop them. We are building judgement upon ourselves by this refusal to condemn what God condemns.
At some point, the other shoe will drop. Those who claim to speak for God will be held liable for the sins they refused to rebuke. As Eli understood, Yahveh is sovereign. He will do what he thinks is good, and his creatures cannot stop him. He will eventually condemn all evil. But he will also condemn those who have turned a blind eye to evil.
1 Samuel 3:1 The boy Samuel served Yahveh in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of Yahveh was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread. 1 Samuel 3:2 One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place. 1 Samuel 3:3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of Yahveh, where the ark of God was located. 1 Samuel 3:4 Then Yahveh called Samuel, and he answered, “Notice me.” 1 Samuel 3:5 He ran to Eli and said, ” Notice me. You called me.” “I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So, he went and lay down. 1 Samuel 3:6 Once again Yahveh called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Notice me. You called me.” “I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Turn back and lie down.” 1 Samuel 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know Yahveh, because the word of Yahveh had not yet been revealed to him. 1 Samuel 3:8 Once again, for the third time, Yahveh called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Notice me. You called me.” Then Eli understood that Yahveh was calling the boy. 1 Samuel 3:9 He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, because your servant is listening.'” So, Samuel went and lay down in his place.
do not disturb
Samuel learned from Eli that God could call, and he must be wiulling to answer that call. So many of us put our spiritual cellphones on “do not disturb” because we cannot be bothered with a vision from God. Like it was in Eli’s day, the word of Yahveh is rare. We have God’s written word, but we often ignore that. Why should God call us?
1 Samuel 2:12 Eli’s sons were worthless sons; they did not respect Yahveh 1 Samuel 2:13 or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s boy would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling 1 Samuel 2:14 and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. 1 Samuel 2:15 Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s boy would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you — only raw.” 1 Samuel 2:16 If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, you will give it right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” 1 Samuel 2:17 So the boys’ sin was very severe in the presence of Yahveh, because the men treated Yahveh’s offering disrespectfully. 1 Samuel 2:18 Samuel served in Yahveh’s presence — this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod. 1 Samuel 2:19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 1 Samuel 2:20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife: “May Yahveh give you children by this woman in place of the one she has given to Yahveh.” Then they would go home. 1 Samuel 2:21 Yahveh paid attention to Hannah’s need, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of Yahveh. 1 Samuel 2:22 Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were lying down with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 1 Samuel 2:23 He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people. 1 Samuel 2:24 No, my sons, the news I hear Yahveh’s people spreading is not good. 1 Samuel 2:25 If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against Yahveh, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since Yahveh intended to kill them. 1 Samuel 2:26 By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with Yahveh and with people. 1 Samuel 2:27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what Yahveh says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace? 1 Samuel 2:28 Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite fire offerings. 1 Samuel 2:29 Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than me, by making yourselves fat with the first of all the offerings of my people Israel.’ 1 Samuel 2:30 “Therefore, this is the declaration of Yahveh, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever. But now,’ this is Yahveh’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced. 1 Samuel 2:31 Notice, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s house, so that none in your family will reach old age. 1 Samuel 2:32 You will see distress in the place of worship, despite all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age. 1 Samuel 2:33 Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief and sadness to your throat. All your descendants will die violently. 1 Samuel 2:34 This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: both will die on the same day. 1 Samuel 2:35 ” ‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and throat. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time. 1 Samuel 2:36 Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.'”
disrespect, disregard
Samuel was learning to respect God, the traditions of the priesthood, and the Israelites he would serve in that office. These were precisely the areas where Eli’s sons showed disrespect. You can tell a lot about a person by observing how he acts toward others. Disregarding the rules is also a sign that something about a person is not right.
The man of God who visited Eli warned him that he could not get away with letting his sons keep living in disrespect. Eli probably felt helpless to change them. He probably spoiled them as children and opened the door to much suffering and shame in his future.
