June 6, 2026

In 1 Samuel 4 the Israelites are losing to the Philistines in battle so they go and get the Ark to carry before them. Eli's songs, Hophni and Phinehas, who the Lord rebuked Eli for allowing them to remain in their priestly duties while being wicked, carried the Ark forth. When the Ark arrived at the camp out the Israelites, they shouted and the Philistines became afraid because they knew the works of God, but they told each other to be men and fight so they would not become slaves. Then, the Philistines defeated the hosts of Israel and took the Ark.

It's important to note that, while God is faithful and forgiving, and His grace knows no bounds, He will not save us in our sins - He CANNOT exalt us in our sins, for to be exalted is to choose to change and be like our Father. The Ark, which symbolically represented the Lord and His covenants with Israel, could not save them. Similar to the Liahona not working when it's bearers were unrighteous and similar to the Law of Moses, which helped guide but did not have the power to save - the alone belongs to Christ.

I find it interesting, also, that the Philistines were scared but rallied to preserve their freedom. I know this is not the type of fear that results in following God, but it is interesting nonetheless that they acknowledged the might of The God of Israel and that inspired them to fight harder and win.

In this chapter I also noticed the place named eben-ezer. This means "stone of help" and is used to represent a victory given by God and often shown as a symbol of gratitude (i.e. God saved us this day, so we raise an eben-ezer to remember and show thanks).

The most commonly heard use of this word today must be from Charles Dickens. Ebenezer Scrooge is described as hard flint, he is a stone with no love for man. However, through miraculous, divine intervention, and given grace and opportunity to repent, he CHOOSES to change. God is a stone of help to Ebenezer, and in gratitude Ebenezer becomes a stone of help to others.

While his characteristics are exaggerated for literary thematics, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge is not a rare one found in only the most wretched of mankind. It is the story of each of us as we learn to love our neighbor and love our God, and let our works become an eben-ezer of gratitude for the grace and change He offers us.