Grief and more grief
by Ruth Olsen
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The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured (1 Samuel 4:22).
Read 1 Samuel 4:12–22
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s reading, a runner comes, his clothes torn and dust on his head, with this report of devastation. The capture of the ark of God’s covenant is significant. It is mentioned five times in this chapter: verses 11, 17, 19, 21 and 22.
Eli was aware of the danger in the presumptuous act of taking the ark of God into the battle. He was more concerned for this reminder of God’s presence with them being taken from them than for his two sons, who had ignored him.
Grief upon grief. Eli dies, his sons die, and his daughter-in-law dies in childbirth. God’s word to Samuel (1 Samuel 3:11) is swiftly fulfilled. The glory of Israel was Israel’s God, not the ark. Loss of the ark didn’t mean God had abandoned his people – God was not inseparably bound to the ark (see Jeremiah 3:16,17). The following two chapters describe the troubles faced by the Philistines wherever the ark was found.
Later, the focus of God’s presence came to be in Jerusalem. Later, still, in his conversation with the woman at the well in Samaria, Jesus said true worshippers would worship the Father, not in a specific set location, but in spirit and in truth, because God’s nature is spirit (John 4:21–24). The Gospel of John identifies Jesus as God’s truth in person (John 14:6; John 1:14). Jesus embodies truth – it’s part of the essence of his nature.
The revelation of God’s presence is now available to all with the outpouring of God’s Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2). For followers of Jesus, there is now joy upon joy because of his promised presence with us wherever we are, revealed to us by his Spirit at work in us and through us.
No human being can capture God’s presence, but we can resist and reject him. When we do that, we bring grief upon ourselves. His desire and heart are for all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1–6).
Father, awaken us to where we grieve you and your Spirit. By your Spirit, convict, convince and convert us wherever needed, to walk in the truth of Jesus that sets us free (John 8:32,36). Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
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