5-26-19 1 Samuel 4:1-7:17

1 Samuel 4-7

God is God (not us)

4:2- Israel was defeated because they were not obeying God. (Leviticus 26:17)

4:3- Israel comes to a different conclusion which leads to disaster in v10-11.

God cannot be treated as a means to another agenda.

We must stop putting pressure on ourselves to be God.

God alone is God (not shared)

The Philistines experienced a progression of events that proved God is the true God. (5:2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10-12, 6:2, 7-12)

Their response was always to push God away. (5:7, 10, 11, 6:2)

Are we practicing polytheism?

All will crumble and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. (Philippians 2:10-11)

God means what He says

6:19-20- The Israelites learned that God was serious about His holiness. (Numbers 4:15)

The call to repentance in 7:3 also shows that God is merciful.

The Israelites repent and experience the reality of a right relationship with God. (7:10)

We must take all aspects of who God is and His Word seriously.