Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1:27-30 ESV)
Arlington Memorial Amphitheater
I Samuel 3
The Disconnect
›Since we have a story that takes place inside the Tabernacle, let’s refresh our memory on some of the intricacies of the building.
›In Exodus 35:1- 40:38 the final instructions for construction of the Tabernacle were given but these weren’t the first instructions on construction in Exodus- those were actually given several chapters before in Exodus 25:10- 31:11.
›Why were 2 separate instructions given? It did not have to do with detail or dimensions because in both accounts the items associated with the Tabernacle are the same sizes.
›The difference is in the order of construction:
›The 1st instructions had the first four items listed as the Ark of the Covenant, Table for bread, Lamp-stand, and the Tabernacle tent itself.
›The 2nd instructions have the Tabernacle tent, Ark of the Covenant, Table for bread, and then the Lamp-stand.
›Since we have a story that takes place inside the Tabernacle, let’s refresh our memory on some of the intricacies of the building.
›In Exodus 35:1- 40:38 the final instructions for construction of the Tabernacle were given but these weren’t the first instructions on construction in Exodus- those were actually given several chapters before in Exodus 25:10- 31:11.
›Why were 2 separate instructions given? It did not have to do with detail or dimensions because in both accounts the items associated with the Tabernacle are the same sizes.
›The difference is in the order of construction:
›The 1st instructions had the first four items listed as the Ark of the Covenant, Table for bread, Lamp-stand, and the Tabernacle tent itself.
›The 2nd instructions have the Tabernacle tent, Ark of the Covenant, Table for bread, and then the Lamp-stand.
The Disconnect Continued
›In the chapters in-between the 2 lists the people worship the golden calf and anger Yahweh who in turn decides to change the construction order.
›In fact, Yahweh had to draft 2 new tablets for the Ten Commandments during that time as well.
›In the 1st list, Yahweh wanted to be close to the people so the Ark of the Covenant was to be built first but after the calf the Tabernacle tent is built first, the very thing that separates the ordinary people from the Lord.
›Moses, the prophet who saw Yahweh- who spoke to him face to face like a man- was the pinnacle of biblical heroes. After him and the conquering of the Holy Land things slid down hill and spiraled into the toilet.
›Sure, there was the general Joshua who led them into the land and proclaimed his love for the Almighty but then came the judges, which is where we find Samuel.
›In the chapters in-between the 2 lists the people worship the golden calf and anger Yahweh who in turn decides to change the construction order.
›In fact, Yahweh had to draft 2 new tablets for the Ten Commandments during that time as well.
›In the 1st list, Yahweh wanted to be close to the people so the Ark of the Covenant was to be built first but after the calf the Tabernacle tent is built first, the very thing that separates the ordinary people from the Lord.
›Moses, the prophet who saw Yahweh- who spoke to him face to face like a man- was the pinnacle of biblical heroes. After him and the conquering of the Holy Land things slid down hill and spiraled into the toilet.
›Sure, there was the general Joshua who led them into the land and proclaimed his love for the Almighty but then came the judges, which is where we find Samuel.
Yahweh Speaks
›In I Samuel 3, the young boy Samuel is sleeping in the Tabernacle- notice they mention how the word of the Lord was rare in those days? A by-product of the lawless Judges period. This was supposed to show how Samuel was destined to be different.
›Samuel is sleeping in the Holy Place, near the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant. The lampstand he was laying near was lit from evening, through the night, ‘til morning.
›We already know that Eli the Priest was dull to the Lord and that his sons were downright sinful so it is not surprising that he does not hear Yahweh.
›How old was Samuel when he was in the Holy Place sleeping? We don’t know. Probably not as young as 6 but still a boy so maybe 11 or 12 years old.
›When it says that Samuel did not yet know the Lord, it means in the sense of giving his whole heart to him. You can preach and minister about Yahweh your entire life without ever giving your heart to him and in the time of the judges and especially with the corrupt Eli as a guide it is no wonder Samuel had not given his life yet.
›When Samuel hears Yahweh, the voice came from another room so Samuel assumes Eli’s but Yahweh calls from his seat- the Ark.
›Samuel runs to help Eli, but is sent back to bed.
›Again, Yahweh calls again from behind the curtain. This teaches us an important lesson about the call on our life- it is repetitive. Yahweh will not just call us once on a whim to do something; he will confirm it.
