WHEN GOD WAS CAPTURED
1 Sam. 4:1-11; 5:1-11
INTRODUCTION
A. THE SICK GOD
1. In SW Asia in the early 1800’s there was a country where once a year, the priests took their idol out of their temple – which they considered a god – and paraded the deity around the city and then took it back to its pedestal in the temple.
2. One year, it had been cold, and then a moist warm front came through. The priests hoisted their deity and started parading it through the city. It was a hot, humid day. Water condensed on the golden idol and it began to look like it was sweating. The king was told of it.
3. He asked the court physician to look at the god and make sure it was okay. He said he thought it was fine. But the worried king asked for a 2nd opinion – a second doctor.
4. This second doctor cleverly said that the deity was very sick and if something wasn’t done it would die. The king was horrified; “Do whatever you think necessary!”
5. So the second doctor sent 10 runners up a nearby mountain, which, near its peak, still had snow. They packed snow in boxes and ran back down to the temple. The doctor packed the god in snow and watched over it for a full week, while the whole city waited in terrified suspense.
6. At last he came out and said that the deity was cured and would be fine. The king lavished the doctor with gifts and all the population expressed their eternal gratitude for him saving their god from death!
7. God mocks idols in Isa. 45:20, “Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.”
8. POINT: If we don’t study the Bible, we will begin thinking that God is like us! That’s what the Israelites did. Read with me...
B. TEXT
4:1 Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines...2 Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about 4,000 of them. 3...The elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the Ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the Ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the Ark...came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines... learned that the Ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said....8 “Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods...who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues. 9 Be men and fight!” 10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated...Israel lost 30,000 foot soldiers. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. 5:1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they...2 carried the Ark into Dagon’s temple 3...The next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the Ark of the Lord! They...put [Dagon] back in his place. 4 But the following morning...there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold... 6 The Lord’s hand...brought devastation on [the people of Ashdod] and afflicted them with tumors. 7 They said, “The Ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” 8 “Have the Ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.”...9 But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic...10 So they sent the Ark of God to Ekron. As the Ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the Ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” 11 “Send the Ark of the god of Israel...to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.”
C. THESIS
1. THE ARK was a wooden box overlaid with gold which had two golden angels on its lid. It was between these two cherubim that God’s presence would appear as a light or cloud. The Ark was the only place on Earth where God normally manifested His presence.
2. That’s why, when the Israelites lost the Ark, they thought they had lost God. Israel treated the Ark as though it was a charm or talisman.
3. I want to talk about how God's presence is sacred, brings judgment, and requires decision. The title of this message is “WHEN GOD WAS CAPTURED.”
I. THE PRESENCE OF GOD WON’T HELP YOU UNLESS YOU’RE TRULY SERVING GOD
A. A NATION AWAY FROM GOD
1. The reason the Israelites were oppressed for 40 years was because they’d gotten away from God. God had said, “If my people would only listen to Me, if Israel would only follow My ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” Ps. 81:13-14. This promise is for us too!
2. Many think that if they do some religious things, that God will be “with them” or show them favor. But God doesn’t look upon the outward appearance – the Lord looks upon the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). The Israelites had a form of religion, but it lacked the power because it was based on the superficial, the physical, the visible & the outward.
3. Half-hearted dedication means nothing to God. He wants ALL of your love or NONE of it. You shall “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” Mk. 12:30, Deut. 6:4-5.
4. The Israelites went into battle with the Ark and yet were defeated. What they needed wasn’t a box representing God; what they needed was to repent of their sins, humble themselves before God, and reorder their priorities.
5. You see, if God blesses us when we’re on the wrong track, we’ll never know we need to change. God loved Israel & wanted the best for them. But God loves us so He will disciplined us so we’ll turn the correct way and begin to please Him.
B. A CORRUPTED PRIESTHOOD
1. Additionally, the two priests accompanying the Ark were wicked men. Hophni and Phinehas regularly stole offerings to the Lord and used their positions to pressure women into immoral situations.
2. The Israeli leaders knew about it but accepted their sham religion. They should have torn their clothes and poured dust on their heads. Instead, they raised up a great shout of celebration and expected God’s blessing without repentance.
C. HONORING THE PRESENCE OF GOD
1. If the President of the United States were in our congregation this morning there would be a protocol in his “PRESENCE”. There would be many Secret Service personnel present in the church because of the President being here. In his presence, certain things COULD be done & certain things COULD NOT be done.
2. A lot of people call themselves Christians, but they don’t have God’s presence with them. It’s God’s presence which sets us apart from all other people (Ex. 33:15-16). David said, “In His presence is fulness of joy...pleasures forevermore” Ps. 16:11.
3. It’s wonderful to feel the Creator’s presence! He gives us understanding and protects us, and gives us the power to live above sin!
