After the first three chapters of 1st Samuel focusing on Samuel’s birth and childhood, we’ve now read through more chapters, 4 through 6, with no mention of Samuel. Where is Samuel through all the craziness of the Ark of the Covenant’s capture? The narrative doesn’t tell us, so we can safely guess that during thoseContinue reading “How to rightly submit to God – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 5”
Monthly Archives: April 2024
The mysterious events around the Ark of the Covenant – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 4
Does the Ark of the Covenant have power? In the previous post, we learned that the Israelites thought all they needed to do was bring the Ark out to the battlefield, and God would give them victory over the Philistines. We learned the Israelites were wrong. Instead of the Ark destroying the Philistines, the PhilistinesContinue reading “The mysterious events around the Ark of the Covenant – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 4”
The arrogance of Israel’s super weapon – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 3
After a stinging defeat at the hands of the Philistines, the elders of Israel have a plan to strike back. It’s their secret super weapon. Why they didn’t bring out the weapon in the first place, we don’t know. But now they do, and the super weapon has a profound effect on the Philistines. Let’sContinue reading “The arrogance of Israel’s super weapon – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 3”
How easily we can succumb to folk theology – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 2
Years ago someone told me how they got into a car accident while driving on a snowy road. They hit a slick patch, lost control, the vehicle spun around and they came to a rest against a snow bank on the side of the road. No injury. No damage. No collision. Nothing. They said theyContinue reading “How easily we can succumb to folk theology – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 2”
Is God to blame for the times life goes wrong? – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 1
Did you have a spiritual crisis and turn to God in grief, “Why Lord?” when a container ship hit the Key Bridge in Baltimore, and six people lost their lives? You were likely saddened and even appalled. My guess is that the disaster was like the many, many other disasters that happen so frequently; theyContinue reading “Is God to blame for the times life goes wrong? – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 1”
Can we learn anything from Indiana Jones about the power of the Ark of the Covenant? – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Preview
I suspect most of you have seen one or more of the Indiana Jones films starring Harrison Ford. In the films, Ford plays Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, a professor of archaeology who has numerous adventures wearing his famous fedora and wielding a whip. In the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, “Indy” tries to stopContinue reading “Can we learn anything from Indiana Jones about the power of the Ark of the Covenant? – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Preview”
How God speaks – 1st Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 5
How do we listen to God? There are many ways. We listen through studying God’s word, the Scriptures. God’s word is living and active, and he speaks through the Bible. The Bible is inspired by God, which means that God’s Spirit was at work in the lives of the authors, so that when we readContinue reading “How God speaks – 1st Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 5”
How humility is the foundational posture to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 4
As we saw in the previous post, God speaks directly to Samuel. But why? God does not speak directly to the priests Hophni or Phineas. God does not speak to their father, the priest Eli. In today’s post, we learn how Samuel put himself in a position to hear directly from God. But first, weContinue reading “How humility is the foundational posture to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 4”
Putting yourself in a position to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 3
There was evil in the tabernacle. All the people knew it. God was also taking notice. Read 1 Samuel 2:27-36 here, and then return to the post. Those verses are brutal, right? God sends an unnamed prophet to give a dark, dark message for Eli. He is saying, “Eli, what your sons are doing isContinue reading “Putting yourself in a position to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 3”
The primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 2
What do you think is the primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus? Think about it a moment. There are numerous potential answers. You might even think of biblical passages that might provide some answers. I think the story that we’ve been following this week on the blog, a story found in 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a,Continue reading “The primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 