1 Samuel 2:1 Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in Yahveh; my horn is lifted by Yahveh. My mouth boasts over my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation. 1 Samuel 2:2 There is no one holy like Yahveh. There is no one besides you! And there is no boulder like our God. 1 Samuel 2:3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, because Yahveh is a God who knows, and actions are examined by him. 1 Samuel 2:4 The bows of the warriors are broken, but the stumblers are clothed with efficiency. 1 Samuel 2:5 Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more. The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons dries up. 1 Samuel 2:6 Yahveh brings death and gives life; he sends down to Sheol, and he raises up from it. 1 Samuel 2:7 Yahveh brings poverty and gives wealth; he humbles, and he exalts. 1 Samuel 2:8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage mound. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the land are Yahveh’s; he has set the world on them. 1 Samuel 2:9 He guards the steps of his faithful ones, but the wicked are silenced in darkness because a person does not prevail by his own strength. 1 Samuel 2:10 Those who oppose Yahveh will be shattered; he will thunder in the sky against them. Yahveh will judge the ends of the land. He will give power to his king; he will lift the horn of his anointed. 1 Samuel 2:11 Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served Yahveh in the presence of the priest Eli.
real victory
Hannah learned went through the ordeal of barrenness, her desperate prayer for a child, the answer to the prayer, and then her giving Samuel to God to serve at the temple. She had become victorious, not because of what she did, but because of what God did for her. That is the gospel. We experience the real victory when we confess our desperate need to God and trust him to provide the solution.
Real Christianity always trusts God for victory. It doesn’t parade its own works or seek its own power. It says “God be merciful to me — a sinner” and puts its trust in the God of mercy. The song of praise we sing is “My mouth boasts over my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation.”
1 Samuel 1:19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow before Yahveh. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and Yahveh remembered her. 1 Samuel 1:20 After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from Yahveh.” 1 Samuel 1:21 When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice and his vow offering to Yahveh, 1 Samuel 1:22 Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in Yahveh’s presence and to stay there permanently.” 1 Samuel 1:23 Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May Yahveh confirm your word.” So, Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him. 1 Samuel 1:24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a clay jar of wine. Though the boy was still young, she took him to Yahveh’s house at Shiloh. 1 Samuel 1:25 Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. 1 Samuel 1:26 “Please, my lord,” she said, “as surely as your throat lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to Yahveh. 1 Samuel 1:27 I prayed for this boy, and since Yahveh gave me what I asked him for, 1 Samuel 1:28 I now give the boy to Yahveh. For as long as he lives, he is given to Yahveh.” Then he worshiped Yahveh there.
giving Samuel back
I suppose many in this modern day read this story and scratch their heads in confusion. It is hard to grasp why Hannah was so willing to “give up” her son since he meant so much to her in the first place. But she had made a vow to do so. She knew that God had answered her prayer, and given her the joy of that so until he was weaned and ready to serve Yahveh. The shame had been replaced with joy and she could willingly give back the gift.
In a sense, all of us who are believers experience what Hannah did. We knew the fruitlessness of a barren life until we meet Christ and are born again. But our vow to God is to give the life he gave us back to him. We can do so with joy because the life came from him in the first place.
1 Samuel 1:9 Then Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of Yahveh’s temple. 1 Samuel 1:10 Deeply bitter, Hannah prayed to Yahveh and wept with many tears. 1 Samuel 1:11 Making a vow, she pleaded, “Yahveh of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to Yahveh all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.” 1 Samuel 1:12 While she continued praying in Yahveh’s presence, Eli watched her mouth. 1 Samuel 1:13 Hannah was praying silently, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk 1 Samuel 1:14 and said to her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” 1 Samuel 1:15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with hard breath. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my throat before Yahveh. 1 Samuel 1:16 Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.” 1 Samuel 1:17 Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you’ve made of him.” 1 Samuel 1:18 “May your servant find favor in your eyes,” she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent.
misunderstood at the temple
It didn’t seem like things were going to go well with Hannah at the temple. Even the priest misunderstood her praying, assuming that she was drunk. But instead of running away in tears, she stood up for the truth. She left the temple that day with new courage and resolve. She knew she had finally been heard.
May we have the courage to keep praying until we know an answer has come.
Devotions 