›After the 3rd time that Samuel runs in to check on Eli, Eli tells him to answer the voice because it is Yahweh calling him. Another truth- when called, you need to answer.
›Finally, this young boy is the messenger that confirms the previous message sent to Eli, that he and his family were doomed.
›Samuel is sleeping in the Holy Place, near the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant. The lampstand he was laying near was lit from evening, through the night, ‘til morning.
›We already know that Eli the Priest was dull to the Lord and that his sons were downright sinful so it is not surprising that he does not hear Yahweh.
›How old was Samuel when he was in the Holy Place sleeping? We don’t know. Probably not as young as 6 but still a boy so maybe 11 or 12 years old.
›When it says that Samuel did not yet know the Lord, it means in the sense of giving his whole heart to him. You can preach and minister about Yahweh your entire life without ever giving your heart to him and in the time of the judges and especially with the corrupt Eli as a guide it is no wonder Samuel had not given his life yet.
›When Samuel hears Yahweh, the voice came from another room so Samuel assumes Eli’s but Yahweh calls from his seat- the Ark.
›Samuel runs to help Eli, but is sent back to bed.
›Again, Yahweh calls again from behind the curtain. This teaches us an important lesson about the call on our life- it is repetitive. Yahweh will not just call us once on a whim to do something; he will confirm it.
›After the 3rd time that Samuel runs in to check on Eli, Eli tells him to answer the voice because it is Yahweh calling him. Another truth- when called, you need to answer.
›Finally, this young boy is the messenger that confirms the previous message sent to Eli, that he and his family were doomed.
I Samuel 4
Losing the Ark
›Israel and the Philistines were battling each other and the Israelis were losing quite badly. We have met the Philistines already and know that they were over-lords of the Israelites during the time of the Judges.
›The Israelite elders decide that the way they can turn around their luck is by bringing the Ark of the Covenant out of the Tabernacle and down into the battle lines.
›The problem is that instead of putting their trust in the Lord they were putting their trust in the object of the Ark of the Covenant. No object is going to win a battle for you- even if it symbolizes the presence of Yahweh.
›The Philistines viewed the Ark of the Covenant much like the unfaithful Israelites of the time- as a “god” of the Israelites that held the power.
›The Ark of the Covenant did not produce the plagues or stop the Egyptian army like the Philistines (and the Israelites for that matter) were saying- it was God Almighty that did these things.
›Since the people were corrupt and didn’t have proper faith then Yahweh would accomplish 2 things on the battlefield that day:
›Israel and the Philistines were battling each other and the Israelis were losing quite badly. We have met the Philistines already and know that they were over-lords of the Israelites during the time of the Judges.
›The Israelite elders decide that the way they can turn around their luck is by bringing the Ark of the Covenant out of the Tabernacle and down into the battle lines.
›The problem is that instead of putting their trust in the Lord they were putting their trust in the object of the Ark of the Covenant. No object is going to win a battle for you- even if it symbolizes the presence of Yahweh.
›The Philistines viewed the Ark of the Covenant much like the unfaithful Israelites of the time- as a “god” of the Israelites that held the power.
›The Ark of the Covenant did not produce the plagues or stop the Egyptian army like the Philistines (and the Israelites for that matter) were saying- it was God Almighty that did these things.
›Since the people were corrupt and didn’t have proper faith then Yahweh would accomplish 2 things on the battlefield that day:
Losing the Ark Continued
1) accomplish the downfall of the family of Eli by killing his sons in battle.
2) Teach the Israelites to put their trust in him, not the objects made by man to symbolize him.
Tearing your clothes and putting dirt on your head symbolized the mourning for the dead or a national calamity.
When Eli hears the news about the lost battle, the death of his sons, and the capture of the Ark he falls from his seat near the gate of the Tabernacle and dies.
Eli’s daughter-in-law after hearing the news goes into labor and dies. The name Ichabod given to her son means “no glory”. The Glory of God departed Israel with the capture of the Ark.
1) accomplish the downfall of the family of Eli by killing his sons in battle.
2) Teach the Israelites to put their trust in him, not the objects made by man to symbolize him.
Tearing your clothes and putting dirt on your head symbolized the mourning for the dead or a national calamity.
When Eli hears the news about the lost battle, the death of his sons, and the capture of the Ark he falls from his seat near the gate of the Tabernacle and dies.
Eli’s daughter-in-law after hearing the news goes into labor and dies. The name Ichabod given to her son means “no glory”. The Glory of God departed Israel with the capture of the Ark.