RESPECT GOD OR SUFFER
INTRODUCTION
A. (1Sam.4:1) Some years after Samson, the Philistines once again gained the upper hand over Israel, capturing some of its western cities & villages & forcing into a state of servitude. These were difficult times for Israel.
B. During this period of time the tabernacle was setup in Shiloh. Shiloh was 30 miles north of Jerusalem, located east of the main road from Jerusalem to Shechem & 9 miles north of Bethel.
C. Eli served as High Priest. And, among the priests were Eli’s 2 sons - Hophni & Phinehas. Though priests, these men were evil. Among their sins were these:
a. they would rob from God’s offering – “the wickedness of Eli’s sons extended even to the sacrificial altars. Only certain portions of an offering were for the priests, and the fat was always to be removed first and offered to God. Eli’s sons were taking any part they wanted, and taking it before the fat was removed” (1Sam.2:14-17)
b. fornicated with the women who served at the gate of the tabernacle (1Sam.2:22)
c. (1Sam.3:13) It appears that Eli tried to be a good priest, but he failed as a father - he had failed in the moral and religious upbringing of his sons. He erred on the side of permissiveness; I although he reprimanded them (Deut.21:18-21), he could not bring himself to discipline them in a way suitable with their gross misbehavior
D. Because of Eli’s sons conduct, along with the idolatry some of the Israelites had returned to, God used the Philistines once again to chastise them severely.
a. Israel defeated, 34,000 soldiers killed (1Sam.4:1-10)
b. Hophni & Phinehas killed (1Sam.4:11b) God fulfilled His promise (1Sam.3:11-14)
c. the Ark of the Covenant captured (1Sam.4:11a)
d. Eli dies at the news of the Ark being captured (1Sam.4:16-18)
e. Phinehas’ wife goes into labor & dies shortly after giving birth (1Sam.4:19-22)
I. THE PHILISTINES LEARN TO RESPECT GOD
A. (1Sam.5:1) The Philistines felt they had achieved a victory unparalleled. After all they defeated Israel when Israel, had what they thought was, the help of their God.
a. the ark had gone with the Israelites in their invasion of the land during Joshua’s day. By this time, they thought of the ark as some sort of graven image that would deliver them, even though they had yet not repented & confessed their sins to God
b. some people mistakenly think that they can insure God’s presence with them through some symbol, e.g. cross, Bible (Nun placing Bible under pillow to keep evil spirits away)
B. (1Sam.5:2) Dagon was the national god of the Philistines. The word Dagon literally either meant fish or grain. Dagon was an ancient Mesopotamian deity, transported early to the west. Dagon is generally represented as having the body or trunk of a fish, with a human head and hands, and as being the symbol of water and all the vivifying natural powers that take effect in warm countries through water.
C. (1Sam.5:3-5) Philistines put the Ark of God in the temple of Dagon, likely as a trophy to symbolize how they thought Dagon had defeated Israel’s God. How surprised the priests of Dagon must have been when they found Dagon lying prostrate, if compelled to worship, on the floor before the Ark of God. Thinking it must have been a freak accident; Dagon is placed back up in his position only to be found the next morning back on the floor again. But this time his head & arms have been severed from his torso & his head & arms are lying on the threshold.
a. significance of the threshold – all people normally tread upon it
b. significance of the severed head & arms – no source of reason & intellectual activity
D. The humiliation of Dagon is only the beginning of the Philistine troubles because God now inflects the people with tumors (1Sam.5:6-12).
a. some uncertainty about the disease God inflicted upon the Philistines
b. the Hebrew word translated “tumors” denotes some type of growths or swelling on the body
c. the association of rats (1Sam.6:4,5) has caused some scholars to be conclude that the disease was the bubonic plague, which is characterized by swelling of the lymph glands
d. other scholars have suggested the Hebrew word should be translated “hemorrhoids” (1Sam.5:9; Psa.78:66)
e. disrespect toward God is a sure way of inviting trouble into your life
E. (1Sam.6:1-12) The Philistines now respect God.
a. sent the Ark back to where it belonged
b. sent trespass offerings seeking forgiveness
c. ill. of Muslin leader converted after debate with gospel preacher
II. ISREAL LEARNS TO RESPECT GOD
A. (1Sam.6:13-15) The return of the Ark of God was a joyous event.
B. Like the Philistines, the men of Beth Shemesh would learn to respect God the hard way (1Sam.6:19-21).
a. 50,070 or 70 residents were killed by the Lord for looking into the Ark (only the tribe of Levi was authorized to care for the holy things)
a. many people today approach God in an irreverent manner by doing authorized things
b. some people act irreverent during worship assemblies
b. the remaining inhabitants of Beth Shemesh want the Ark out of their village so they called the men of Kirgath Jearim (a priestly city) to come & take the Ark away
C. (1Sam.7:1-6) Twenty more years of Philistine domination turn the Israelites’ hearts back to God & lead to their deliverance (1Sam.7:7-17).
a. submission to God leads to victory over Satan (Jas.4:7-10)
b. (Ac.3:19) respecting God’s will brings “times of refreshing”
CONCLUSION
(Eccl.12:13)