II. GOD’S PRESENCE WILL BRING BLESSING (if obedient) OR CURSING (if disobedient)
A. A BLESSING IF OBEDIENT
1. David desired to have God’s presence with him at all times. When David was trying to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, a priest, Uzzah, touched the Ark and died. David was then afraid to bring the Ark to his capitol. He temporarily put the Ark at Obed-Edom’s house.
2. Obed-Edom was a godly man so God blessed everything he did & had (2 Sam. 6:11). In other words, under the right conditions, God’s presence with you brings great blessing! David saw this and wanted the blessings associated with God’s presence. This same kind of blessing fell on others who walked with God (Abraham, Noah, Jacob & Joseph).
3. In Deut. 28, God promised to bless those who are obedient in every aspect of their lives. It’s an awesome & wonderful to KNOW the Lord (Jer. 31:34) and to walk with Him.
B. CURSES IF DISOBEDIENT
1. But the same Ark that brings blessings on the obedient, will also bring judgment/ curses on those who are disobedient.
2. EXAMPLE OF THE PHILISTINES
a. God overthrew their god Dagon and broke him into pieces.
b. God brought sickness and death to every city the Ark (Presence) was taken into.
c. God’s judging presence had a good effect on the Philistines: it brought them to repentance, fear of the Lord, and taught them that Jehovah was not just another idol, but was the Creator who made the universe and still worked in it. They probably had a better understanding of God than the Israelites, in their twilight.
C. CAN YOU “CAPTURE” GOD?
1. At first the Philistines imaged they had “captured” the Hebrew’s God! To “capture” means to “gain control over; to take someone as your prisoner.”
2. There are some people today – especially atheists and evolutionists who think they’ve captured God and hold Him hostage! How foolish. One third of the angels of God tried it and found they couldn’t put one finger on the Almighty. How much less can creatures of flesh and blood -- who live by breathing air 15X a minute and ingest plant and animal life -- touch God?
3. The Philistines quickly found out they’d gotten a “tiger by the tail.” The presence of God connected to the Ark brought swift judgment on all who insulted the sacred things of God.
III. KEEPING THE PRESENCE REQUIRES DECISION
A. 100% COMMITMENT NECESSARY
1. Joshua told Israel that you can’t HALF-WAY or PARTIALLY serve the Lord. God only deserves our best and that’s all He will except. Ignoring God will not long be permitted.
2. Joshua said, “Since the Lord is a holy God, you can’t possibly serve Him. He’s a God who does not tolerate rivals. He won’t forgive your rebellious acts and sins. If you abandon the Lord and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you. He will destroy you, although He has been so good to you.” The people answered Joshua, “No! We will only serve the Lord!” Josh. 24:19-21 GW.
3. Joshua was saying, “You can’t partially or half-way serve the Living God. If you try that, He may destroy you! He will certainly discipline you!” Partial service must be judged as unacceptable.
4. 20 years later the Israelites turned back to the Lord. Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals [idols]...and served the Lord only.” 1 Sam. 7:3-4.
B. REPENTANCE BRINGS REFRESHING
1. Peter said, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:19-20.
2. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REPENT? To review one's actions &
a. feel REGRET for past wrongs (godly sorrow);
b. to commitment to PERSONAL CHANGE. We can’t add Christ to our lives without subtracting sin.
c. To CONFESS to God, admit your guilt.
d. To make RESTITUTION where possible.
3. God promised when we repent, God will send a “REFRESHING from the presence of the Lord!” To refresh is to ‘restart’ or “update.” It means to give new strength or energy to; reinvigorate; revitalize, revive, restore, enliven, perk up, stimulate, or reanimate.
4. Are YOU thirsty for a refilling of the Spirit? Do you want a refreshing from God?
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: THE DUMPSTER CONVERSION
1. In Prague, in the Czech Republic, there was an alcoholic woman who was living on the streets. It happened to be very cold at that time – so cold that she felt she was freezing to death. So to partially escape the cold, she climbed into a dumpster and huddled in the garbage for warmth, and fell asleep.
2. In the morning the sun shone through a crack in the lid and illuminated the pages of a book, “The Cross & the Switchblade” about David Wilkerson winning a group of gang members of New York City to the Lord. What she read was a hand-written translation in the Czech language.
3. She spent the whole day reading the book and got saved and accepted Jesus. Several days later as she walked through Prague she saw a building labelled “Teen Challenge,” which was the organization David Wilkerson had started. She went in and joined Teen Challenge as a saved woman! [Tim Dilena]
B. THE CALL
1. You cannot capture God, nor can you hinder Him! Isn’t it about time you surrendered all to Him?
2. How many want to make a complete consecration of themselves to God? We need to REPENT.
3. How many want more of the PRESENCE of God than you’ve had before?
4. PRAYER.
