1 Sam. 4
The most precious thing in all Israel was the Ark of God which they had kept in the Tabernacle several hundred years. It was a chest of wood covered inside and out with gold. On the golden cover were figures in pure gold having gold wings. But it was not the gold which made this most precious, but because there God showed His glory and spoke to them, and there the blood was sprinkled each year to show the sacrifice for their sins had been made. And also in the Ark were kept the words of God written clown by Moses and Joshua.
This Ark was to be most carefully kept to teach them that God was holy. But many did not think of God’s words, even the men who helped in the Tabernacle were doing evil.
Because of these sins God let a strong enemy come to fight Israel. Then they said if they had the Ark with them in battle they could drive the enemy away. So they sent to Shiloh for the Ark. When it was brought into the camp, they all shouted with joy.
The enemy heard the shouting, and, when they learned the cause, were much afraid, for they knew of the Ark, perhaps, how it had been carried around Jericho and the high walls had fallen. They spoke of how God had taken Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Yet their captains would not honor God, but told the soldiers to fight harder than ever against Israel.
After the Ark had been taken to the battle, Eli, the priest of God, who war very old, sat at the gate of Shiloh to hear what news would come. He was anxious about the Ark for God had not said it should be taken to the battle.
At last a man came running: he had torn his clothes and put earth on his head, which was their way to show great trouble or sorrow. All the people cried when they saw him and heard his sad news. He told Eli that Israel had lost the battle, that his sons and many more. were dead, and that the Ark had been carried away by the enemy.
When Eli heard that the Ark had been taken, he was so grieved, he fell from his seat and died. He had been the judge, as well as the priest of Israel many years. He loved the Lord but had not kept his sons from sin, and when he did speak to them to do right, they would not listen, so this trouble came, as God had told Samuel to warn them.
There was a baby boy born at this time whose mother was so grieved for the Ark, she named the baby Ichabod, which means “the glory is gone.” We do not have a golden Ark, but we know of the Lord Jesus who came to earth to show God’s glory, and we have God’s words in our Bibles. But if we are careless of Him, and want to do our own wrong ways, we too will have sorrow.
We will hear more about the Ark next time.
ML 09/25/1938