January 11, 2023

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 1-4
Meditation Verse: 4:3

Thought

Why were the Israelites defeated in battle? Because the Lord intended to kill Eli's sons and send the ark into captivity, to fulfill His promise to Eli. Eli did nothing more than warn his sons of danger for the way they treated the Lord and His sacrifices; he had authority to remove them as priests, but he didn't care for the Lord more than he cared for his sons. So the Lord promised to kill his sons and shock Eli. The greatest shock to Eli was the capture of the ark; when Eli heard that news, he fell off his chair and died. Why was Israel defeated in battle? To set up the fulfillment of God's word to Eli.

Application

Why do good things happen? For the same reason bad things happen: To fulfill God's word, to create the circumstances that reveal where my heart lies, to show whether I love the Lord or love myself. Good things happen to show God's goodness and kindness, and to reveal whether I will give Him praise or take the glory on myself. Bad things happen to test me, to show whether I will remain faithful to walk in His ways in the face of opposition. Or they happen because I have not been faithful and He has brought in discipline to change my ways or establish my heart in rebellion. The choice is mine, whether I will honor Him or honor myself. May I chose to honor Him in everything.