1 Samuel 4:1-11: a reflection

1The word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. When they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. 3When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let’s get the ark of the LORD’s covenant out of Shiloh and bring it to us, that it may come among us and save us out of the hand of our enemies.” 4So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Armies, who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5When the ark of the LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded. 6When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” They understood that the LORD’s ark had come into the camp. 7The Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” They said, “Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing before. 8Woe to us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9Be strong and behave like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like men, and fight!” 10The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter; for thirty thousand footmen of Israel fell. 11God’s ark was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

After Israel is defeated by the Philistines, the elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant into the camp, expecting that its presence will save them. Let's bring the ark, they say, that it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. But notice what they did not do: they did not turn back to God himself in repentance; they treated the ark as a kind of charm, a means to secure victory, without any turning of their hearts to the God whose ark it was. And it did not save them; they were defeated worse than before, and the ark itself was captured.

Notice the mistake Israel made: they treated the ark as a charm to control God's power, rather than truly turning to God. They wanted the benefit of God's presence, the victory, without turning their hearts to God in repentance and obedience; they sought to use the ark to secure what they wanted, as though God's power could be summoned like a charm. But God is not a charm to be manipulated for our ends; and their attempt to use the ark, without any real turning to God, failed. They sought God's help without seeking God himself, and it did not avail.

That mistake is worth taking to heart, for we too can seek to use God for our ends without truly turning to him. We can want the benefits of God, his help, his blessing, his protection, and seek them as though we could summon them by the right religious act, while our hearts remain unturned to God himself; but God is not a charm to be manipulated. Do not treat God as a means to your ends, seeking his help or blessing through religious acts while your heart remains unturned to him; that is to treat him as a charm, as Israel treated the ark, and it does not avail. Seek God himself, turning your heart to him in genuine repentance and trust, rather than trying to use him to secure what you want; for God will not be manipulated like a charm, as Israel found when they brought the ark into battle without turning to the God whose ark it was, and were defeated.

Lord, after Israel is defeated by the Philistines, the elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant into the camp, expecting that its presence will save them. Let's bring the ark, they say, that it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. But notice what they did not do: they did not turn back to you in repentance; they treated the ark as a kind of charm, a means to secure victory, without any turning of their hearts to you whose ark it was. And it did not save them; they were defeated worse than before, and the ark itself was captured. Show me the mistake Israel made: they treated the ark as a charm to control your power, rather than truly turning to you. They wanted the benefit of your presence, the victory, without turning their hearts to you in repentance and obedience. But you are not a charm to be manipulated for our ends; and their attempt failed. They sought your help without seeking you, and it did not avail. Take that to my heart, for I too can seek to use you for my ends without truly turning to you. I can want the benefits of you, your help, your blessing, your protection, and seek them as though I could summon them by the right religious act, while my heart remains unturned to you. Keep me from treating you as a means to my ends, seeking your help or blessing through religious acts while my heart remains unturned to you; that is to treat you as a charm, as Israel treated the ark. Help me seek you yourself, Lord, turning my heart to you in genuine repentance and trust, rather than trying to use you to secure what I want.