My Walk With Him: “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

Monday, April 20, 2020

“They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

“They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven. 1 Samuel 6:10-12

Day 84 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on God's initial calling of Samuel and growth as a prophet, the Philistines capture of the ark of the Lord, the death of Eli, the return of the ark, the Israelites re-dedication of themselves to the Lord, and their victory over the Philistines.

According to John MacArthur*, "[t]he placing of the ark of God in the temple of Dagon was supposed to be a sign of Dagon’s power and Yahweh’s inferiority, a visual representation that the god of the Philistines was victorious over the God of the Hebrews".

*MacArthur, John F.. The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Location 11224). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

We as believers may claim to love God more than anything else, as we are commanded by God, yet our actions may belie this claim. We may view what the Philistines did to plunder the ark and relegate God to a lesser position as something we would never do or have never done, but as John writes we may be deceiving ourselves (see 1 John 1:8). John Piper also warns us about breaking the third commandment not to take the Lord's name in vain - he warns us that our worship may be "empty, futile, pointless, wasted".

God must come first: primacy of Jesus, priority of Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has saved me and adopted me into Your family, giving me victory over the sting of sin an death. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such a God. I often chase other priorities and not God - please forgive me! I seek to glorify, honor and please You with my life. Help me turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind - and love You MOST and FIRST. Help me love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.