Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 4 & 5

Misplaced Faith

The Philistines were one of Israel’s fiercest enemies.  They are first mentioned in Genesis 21 where we read that Abraham traveled through their land for many days (Genesis 21:34).  Their threat to Israel surfaces during the period of the Judges when they attacked Israel and Samson defeated them (Judges 13-16).  The Philistines were a very war-like people and had a highly trained military organization.  They were equipped with horses and chariots, numerous foot soldiers, and archers.  The armor of Philistine soldiers included bronze helmets, coats of mail, leg protectors, spears, and shields.  The Philistines were by nature an aggressive and expansionist people, which was ultimately the primary reason why they clashed with the Israelites.

Now they are at it again.  They drew their armies up against Israel and attacked them at Ebenezer, an area along the western region of the nation.  They were strong and they defeated Israel soundly.  They killed about four thousand men on the battlefield that day (1 Samuel 4:2).  Afterwards, the Israelites retreated and began to assess their losses.  As they ponder the situation, they reach an unusual and unfounded conclusion: “We lost because the Ark of the Covenant wasn’t with us.  If we bring it here from Shiloh, surely it’s power and protection will save us from our enemies.”

This is an example of misplaced faith.  Rather than turning to Yahweh, Himself, the Living God, to deliver them, they turn to a lifeless artifact. It is true that God had given them the Ark of the Covenant.  And it is also true that God told them to place it at the center of their worship. But it had no power in and of itself.  It was there as an instrument meant to turn their hearts and minds to the True and Living God.  It is not wrong to respect the things of God, but it is wrong to place our faith and trust in those things.

This is why we should never place our faith or trust in “Christian trinkets” or manmade symbols of faith. Bible keychains, necklaces, crosses, beads, prayer cloths, medallions, statues, faith-stones, WWJD bracelets, and the like do not and can not produce any power or victory in our lives and we should never place our faith and trust in them.  There are so-called “preachers” who will send you a “prayer-hanky” which they have purportedly “anointed” with God’s healing power.  They tell their unsuspecting viewers to just send in their donation, and they will receive God’s mighty power through their hanky.  Tragically, many are drawn away after these types of things. While none of these things are wrong in themselves, it is wrong to place our faith and trust in anything or anyone other than our God, Yahweh, Himself.

The Israelites learned this lesson the hard way when their plan to bring victory through the Ark was soundly defeated.  Not only did they lose the ensuing battle, but the Ark of the Covenant was captured and taken by the Philistines.  Spiritual defeat is the inevitable outcome of misplacing our faith.