“After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.” 4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake! 6 “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, 7 they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! 8 Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. 9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!” 10 So the Philistines fought desperately and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.” 1 Samuel 4:3-11 NLT
God beyond the symbols and buildings,
Before I met You, Lord, I think I did believe a little in lucky charms, St Christopher’s and touching wood . . . but now I see they are just things and it is a lie of the enemy to turn us away from You, the source of all help.
It is sad that even believers sometimes put there trust in the rituals or the symbols or the church building and altar. Of course You are in the building, You are omnipresent. The only place You are absent is the place we call hades or hell, the outer darkness (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Here in 1 Samuel the children of Israel are trusting in the Ark which represented the presence of You God with them. And when they saw it they raised an almighty shout of joy that made the ground shake. But it is a little like a man dying for a drink trusting in the bottle and not the water within it!
It does us good to meet together to worship, your Spirit speaks to us often when we are turned to You in services or taking communion. But it is You, the living God who we have a relationship with not bricks or bread and wine. The holy Ark was captured but not You, God. They had to learn over and over again where to put their trust. Keep our faith from wandering from You the source of all we need, all we have and all that is to come. We will raise our praises and hallelujahs to You alone.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 18th April 2025
I raise a hallelujah to the Lord. I will put my faith and hope Him.
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!
Chorus . . .
Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder!
Chorus . . .
Lyrics: Jake Stevens, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs 2019