The Philistines Defeat Israel_Daily

And she said, the glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken. 1 Samuel 4.22 Lord, through the power of this text I can see the message that You are speaking to me. I will not allow myself to become complacent and smug in the calling that You entrusted me with. When Your hand of provisions sweeps over into my life, I will make sure to mind my duties and stay committed and faithful to the task You've called me to accomplish. I will remain alert in my life and in my calling, so that the spirit of familiarity that Hophne and Phineas had for Your ark and Your presence won't rest on me. I confess that Your presence is my priority. In the midst of battles and circumstances, I will not abandon Your presence. I will not allow the enemy to separate me from You and Your covering. When You are with me, no opposition can stand against me, because where You are, victory is. Today I will cherish and protect my walk with You, Lord, because I know that with You by my side I am covered on all sides. In Jesus' name, amen. Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine, and the cool Bahamian breeze. Bahamar, located in Nassau Bahamas, offers your choice of three luxury hotels, over 45 fine dining and nightlife venues, Jean-Baptiste's all-new jazz club, the Caribbean's most luxurious casino, and one-of-a-kind experiences for the entire family, like our 15-acre tropical water park, wildlife sanctuary, world-class golf course, and so much more. Visit bahamar.com today. Owning a home is full of surprises. Some wonderful, some not so much. And when something breaks, it can feel like the whole day unravels. That's why HomeServe exists. For as little as $4.99 a month, you'll always have someone to call, a trusted professional ready to help, bringing peace of mind to 4.5 million homeowners nationwide. 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In our last story, we learned about the rise of Samuel. In contrast to Eli's sons, Samuel was attentive to the voice of God. He served to the Lord and his people selflessly, and was chosen by God to guide Israel in a period of darkness and uncertainty. In this story, we learn about the Philistines reemerging as a threat to Israel. They take Israel's most prized possession, the Ark of the Covenant. The Philistines quickly learned that even though the Israelites are weak, their God is not to be trifled with. Inspired by the book of 1 Samuel. Let's talk about modern home shopping. It's sort of become a fun side hobby, right? Scrolling listings at night, dreaming about kitchens you've never seen, or backyards you haven't even stepped foot in, all from the comforts of pretty much anywhere. Redfin knows a lot of people like you want to own, but are stuck in this browsing mode loop. That's where Redfin flips the script. 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Most people believe that childhood should be about curiosity, freedom, figuring out who you are, and even running a little bit wild. But for many kids living with medical challenges, the experience is more like hospital rooms, medical treatments, and rules about what's safe. That's why legendary actor and philanthropist Paul Newman founded Sirius Fun, a network of medically supported camps and programs that give kids living with serious illnesses the chance to, as he put it, raise a little hell. At Sirius Fun camps, kids get to experience the thrill of flying down a zipline, participate in talent shows, sing songs around the campfire, and make lifelong friends who truly understand their journey. And thanks to skilled volunteer medical specialists and staff, every activity is tailored to each child's unique health requirements to ensure they have the experience of a lifetime. Best of all, camp is always free for campers and their families. This is where you come in. You can help deserving children experience the freedom and fun they never thought possible. To get involved, visit SiriusFun.org. That's SiriusFun.org. Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want to let you know about a unique e-book that's yours to download, absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress. And my prayer is that it will help you conquer the daily tasks and pressures and burdens that bring stress in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by visiting jackgraham.org stress. That's jackgraham.org slash stress. In our last reading, we heard the story of how Hannah prayed for a child and promised God to give her son back to him to serve God his whole life. God granted Hannah's request as she gave birth to Samuel. When Samuel was old enough, Hannah took him to Eli, the priest, to raise him in the temple as a servant of the Lord. Samuel grew up knowing God and serving him, unlike Eli's own son. When he was still young, God spoke to Samuel, telling him that a new priesthood would be established. Samuel was to be God's chosen man to lead Israel in a whole new era. Today we'll see a familiar foe rising up against Israel. The Philistines are once again a thorn, a terrible pain in the sight of Israel. Israel will call upon God's presence, taking the Ark of the Covenant into battle. But it will