Book of 1 SamuelНамуна

HONORING GOD’S PRESENCE

The Ark of the Covenant was a gold-covered wooden chest with four rings of gold attached to its four corners. Staves of shittim-wood were overlaid with gold for carrying the Ark. It had a golden lid covered with two golden cherubim, facing each other, and wings covering their faces. Inside, The Ark contained the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod and a pot of manna. The Ark of the Covenant is the symbol of God’s presence.

Nowadays, the presence of God is not revealed in this form. The presence of God is now in the form of the Spirit of God that can inhabit us. God is present in His Spirit and talks to us. This is similar to Samuel, who listened to the voice of God when God called him. 

The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were corrupt and their sins were great before God. They did not honor God’s presence.  Do we honor God's presence in our own heart?

Because of the great sin of Eli’s sons, God allowed the Israelites to be defeated and the Ark to be captured by the Philistines. Eli’s sons did wicked things before God, separating themselves from Him, which allowed Eli’s sons to die in battle and Israel to be defeated.

Let us repent from our proud arrogance before God by not taking the presence of God for granted. Let us worship God with honor and fear.

In the presence of God we find joy and new strength.