Corrupt leadership (priesthood) was to blame for great defeat by the Philistines, and loss.

1 Samuel 4:11 "And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain."

Superstitious reverence for material religious objects cannot deliver (1 Samuel 4:3 ). Dread came on the Philistines because of the symbol of God's presence among His people (1 Samuel 4:6-8 ). But they overcame them because the glory of His presence had departed. The dissolute, licentious sons of Eli met the predicted doom (1 Samuel 4:3; 1 Samuel 2:34 ). The loss of the ark affected Eli more than the loss of his sons.

1 Samuel 4:18 "And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years."

Eli was a man who reacted but failed to take proper action expected of a leader and father. What a price Israel paid for weak-willed leadership! The name of Phinehas's child, given by his shocked, bereaved wife says it all.

1 Samuel 4:21,22 "And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. ²² And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken."

The terror of God leaving His people, overshadowed the joy of childbirth.

This did not mean God had abdicated and given up ruling. He is bringing down their idol before the ark, and brought them terrible disease. God demonstrated His power among the heathen. The Philistines were victorious over the Hebrews, but not over the Lord (1 Samuel 5:1-12 ). Their conclusion was:

1 Samuel 5:10 "... They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people."

God's presence in power is unbearable to those who do not obey or serve Him and are living in opposition to Him.

1 Samuel 6:2 "... What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? Tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place."

There is a day coming when there will be no escape from the presence of the power of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16 ).

The lowing of the milk cows still nursing their young, convinced the Philistines that the plague had been a judgment of God upon them. (1 Samuel 6:1-12 ).

1 Samuel 6:12 "Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left ..."

The natural thing for a cow to do is to go directly to her calf, the "lowing" indicated this - but under divine control they did the divine will. This contrariness to expectations in the natural is seen in the action of those under the Holy Spirit influence (Ephesians 5:18 ).

1 Samuel 6:19 "And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter."

"The men who died were guilty of breaking the law of Numbers 4:20. There were 70 who died: the additional 50 000 (Cf R.S.V. marg) of most Hebrew manuscripts is difficult to account for, and a totally impossible figure." New Bible Commentary Revised

What a warning against careless handling of the divine (Numbers 4:15 ). And curious unholy looking into divine things. Let us respect and reverence the working of the Holy Spirit.

	"Do not quench" (1 Thessalonians 5:19 ).
	"Do not despise" (1 Thessalonians 5:20 ).
	"Do not grieve" (Ephesians 4:30 ).
	"Do not weary" (Isaiah 7:13 ).
	"Do not lie to" (Acts 5:4 ).

---

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What was the effect of the loss of the ark upon Eli? (1 Samuel 4:18 ). How did the wife of Phinehas describe the loss? (1 Samuel 4:21-22 ). Is there a present day application?
2. How did God show His all-power among the heathen? (1 Samuel 5:1-12 ). What present truth do you see?
3. Would you say that the nursing cows under God's control going another way, but lowing as they were going, is typical of many of the Lord's people? (1 Samuel 6:10-12 ).
4. Should the great slaughter at Beth Shemesh warn against careless handling of the divine? (1 Samuel 6:19 ).
5. How do the Scriptures teach respect and reverence for the work of the Holy Spirit? (1 Thessalonians 5:19 ).