The Glory Of God Has Departed 1 Samuel 4:1-22 Message by Michael J. Barnard May 6, 2018 Teaching Aim: To examine the circumstances surrounding the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas. To understand sinful choices can lead to devastating consequences. To recognize the capture of the ark by the Philistines was of far greater concern to the Israelites than the deaths of High Priest Eli and his sons Hophni and Phinehas. To realize the disappearance of God s glory and the loss of His blessing should be a concern to any country! DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: A military loss to the Philistines and a poor choice by the elders (1 Sam. 4:1-4) 1. In 1 Samuel chapter 3, the boy Samuel was called to be Israel s future prophet, priest and judge. As we enter chapter 4, several years have gone by and young Samuel is well known among the Israelites as both prophet and priest. The righteousness of Samuel found in chapter 3 is now contrasted in chapter 4 with the evil of Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. What can we learn about the character of Hophni and Phinehas from 1 Sam. 2:12-17? What is the essence of the prophecy from an unnamed prophet in 1 Sam. 2:30-34? 2. What conflict was about to take place as we enter this chapter (vs. 1)? What major Israeli city is located just 8 miles from the ruins of Aphek today? Note: Aphek was located at the most northern point in Philistine territory and was located approximately 2 miles from Ebenezer. Ebenezer was located in the hill country of Ephraim. What is the meaning of the word, Ebenezer? (See Commentaries) 3. What happened as Israel went to war against their archenemies the Philistines (vs. 3)? How many Israelites were killed on the battlefield that day? Who did the Hebrew leaders accuse of ultimately causing their loss? Was God in His sovereignty responsible? Why or why not? 1
4. What rash decision do we find the elders of Israel making in verse 3b? Did they consult God on this decision either through Samuel the prophet or by using the priestly Urim and Thummim? (Hint: Google it!) Why is it important for us to consult God before making any major decisions in our lives? 5. What did the elders decide was needed to ensure victory? Did they choose a holy object (the ark) or did they repent and seek the will of God (vs. 3b)? Did they look to the sacred object to save them or did they look to the Living God? Do people still treat sacred objects like lucky charms today? If so, what are some objects? 6. How significant was the ark of the covenant to Israel? (See Heb. 9:3-5) The Bible uses 3 different names for the ark: 1. The ark of the covenant; 2. The ark of the testimony; and 3. The ark of God. Which name is used in verse 3? What did the people of Israel do in verse 4? Who took the ark from the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle? Did they ask permission from God first? How was this yet another violation of the Law of God? (See Lev. 16) Part II: Israel takes the ark to the battlesite without permission (1 Sam. 4:5-11) 1. The Israelites were excited at the appearance of the ark of the covenant in the camp. How did they respond (vs. 5)? How did the celebration of the Israelites some 2 miles away affect the Philistine camp (vv. 6-9)? Do you think this caused the Philistines to fight even harder (vs. 10)? How many Israelite foot soldiers were lost in the battle this time? 2. Doing things their own way was very costly to the Israelites and it can be costly to us today. Why should we always seek the will of God first? According to verse 11, what was the worst part of the Israel s loss to the Philistines? What made this so bad? How does verse 11 relate to 1 Sam. 2:34? 2
Part III: The Israelite s sinful choice and the unexpected consequences (1 Sam. 4:12-22) 1. Who notified the people of Shiloh of the deadly encounter 22 miles away (vs. 12)? What was his appearance like as he entered Shiloh? Was there any symbolism to the man s appearance? (See Commentaries) 2. Where was Eli the High Priest sitting as the man ran into the city (vs. 13)? Why do you think Eli was waiting there? Could Eli see the man as he approached? (See 1 Sam. 4:15) What caught Eli s attention first (vs. 14)? Who responded when he requested to know what was happening? 3. What 2 facts can we learn about Eli from verse 15? What do you think caused Eli to be so heavy in a day and age when people tended to be thin? (See 1 Sam. 2:12-17) Why do you think gluttony is an acceptable sin today among many Christians? Should it be? 4. What horrific news is relayed to Eli in verses 16 & 17? What part of this news did Eli expect? What part did he not expect? 5. What happened to Eli physically when he heard that the ark had been captured (vs. 18)? Do you think Eli had a stroke, a heart attack, or did he simply pass out? What happened when he fell? 6. Through the death of Hophni and Phinehas, God began the process of restoring the correct High Priestly line. In order of their birth, the 4 sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. What happened to Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10:1-7? Why? Who were the 2 remaining sons? Eli and his sons were in the line of Ithamar; which line should have been the High Priestly line? NOTE: Later on, King David appointed Zadok to be the High Priest; Zadok was a descendant of Aaron s son Eleazar. It is important to note here that God Himself corrected the problem. 3
7. Who was pregnant and expecting a child when the news came from the battlefield (vs. 19)? What happened when this woman heard that the ark of God had been captured, and that her father-in-law Eli and her husband Phinehas were dead? 8. According to verse 20, what happened during the childbirth? Did the wife of Phinehas respond when the midwife told her that she had given birth to a son? Why? 9. Since the wife of Phinehas died in childbirth, who must have named the little boy Ichabod (vs. 21)? What is the meaning of the name Ichabod? (See Commentaries) In what way had the glory departed from Israel? 10. According to verse 22, what was the reasoning for the midwife s statement, The glory has departed from Israel? If asked to define the glory of God, what would you say? 11. Question #1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith Shorter Catechism asks the question, What is the chief end of man? The Answer is, Man s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. How does the answer to this question relate to us today? 12. Name several ways that you can glorify God as a follower of Jesus Christ. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 4
MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! It is important for us to consult God and seek His will before making major decisions in our lives! We shouldn t expect God to bless us when we are living in sin! We are not saved by owning relics or wearing objects like crosses; we are saved by having a right relationship with the Living God and putting our trust in Him! Rather than repenting and seeking God s will, the Hebrew elders took matters into their own hands; this cost the lives of 30,000 additional Israelite soldiers, now totaling 34,000! The people had trusted in the object of the ark and not in the Living God; this angered God, as a result He allowed it to be captured by the Philistines! Although the son of Phinehas was named Ichabod ( the glory has departed ), God was about to demonstrate His glory in a way that nobody expected! 5