Read the Word:
1 Samuel 7:3-15
Meditate on the Word:
Once again, as had happened many times over the previous 400 years, God has allowed one of Israel’s enemies to conquer her. This time, though, the Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant. God was the One who showed the Philistines that the symbol of His presence was not to be trifled with. They sent the ark back to Israel. This was not done by Israel’s strength, but by the will of God.
Now, as before, Israel has a judge to call them to repentance–this time it’s Samuel. We observe a key principle in all this. While the nation was engaged in worshipping idols, they removed themselves from God’s protection. When they turned back to God, God did their fighting for them. The thing with being under God’s protection is that He does our fighting for us. He was the One who threw the Philistines into confusion. Israel had to go and finish the work with God’s help, but the defeat of the enemy is always God’s work not ours. How often do we attempt to defeat an enemy that our God can easily defeat for us if we ask? Why do we keep attempting to do this ourselves? Likely, because we love the idol of self-sufficiency.
Pray the Word:
Ask the Lord to reveal any area of idolatry in your life. Repent of it and allow Him to defeat it.
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