Lesson 3: Idolatry
1 Samuel 4:1b-5
10/7/ 2015
Linsey Smith
Ark Narrative
l.
Ark
a. What it is? Visional sign of the presence of Yahweh.
Exodus 25: 10-22, 37:1-9
b. What it is not: only place God could reside, a talisman (object with magical powers or
good luck charm), to be worshipped.
II.
The Lord will not be manipulated. 4:1b-11
a. Two Battles fought (Score: Philistines 2 vs. Israel 0)
1. “By associating the Lord too closely with the ark, Israel reduces the Lord to the level
of the pagan gods, who can be represented by idols.” (Chisholm, 967)
2. God is not a good-luck charm and can’t be put in a box.
3. Poor spiritual leadership. Verse 4, where is the wise leadership?
“Their defeat at the hands of the Philistines is not a result simply of Yahweh’s absence, but rather their
own spiritual crisis. The second loss and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant mean the defeat can
only be understood as the will of Yahweh. The losses of 4:1b-11 are due to a theological crisis is
Israelite society that goes far beyond a failed military strategy.” (Arnold, 97)
b. Captured Ark= lowest point in Israel’s history since captivity in Egypt.
1. Unlike Israelites, believers in the new covenant have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, a
seal of our salvation. 2 Cor. 1:21 & 22, Eph. 1:13 & 14
Application Questions:
1. What ways do you try to manipulate God into acting on your side, as Israel did?
(regarding: dreams, career, family, friends, influence etc.) What results should you expect?
What should you do instead?
2. Who are the spiritual leaders that influence you? Are you discerning and on- guard
against false teachers (2 Tim 4:3)?
lll.
Divine Judgment 4:12-22
a. Death of Eli
b. Judgment has been decreed. Family line is ended. 3:12-14
c. Birth of Ichabod- doesn’t mark a beginning like other birth narratives, but an end of an
era.
1. Ichabod =“No glory” or “ Where is the glory?”
2. Israel is left to wonder what hope there is for them.
Application Questions:
1. Obedience is the key to experiencing God’s favor (Deut. 28, John 15:1-17) In what areas
is God asking you to be obedient? Are you listening? If not, why are you are not listening?
lV:
The Lord appeared defeated but remained sovereign and invincible. 5:1-12
a. Both Israelites and Philistines are interpreting the world through their own lenses, instead
of through Truth. Both arrive at the wrong conclusion.
a. Yahweh is not defeated. His power transcends the mere tangible reminder of His
presence. Israel’s defeats are punitive, not due to deficiency on the Lord’s part.
b. Yahweh is still the one true God-absolutely superior to any false man made god.
b. Yahweh’s reveals His power to Philistines and His glory is on display.
1. 2 acts of God on the god Dagon.
a. Dagon lost his hand (power) (vs. 4 ) -> Yahweh has a strong hand (vs. 6)
2. “Tumors” understood as swellings led to panic for the Philistines. Perhaps similar
to the plagues in Egypt.
“Philistines are reduced to “deadly panic”, “stricken”, reduced to a “cry”. At the onset, Israel had
cried in its loss (4:13). That is all changed; now the Philistines, who seemed for an instant to prevail,
are defeated. The “cry” of the city of Shiloh (4:13) is displaced by a Philistine cry (5:12).
(Brueggemann, 39)
3. Word “Heavy” in vs. 6 & 11 same root word as the word “glory” in 4:21-22.
God has indeed gotten glory over the Philistines, over Dagon and over Israel.
Application Question:
1. Where do you trust in your circumstances instead of God? Where have you given up on
God because your circumstances look bleat? How can you cling to the Truth, God’s Word,
so you can trust God in spite of you circumstances?
Study Skill:
Guidelines to keep in mind when applying Old Testament narratives:
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Remember the biblical characters are not necessarily good examples for us, often
they are bad examples.
People are sinners, even esteem leaders, like David. We should not try to copy
everything they do. We need to let the rest of scripture guide us in drawing lessons
for application.
We are not always told whether what happens is good or bad. We are to decide
that on the basis of what God has said directly elsewhere in scripture.
God is speaking to and dealing with a particular person. We should not assume we
are to do everything He tells them to do. Instead of looking for tactics to copy, we
need to focus on God’s character, His aims, and His varied methods of working.
When God’s Word illustrates a principle that the New Testament upholds then we
can apply the principle to genuinely comparable situations in our lives. Can’t do this
without Holy Spirit guidance, prayer, and community of believers to help guard
against error.
(LifeChange Series, 1 Samuel study)
References:
Arnold, Bill T. The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Samuel. Grand Rapids: Zondervon, 2003.
Brueggemann, Walter. First and Second Samuel. Loisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2990.
Chisholm, Robert Jr. Teach the Text: 1 &2 Samuel. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2013
1 Samuel Life Change Series. Nav Press, 1989.