Sin and God’s Favor

1 Samuel 4:1-22
    1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. 3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
    5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. 6 Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. 7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, “Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”
    10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
    12 Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 13 Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the sound of this tumult mean?” And the man came quickly and told Eli. 15 Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see.
    16 Then the man said to Eli, “I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line.”  And he said, “What happened, my son?”  17 So the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.”  18 Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
    19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. 21 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

The sin of Eli’s sons was not to be atoned for by sacrifice; it was quite unforgivable for their rejection of the LORD and His Spirit of holiness, for they despised the offerings and the one they were offered to.  Samuel’s prophecy now came to pass as Israel sought to fight against the Philistines.  The Philistines defeated them in the first fray, so they brought the Ark of Testimony with them, relying on God to protect and honor them in battle when they neglected to honor Him.  Bit the sons of Eli accompanied it.  Israel shouted loudly as if the Ark was a talisman to rely upon apart from obedient and humble hearts of holiness and a hatred of sin.  The Philistines were afraid because they heard of God’s people and the miracles the LORD did for them in battle, so they rallied their courage and defeated God’s people who had departed from Him, lifting His hand of protection.  The Ark of God was taken and Eli’s sons were killed that day as was predicted.  When aged Eli heard of the Ark leaving Israel, he fell back and broke his neck; he did not fall at hearing of the loss of his sons, but of the loss of God’s presence and favor which the Ark represented.  His daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, gave birth and named the child Ichabod, meaning Inglorious or loss of glory, because Israel lost God’s glory by their turning away from Him.  It was more than just the enclosure of the Ark, but the written Law of the covenant of the testimony between God and man which was broken by Israel (Exodus 24:7-8, 24:21-22, 31:18).  They lost their Portland victory by their disobedience and tolerance of sin as in the sons of Eli who ministered the worship of sacrifices.  Repentance was needed.  We learn then that continued sin has consequences (Romans 6:1, 23, Acts 5:1-5).  God is holy, and we are called to live likewise to honor Him and worship faithfully and truly.  Let us not look the other way when those in positions to serve Him live sinfully without repentance or honor of the Lord that His glory is upheld and we do not suffer the loss of His hand watching over us.  This is a lesson on willing and unrepentant sin and God’s favor.