What a Day

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Samuel 4:12-22. There was a man of Benjamin who ran away from the army and went to Shiloh. He was dirty and his clothes were torn. As he entered the city Eli was sitting by the side of the road at the city gate watching and waiting. He was concerned about the Ark of God.

When the man came into the city and told everybody that Israel had been defeated, Eli’s two sons had been killed and the Ark of the Covenant had been taken, the people cried out. Eli heard the noise and asked what was going on. The man came to Eli and told him what happened.

Eli was ninety-eight years old at the time, heavy, and his eye sight was failing him. When Eli heard that the Ark of God was taken he fell backwards off of his seat, broke his neck and died. Eli judged Israel for forty years. Now not only were the Israelites defeated, but they lost their leader as well.

Eli’s daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was expecting a baby which was due to be born at any time. When she heard that the Ark of God was taken, and her husband and father-in-law had died she was so distraught that she went into labor. The woman who stood beside her said, “Fear not; for thou hast born a son.” But, she didn’t answer. She passed away while giving birth to her son.

The woman named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory of the LORD is departed from Israel.” Wow, what a day. Not only was Israel defeated in battle, Eli’s sons killed, and the Ark taken, but now Eli and his daughter-in-law were gone as well. It is not a good thing when the presence of the LORD is removed from His people.
Daily Bible Reading:

1 Samuel 4:12-22

12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

 

Things to think about:

• How did the people of Israel react to the Ark being taken?

• What was Eli’s reaction to the news of the Ark being taken?

• What was Eli’s daughter-in-law’s reaction to the news?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture from 1 Samuel our hearts are overwhelmed reading of all the grief Your people experienced. Help us to realize that there are consequences to all of our actions. Help us to guard against allowing sin to reign in our lives. Give us strength to live holy lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

– This is an excerpt from our new release The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings

 

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Featured Book:

The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the Book:

The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings by Deborah H. Bateman is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of 1 Samuel. This is the 31st book in the Daily Bible Reading Series. The book of 1 Samuel is found in the Old Testament of the Bible.

The Book of 1 Samuel not only discusses the life and call of Samuel as prophet but also includes events that happened during his lifetime. The people of Israel insisted on having a king and even though Samuel tried to warn them of the dangers of appointing a king, they insisted. So God chose Saul to be their king. A good portion of the book includes the events during the reign of King Saul including the ongoing rivalry between King Saul and David.

The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings contains 71 Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson consists of a commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer to go along with the lesson. This Bible study is great as a personal daily devotional or a group Bible study.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

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Have a blessed day,

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