be carried by Eli's sons, and we'll see how God's judgment against these two wicked men would cost the entire nation dearly and lead to the loss of their most sacred symbol. Let's listen now to today's reading. The guidance of Samuel comforted the children of Israel. His wisdom and closeness to God brought them great relief, for they had been far from God for too long. His words brought life and the light of God's love was slowly replacing the shadows that hovered over their hearts. Yet a darkness was still present on the outskirts of Israel. Miles away, the horde of Philistines lurked in the shadows like a pack of wolves. They waited patiently for the perfect moment to strike the sheep of Israel. The Philistines approached the wilderness outside Israel and postured themselves in provocation. Israel accepted their challenge and marched as one army against the Philistine menace. Israel camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines camped a little ways away at Afec. Like tidal waves against a lost ship, the Philistines crashed upon the armies of Israel. The battle spread in many directions, and Israel was tossed to and fro. Four thousand Israelite soldiers were crushed, stabbed, and strangled under the hot Middle Eastern sun. Israel ran for their lives, retreating back to a safe place to strategize. The Israelite elders writhed, dumbfounded that they would be defeated so easily. Why has God done this, they shouted. Then the elders remembered the stories of old, how Joshua brought forth the Ark of the Covenant before the Jordan River and the walls of Jericho. They smiled and spoke again, saying, We must bring forth the Ark of the Covenant. If God is before us, we shall have power over our enemies. The elders' intentions were pure, and their ideas were sound. Yet they overlooked the most important detail of all. The sons of Eli were in charge of the Ark. The two wicked priests, Haphni, and Phineas, were the overseers of the Ark of the Covenant, and God had vowed to destroy them for their wickedness. Rams horns sounded in the distance. The beaten up soldiers of Israel poked their heads out of their tents. In the distance, the Ark of the Covenant was being brought into the camp. Chills of hope crawled up their spines. A new song was sung that day among the children of Israel. They sang and shouted to God, knowing that he would deliver them as he had hundreds of times before. Haphni and Phineas puffed their chests up with pride as they heard the cheers of the soldiers. They craved the attention. Even though the worship was directed towards God, they soaked up the praises of his people. As soon as the Ark arrived, Israel's shouts resounded like an earthquake across the land. The Philistines could hear their battle cries and quivered with fear. They had caught word that the Ark of the Covenant had made its way into camp. The Philistines were no fools. They knew what God had done to the Egyptians. They had been told stories of their gods splitting seas and crushing armies. They understood perhaps more than Israel what it truly meant to fear God. Their God will strike us down by fire or plague, some of them shouted. We have never faced a threat like this. We are doomed, more of them exclaimed. One commander of the Philistine army stood tall among them and shouted, Take heart, O Philistines. Do you wish to become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to us? He raised his spear high in the air and shouted, Be men and fight! The Philistine horde erupted in screams of war and bloodthirst. Without hesitation, they descended upon Israel like a tempest. The Philistines showed no mercy. They tore men apart limb from limb. Complete chaos ensued across the Israelite army and camp. Every man retreated to protect himself and mighty warriors begged for mercy under the sword of the Philistines. Half-nigh and Phineas were in their tent eating when the Philistines attacked. It was their responsibility to protect the Ark of the Covenant. However, when the Philistines stormed the camp, the two priests gathered their belongings and abandoned the Ark. They ran for their lives, leaving the people behind them. Their lungs heaved as they ran with their fattened bodies, for they continually gorged themselves on the temple's food. They were immediately knocked to the ground by two Philistine soldiers. Fumbling around in the dirt, the two brothers had no time to collect their thoughts before an axe was lodged into their skulls. By the hand of the Philistines, God fulfilled his promise to rid Israel of their selfish and wicked priests. The Philistines looked upon the abandoned Ark of the Covenant. They laughed and drug it back to their camp over the dead bodies of fallen Hebrews. The represented and manifest presence of God was being taken back to the Philistine camp, something they believed to be a victory. Yet God cannot be captured. No, the Philistines would live to regret ever touching a single finger on the sacred relic of God. Unlike Israel, God can fight his own battles. A Benjaminite boy ran for his life from the slaughter. Dirt and blood caked his face, and his clothes were torn to expose his wounded and bloodied body. Eli sat beside the