April 10
1 Samuel 4:12-8:22
Everyone should honestly answer this simple question: "My biggest fear is in "blank", my greatest hope is in "blank"? This simple question will reveal what you have placed your faith and trust in. During these times many will state their biggest fear is in the virus, and their hope is in the vaccine. Others will state their biggest fear is in social injustice, and their hope is in social justice. While others fear change, placing their hope in "going back to normal". Some fear isolation, and hope for inclusion. Some fear a political party or politician, and have placed their hopes in a different party or politician. Some fear never getting married, not having children, and place their hopes in a future spouse or their future children. Some fear being sober and hope for that next binge. What all of these things have in common is that both the fear and the hope is placed on an "it", be it something or someone. The truth is each and every example above misses the mark. Our fear should be in rejecting God, disobeying Him, eternity without Him; while our only hope is in accepting Him, accepting His only offer of salvation which is entirely wrapped up in what His Son, Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, in obeying Him, and looking forward to His offer of eternity with Him one day in heaven. Clarity will only be found when we move from "it" to "Him". Yes, it really is that simple.
Under the guidance of a corrupt priesthood, having lost their way, the Israelites experience defeat from the Philistines. This would be a great time to turn from their wicked ways and renew their hope in the living God, but we read in 1 Samuel 4:3, " 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.” Don't mistake this as a return to God. Notice their hope was not in Him, but "it", the Ark. After being soundly defeated a second time, the Philistines capture the Ark. But when God sends a plague in their cities, notice they too fear the Ark, not God, in 5:11, " The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all."" Years later, after soundly defeating the Philistines, once again, the Israelites lose their way and the source of their hope as we read their request to Samuel in 8:5-7, " “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”...“Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer."" Yes, it really was that simple for the Israelites also.
The remedy was revival then, and it is revival now. We read in 1 Samuel 7:3, "Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”" Samuel was leading them to replace their hopes and fears from and "it" to God. Whatever your answers might have been to the questions posed in the opening paragraph, if your hopes and fears rest in an "it", even if it is a good "it", you will never be satisfied. Because life without being in a true relationship with God is a continuous cycle of moving from one "it" to another "it". If this sounds overly simplified, just reflect on your personal history and it will become obvious that one fear replaced another, while the hope for one remedy was replaced by a new and different hope. God doesn't change. He is faithful. His Word and His promises can be trusted. His plan for you and me, along with the world that we live in is right and just, because He is in perfect control. His will is perfect, ours is not. May we all seek Him, place our hope in Him, submit our lives to Him. Revival is not only possible, but it is our only hope.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: