The Presence of God and the Importance of Holiness

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Verses 1 Samuel 4:4-8 "So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel let out a great shout, so that the ground shook. The Philistines heard the noise of the shout and said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness."

The presence of the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the presence of God, brought great excitement and confidence to the Israelites. They shouted and felt empowered, thinking that with God on their side, they would surely prevail. The Ark's presence was meant to be a source of strength, comfort, and guidance for the Israelites. However, despite the presence of the Ark, the Israelites were defeated, and the Ark was captured.

Why did this happen? The answer lies in the fact that the priests, Hophni and Phinehas, who were escorting the Ark, were unholy. They did not grasp that the presence of God on the mercy seat was dependent on the holiness of those who were near, rather than the perfection of the tent. This lack of understanding and reverence for God's presence ultimately led to their defeat.

This story teaches us that God's presence is not something to be taken lightly. He does not reside where unholiness is rampant. The enemies feared the Ark, but it was not enough to bring them victory. The Ark went back to where it was feared, but it was not enough to bring the Israelites victory. This is a powerful reminder that psychological approaches, counseling, and mental strategies are not enough to bring us true victory. It is only when we live in obedience to God's Word, walking in holiness and reverence for Him, that we can experience true victory.

As we reflect on this story, let us examine our own hearts and lives. Are we living in obedience to God's Word? Are we walking in holiness and reverence for Him? Or are we relying on psychological approaches and mental strategies to bring us victory? Let us remember that true victory comes only from living a life that is pleasing to God.

Let us also remember that God's presence is not just a feeling or an emotion, but a reality that demands our reverence and obedience. Let us strive to create a space in our lives where God's presence can dwell, by living in holiness and reverence for Him.

Prayer:

Dear God, we thank you for the reminder that your presence is not something to be taken lightly. Help us to live in obedience to your Word, walking in holiness and reverence for you. May we not rely on psychological approaches and mental strategies, but instead, may we seek to please you in all that we do. Help us to create a space in our lives where your presence can dwell, by living in holiness and reverence for you. We pray this in humility and reverence, Amen.

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