road a few miles away from battle, listening to the cries of his people. Eli was 98 years old, and his body trembled constantly. He wept for his fallen brothers and wondered about his son's safety. Eli spotted the Benjaminite boy, hobbling his way towards the city to warn the people. What is this uproar coming from the battlefield? Eli asked. The Benjaminite could barely see straight. Gasping for air, he managed to recount the battle to Eli. With great anguish, he said, Israel has fallen to the Philistines. All have fled in different directions. Your sons, Houghni and Phineas, have been slain, and the Ark of the Covenant has been stolen. Eli clutched his heart upon hearing the news. His eyes rolled back, and he stumbled backwards and fell by the side of the gate. His neck fell on a curb and snapped. Eli, not too long after his sons, perished. He had judged and ministered over Israel for 40 years. Israel had lost over 35,000 soldiers, their priests, and the Ark of the Covenant. The hope that once caused them to cheer was replaced with fear and panic. In many ways, they felt as though God was taken captive. Yet God is captive to no army, nor is he confined to a relic. The Philistines would soon learn to not trifle with the God of Israel, and the Hebrews would behold God's sufficiency and power. Let's talk about modern home shopping. It's sort of become a fun side hobby, right? Scrolling listings at night, dreaming about kitchens you've never seen, or backyards you haven't even stepped foot in, all from the comforts of pretty much anywhere. Redfin knows a lot of people like you want to own, but are stuck in this browsing mode loop. That's where Redfin flips the script. With listings that update within minutes, and tours you can book right from the Redfin app, you can see your dream home the moment it appears. Now liking a listing is easy, but actually landing it, that's where Redfin comes in. Redfin has over 2,200 agents with local expertise, and Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents. That means they want to help you win, not just window shop. Redfin is built to help you go from just looking to wait, this could actually be home, so become the newest neighbor on the block. Visit Redfin.com to start finding and start owning. That's Redfin.com. Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine, and the cool Bahamian breeze. Bahamar, located in Nassau Bahamas, offers your choice of three luxury hotels, the richly refined rosewood, the playfully hip SLS, and the stylishly modern grand Hyatt. With over 45 restaurants, bars, and lounges, Bahamar serves up delicious dining from world-renowned chefs, like Daniel Ballude and Marcus Sanderson. Nightlife venues like the new Jean-Baptiste Jazz Club, and the Caribbean's most luxurious casino. At Bahamar, you'll find every pleasure under the sun, and one of a kind experiences for the entire family, like Bahabay, our 15-acre lush tropical water park. Interactive wildlife experiences, including our daily flamingo parade, world-class golf, tennis, spa, and so much more. Visit Bahamar.com today and discover a vacation destination where memories are made for a lifetime. Bahamar, life spectacular. When your schedule sounds like this... Are you kidding me? An oil change is the last thing you have time for. So drive in to take five and let our tax, change your oil, check your tires, top off your fluids, and have you back on the road pit stop fast. All while you stay in your car. No putting your entire schedule on hold, no upsells, no problem, so you can get back to your to-do list. Or not. Find your nearest shop at takefive.com. Take five. The stay in your car, 10-minute oil change. Today, kids need space to run wild. But for children living with serious illnesses, that kind of freedom can be hard to find. That's why serious fun exists. Serious fun is a network of camps founded by legendary actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, staffed by medical professionals who create a safe place for kids to, as Paul put it, raise a little hell. With expert care built in, kids get to play, explore, and feel free to be themselves. These camps are always free of charge to campers and their families, which is where your support can really make a difference. To learn how you can help more children with medical challenges, experience the joy, freedom, and belonging that every child deserves, visit seriousfun.org. When we begin today's reading, Samuel is already a leader in Israel. His closest with God has established him as a trusted voice for God among the people. Israel has been distant from God now for many years, but now, under Samuel's leadership, they are turning back to the Lord. Still, there is danger lurking, enemies intent on defeating God's people. And one of those is a familiar foe, the Philistines. The two clash in battle and Israel is defeated by the Philistines. They run to safety, but only after 4,000 Israelite soldiers die. The elders of Israel, of course, are wondering why God allowed this terrible defeat. Then they remembered their stories, how God went with Joshua into battle, handing him victory after victory. So in 1 Samuel 4-3, they say, let us bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies. They knew they absolutely needed God in this fight. And of course, there is a reminder for us today that the battle is always the Lord's. We do not face our battles alone. God has promised us victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. So He is our weapon. He is our defender. The elders' hearts were in the right place. They wanted God's presence, but there was a huge problem. Eli's sons, Haphne and Phineas, were in charge of the Ark, and they brought and carried this Ark into battle. The mere sight of the Ark filled the troops with excitement, and they shouted loudly. When the Philistines discovered the Ark was with Israel, they knew this battle would be different. There was now a divine force with Israel. But they didn't retreat. They only fought more fiercely, determined not to be conquered by the Hebrews, and once again they came out victorious, sending terrified Israelis scurrying in fear. But Haphne and Phineas, along with 30,000 soldiers, were killed. Just as God had told Samuel, Eli's sons were wiped off the face of the earth and punished for their blasphemy. One thing we can always know, God will execute His judgment when necessary. These two men had abused and misused their position. They had disrespected God and refused to change their hearts and repentance. So God dealt forcefully with their sin. Tragically, their sins cost an entire nation, as Israel fell to the Philistines in this battle despite the presence of the Ark. Unresolved, unrepented of sin always has consequences. And God did not give victory to His people on that day because of the sins of Eli's the priest's sons. The Philistines rejoiced in victory, and when they saw the Ark abandoned on the battlefield, they took it as a prize because they wanted a divine presence with them. But God will not be used like that. And when unholy hands tried to weaponize God's power for their own benefit, they will pay a heavy price. The Philistines would soon discover just how high that price would be. When Eli heard of the defeat of Israel and the fate of his sons, he fell out of his seat and broke his neck. God's words to Samuel came true that day. To Israel, God's glory had departed from them. The glory had departed. The word is Ichabod. But God was not done with his people, and the next time we'll hear how the Ark returns to Israel. Dear God, first of all, we turn from our sins and trust in You. We thank You for the cross, where You died for us, and for the resurrection. May we live in the power of Jesus and His resurrection. We know that we never in Christ fight our battles alone. May we always look to You and trust in You and experience a closeness to You and therefore victory in Jesus. And it is in His name that we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. Before we go, I want to let you know about a unique e-book that's yours to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress. And my prayer is that it will help you conquer the daily tasks and pressures and burdens that bring stress into your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by visiting jackgraham.org slash stress. That's jackgraham.org slash stress. Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine and the cool Bahamian breeze. Bahamar, located in Nassau Bahamas, offers your choice of three luxury hotels, over 45 fine dining and nightlife venues, Jamba Teeth's all-new Jazz Club, the Caribbean's most luxurious casino, and one of the kind experiences for the entire family, like our 15 acre tropical water park, wildlife sanctuary, world class golf course, and so much more. Visit bahamar.com today. Today, kids need space to run wild, but for children living with serious illnesses, that kind of freedom can be hard to find. That's why serious fun exists. Serious fun is a network of camps founded by legendary actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, staffed by medical professionals who create a safe place for kids to, as Paul put it, raise a little hell. With expert care built in, kids get to play, explore, and feel free to be themselves. These camps are always free of charge to campers and their families, which is where your support can really make a difference. To learn how you can help more children with medical challenges, experience the joy, freedom, and belonging that every child deserves, visit seriousfun.org. Owning a home is full of surprises. Some wonderful, some not so much. And when something breaks, it can feel like the whole day unravels. That's why home serve exists. For as little as $4.99 a month, you'll always have someone to call, a trusted professional ready to help, bringing peace of mind to four and a half million homeowners nationwide. For plans starting at just $4.99 a month, go to homeserve.com. That's homeserve.com. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. You ever wonder how far an EV can take you on one charge? Well, most people drive about 40 miles a day, which means you can do all daily stuff, no problem. Go to work, grab the kids at school, get the groceries, and still have enough charge to visit your in-laws in the next county. 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