1 Samuel

1 Samuel 4: The LORD’s glory is His own

Begin in prayer

Before we stand with Israel on the day the ark was taken, and learn that the LORD's glory is His own, let us pray together. Ask Him to keep us from trusting in things, and to show us Jesus.

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name.

Psalm 96:8

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Your glory belongs to You alone, and help us to honor You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and they lost about four thousand men. The elders brought the ark of the covenant from Shiloh into the camp, thinking it would save them from their enemies. When all Israel shouted, the Philistines feared and said that God had come into the camp, yet they fought again and won. Israel was defeated, thirty thousand men fell, the ark was taken, and Eli’s two sons were killed. When Eli heard the news, he fell from his seat, broke his neck, and died. His daughter-in-law named her son Ichabod, because the glory had departed from Israel.

As you read 1 Samuel 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD’s glory is His own, and He cannot be used as a charm.

Israel lost four thousand men to the Philistines, and the elders asked why the LORD had struck them (verses 2 and 3). The text records no prayer and no turning from sin, only a plan to fetch the ark from Shiloh. The ark was the chest of the LORD's covenant, and He sat enthroned above the cherubim on its lid (verse 4). It showed that the LORD was among His people, but it was never a charm to carry into battle. The Philistines feared, yet Israel lost thirty thousand men, the ark was taken, and Hophni and Phinehas died (verses 5 to 11). Eli fell backward and died when he heard. His daughter-in-law named her newborn son Ichabod, saying the glory had departed (verses 18 to 22). The LORD's glory is His own, and no one can carry it into battle or use it for his own plans.

How does 1 Samuel 4 show us that the LORD’s glory is His own, and that He cannot be used as a charm?

Israel wanted the ark to save them.

The elders thought the ark in the camp would turn the battle (verse 3). Israel shouted so loudly that the earth rang (verse 5). The Philistines were afraid, because they thought gods had come into the camp, yet they fought and won (verses 6 to 10). Victory belonged to the LORD, and a chest carried into camp could not make Him fight.

The LORD judges sin, even in His own house.

Hophni and Phinehas went with the ark, and both died that day (verses 4 and 11). The man of God had told Eli this would be the sign against his house (chapter 2 verse 34). Eli was old and heavy, and he fell from his seat and broke his neck when he heard the news (verse 18). He had judged Israel forty years, and the judgment began at the house of the priests.

The LORD’s glory is found in His Son.

Ichabod's mother said the glory had departed because the ark was gone (verses 21 and 22). But the glory of the LORD was never kept in a chest. The ark was a sign of His presence. In Jesus the glory of God lived among us, full of grace and truth (John 1 verse 14).

Memorise

The glory has departed from Israel; for God’s ark has been taken.

1 Samuel 4:22

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what do I trust to keep me safe besides Jesus?

When the ark came into the camp, Israel shouted, but the glory did not come with it. The wife of Phinehas said, “The glory has departed from Israel.”

No chest, no ritual and no good habit can bring a sinner to God. Our sin deserves His judgment, as Eli's house found. The glory of God came to us in Jesus, and on the cross He bore God's anger against sin for His people. He rose from the grave. He offered Himself once for all, and so He sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10 verse 12).

Do not trust your church habits, your good name or your family. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus alone. He receives every sinner who looks to Him, and God forgives them for His sake.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the ark could not save Israel, because God is not a charm and His glory is His own. Jesus is the glory of God among us, full of grace and truth. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that His glory belongs to Him alone, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

1 Peter 5:10

Father, Your glory is Your own, and no charm can carry it for us. Thank You that Jesus came among us, full of grace and truth. Turn us from our sin, and teach us to trust Him alone. Help us to honor You in everything this week. Amen.