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撒母耳记上［第4章］
Book of 1 Samuel 4

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撒母耳记上［第4章］|Book of 1st Samuel 4

【荣耀怎会离开以色列？】

主讲: 陈炎明牧师

07/07/2023


引言：

没有情感和情绪的讲话，只是一段声音的资讯消息之报告；
当真情流露于说话中的时候，话语就变成了有生命的信息。

一、凭血气主动打仗？（4:1-2）

神的军队要去和敌人打仗，这事的关键要素是什么呢？打仗当然是因为有敌人要来攻击，但是这里说的是以色列出去与非利士人打仗，既是说是以色列主动出击！这事的问题在那里？ 以色列是神的军队，出征作战怎能没有问过元帅呢？如果不是神叫你去打，人的行动就失去了神的帮助。当神没有与你同在，你凭什么去战胜仇敌呢？

试想想我们的生活中有哪些争战？我们有多少次是认真倚靠神去作战呢？

二、凭聪明而利用神？（4:3-5）

1.长老的馊主意（v3）

长老是指神子民中的领袖，领袖提议把神的约柜抬到战场，好让神出面救我们脱离仇敌。这提议咋看之下完全没问题，但是这是一个馊主意！因为我们已经知道结果，最后连约柜都被敌人拿去！这到底是什么原因呢？同样的问题，自作主张，只是利用神而不是寻求神。

2.恶人竟护送神（v4）

约柜代表神、至高而圣洁的神。谁配得搬运神的约柜呢？当然是要圣洁且分别为圣的人，但这里却是以两位‘不认识神’、且作奸犯科的罪恶祭司来护送？难怪神才不理会他们，任由他们自作自受，自食其果。我们要谨慎反省自己服事神的心态，免得遭遇不必要的祸患！

3.以声音吓唬人（v5）

当时约柜抵达战地军营时百姓大声呼喊，气势确实很震憾，甚至连土地都几乎震动。那是神使土地震动吗？也许是，但是百姓不明白神在做什么？如果是地震，恐怕那是神对以色列子民的震怒。然而这震撼的声音确实是吓到敌人，但是这吓唬人的声音还不是真的能战胜仇敌。

三、争战岂能不求神？（4:4-11）

1.敌人闻声被吓到（v6-8）

原来敌人知道耶和华神的厉害，包括埃及所经过的惨痛教训，敌人都知道那是以色列之神的作为。惧怕让敌人更小心谨慎，要寻找以色列的破绽或漏洞不是吗？按常理来说，人若轻敌就容易被攻击；人若知道对手很强，就越会多加留心应战。

2.敌人立志竟战胜（v9-11）

敌人显然会以心理战术去鼓动士兵，要刚强、要作大丈夫、否则就会作以色列的奴隶。这么一来果然让他们英勇应战，不料结果果然是大获全胜，叫以色列平平退后。

四、为何神不帮助我？（4:12-22）

以色列死伤惨重，而且约柜还被敌人掳去。当老祭司以利听见这消息时，惊吓过度退后跌倒，折断颈项而当场毙命。这真是祸不单行，也就在这时候，怀孕的媳妇一听此消息，当下立刻早产，取名叫‘荣耀离开了以色列’；这是何等悲惨的落魄光景。神的子民不禁要问：‘为何神不帮助我们呢？’答案很简单：‘因为有神的人不寻求神、不倚靠神，擅自作主，血气行事，因此才自食其果，一败涂地！

总结：我们要学什么功课？

存敬畏的心，步步与荣耀的神同行。
不要擅自作主，没求问神；凡事祷告是一生的功课，寻求圣灵带领的道路才会亨通。

1 Samuel 4 How did the glory leave Israel?
GK611 Morning Devotion
07/07/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Rev. David Tan

Introduction:

Speech without feeling and emotion is just like reporting the news;
When the truth is expressed in the speech, the speech becomes a living message.

1. Taking the initiative to fight with own flesh? (V1-2)

What is the key element for God's army to fight the enemy? Of course, the reason for fighting is because there are enemies coming to attack, but what is being said here is that Israel went out to fight the Philistines, which means that Israel took the initiative to attack! What's the problem with this? Israel is God's army, so how could they not ask the commander when they went out to fight? If God didn’t tell you to fight, your action would lose God’s help. When God is not with you, how can you defeat the enemy?

Just think about the battles in our lives. How many times have we seriously relied on God to fight?

2. Using God with own wisdom? (4:3-5)

(1) The Elders’ Bad Idea (v3)

The elders refer to the leaders among God's people. The leaders propose to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to the battlefield so that God can rescue us from the enemy. This plan looks perfectly fine at first glance, but it's a bad idea! Because we already know the result, even the ark of the covenant was taken by the enemy in the end! What is the actual cause? Same problem, self-assertion, just using God instead of seeking Him.

(2) The wicked ones escort God (v4)

The ark of the covenant represents God, the Most High and Holy God. Who is worthy to carry the ark of the covenant of God? Of course, are the people who are holy and set apart, but here they are escorted by two wicked priests who ‘do not know God’ and commit crimes? No wonder God ignored them and left them to reap the fruits of their own suffering. We must carefully reflect on our attitude of serving God, so as not to encounter unnecessary disasters!

(3) Terrifying people with sound (v5)

When the ark of the covenant arrived at the military camp in the field, the people shouted loudly. The momentum was really shocking, and even the ground almost shook. Is that God shaking the ground? Maybe, but the people don't understand what God is doing. If it was an earthquake, it might be God's wrath against the Israelites. However, this terrifying sound really scares the enemy, but this terrifying sound is not able to defeat the enemy.

3. How can we fight without asking God? (4:4-11)

(1) The enemy is frightened by the name of God (v6-8)

It turned out that the enemy knew the power of Jehovah God, including the painful lessons that Egypt experienced, and the enemy knew that it was the act of the God of Israel. Fear makes the enemy more cautious, looking for gaps or loopholes in Israel, isn't it? Based on common sense, if a person underestimates the enemy, he will be easily attacked; if a person knows that the opponent is strong, he will pay more attention to the fight.

(2) The enemy determined to win (v9-11)

The enemy will obviously use psychological tactics to encourage soldiers to be strong and manly, or else they will become slaves to Israel. This really made them fight bravely, and the result was a complete victory, and Israel retreated utterly.

4. Why doesn't God help me? (4:12-22)

Israel suffered heavy casualties, and the ark was captured by the enemy. When the old priest Eli heard the news, he was so frightened that he fell back, broke his neck and died on the spot. This is really a misfortune, and at this time, when the pregnant daughter-in-law heard the news, she immediately gave birth prematurely and named it "The glory has departed from Israel"; what a tragic and desolate situation. God’s people can’t help asking: ‘Why doesn’t God help us? ’ The answer is simple: ‘Because people with God don’t seek God, don’t rely on God, make decisions on their own, and act in their own flesh, so they reap the fruits of their own suffering and fail completely!

Conclusion: What lessons do we have to learn?

Walk with the God of glory every step of the way with a fearful heart.
Do not make your own decisions without asking God; Prayer for everything is a life lesson, Only by seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit will the path be successful.