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The Bible’s message is fundamentally good news, but there’s no hiding the fact that this passage, from start to finish, is full of shocking bad news. This is one very dark day in the history of God’s people, as the earlier prophecy of judgment given to Eli is now fulfilled (2:27–34).
The first shock is national (vv. 1–11): Israel experiences a shocking defeat at the hands of the Philistines. In desperate straits, they had turned to the power of the ark of God to save them, but God will not be used as a lucky charm. They receive precious little help from the ark as God gives them over to judgment for their sins. The Philistines overwhelm them (v. 10) and they’re utterly humiliated as the ark, the throne of God, is itself captured (v. 11).
The second shock is personal (vv. 12–18): Eli receives a terrible emotional blow as he hears of the death of his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, in battle (vv. 16–17). The tragedy continues as Eli, upon also hearing of the loss of the ark, literally falls over with shock and breaks his neck. The corrupt spiritual leaders of Israel are finally wiped out in judgment.
The last shock has to do with the spiritual legacy of this terrible day (vv. 19–22). The wife of Phinehas sadly dies in child birth. Though her son survives, he becomes the spiritual epitaph for this day: as Phineas’s wife is dying, she names him ‘Ichabod’, meaning ‘no glory’. In other words, God’s powerful glory and presence, symbolised by the ark of God, has now left his people. The judgment is complete.
The bad news in this story is a warning for us. God isn’t fooled by spirituality, church activity or the use of religious rituals. Without true faith and repentance in our lives, we’re walking on thin ice. False religion, whatever its position and influence, is under judgment. Let’s not follow others into that judgment.
REFLECTION
1. Why do we need to hear the shocking bad news in this story?
2. What kind of ‘arks’ might we trust in today to get us out of difficult situations? Where will that lead us?
Scripture
About this Plan
1 Samuel charts the rise and fall of several of Israel’s leaders. You’ll meet the notoriously arrogant king Saul and see the ascent of the man after God’s own heart – David. You’ll read of dangerous battles, murder plots, giants and even more surprises in this book. You’ll see that despite turbulence in leadership, seemingly strong enemies and spiritual decay God is very much at work orchestrating the fall of the proud and the rise of the humble. What an encouragement for us today when we are faced with challenges not too dissimilar to these!
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