May 27, 2020

BIBLE READING: I Samuel 4
1 Samuel 4:3
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

This is one of the saddest chapters, but one we can still learn from. The children of Israel have strayed from the Lord and many had problems with their leadership. Though God wanted to protect and help them prosper, He had to teach a lesson. The point of the Ark was for the people to commune with God, not as a luck charm. Through this Eli’s sons passed in battle, and Eli died when hearing the news. How sad, though this is a drastic situation, we sometimes may start to stray away from the Lord. It can start when we become comfortable spiritually, and it is easy to fall into a rut. The problem in this passage was the Israelites wanted to use God instead of trusting in God. When we begin to stray, it is easier to lose our faith. That is why it is important to always strengthen our relationship in the Lord. He always has our best interest in heart. I’m comforted in the fact God forgives and cares for me. So, if I do stray, He can offer forgiveness and give me the strength to overcome in difficulty. That is something to praise Him for. Spiritually, we are like a boat, we are either drifting away or drawing closer to Him. How are we drawing closer to Him today?

David Fulp II