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viltglance007
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In the 4th chapter of I Samuel the Israelites are found getting ready for battle against the Philistines. As Israel camped at Ebenezer, the Philistines set up in Aphek. The fighting begins. Shortly later we find the Israelites defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men. When some soldiers returned, the elders of Israel asked them, "Why did the Lord bring defeat upon you? Let's bring the Ark into battle with us, so God may deliver us from our enemies." (a quick background check - The Ark was kind of like a beautiful gold box. In it contained; the Ten Commandments, written on the original two tablets given to Moses, by God, Aaron's staff and pot of Manna. On the lid of the Ark rested two cherubim. It was between these two cherubim God dwelt. God's presence was so powerful that the Ark had to be partitioned off inside a tent called the Tabernacle. Only a high priest, once a year, could enter into this special room, called the Holy of Holies. The Ark was never to be moved from the Taberacle, neverthless touched by anyone but the high priest!) When the Ark was brought into the camp, all of Israel shouted so loud that the ground shook. When the Philistines heard this they wondered what had happened. "A god has come into the camp. We are in trouble!" So they decided to fight the Israelites. This time the Israelites were defeated and lost thirty thousand men. The Ark of God was captured and two of the high priests' sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.
Basically what happened was that the Israelites were going to war the Philistines, but lost. They thought that if they brought the Ark of the covenant into the battle, its "good luck" would help them win. (another quick background check - During this time in Israel's history God's people did WICKED things, especially the priesthood - those who were in charge religious ceremonies, an etremely important thing! They rarely turned to God for help and hardly ever did things God's way.) I think this chapter is telling us not to use God as a good luck charm, but as the real, true God. All we do at times is come to Him when we want something. This is not right! We shouldn't pray to God only when we want something. We should pray to him all the time about anything. Even just sitting there and telling Him about your day is what He loves!
It is o.k. to pray to God for things we want, but we also need to pray for other people and not always ourselves. Abraham did this in Genesis 18:32. In this verse Abraham prays for those to be spared that God is about to destroy. You can pray to God when you're scared like Jacob in Genesis 32:9-12. Jacob was terrified when he was returning home to Canaan. His brother had sworn to kill him and now he was returning to the land they had lived. Jacob models a person praying in times of fear. All types of prayers are pleasing to God, but He does like it when you just talk to Him. So just remember, as long as you pray to God about everything, and not just for objects, you are not using Him as a "good luck charm". You are though if that's all you pray about. God loves to hear from you!
Basically what happened was that the Israelites were going to war the Philistines, but lost. They thought that if they brought the Ark of the covenant into the battle, its "good luck" would help them win. (another quick background check - During this time in Israel's history God's people did WICKED things, especially the priesthood - those who were in charge religious ceremonies, an etremely important thing! They rarely turned to God for help and hardly ever did things God's way.) I think this chapter is telling us not to use God as a good luck charm, but as the real, true God. All we do at times is come to Him when we want something. This is not right! We shouldn't pray to God only when we want something. We should pray to him all the time about anything. Even just sitting there and telling Him about your day is what He loves!
It is o.k. to pray to God for things we want, but we also need to pray for other people and not always ourselves. Abraham did this in Genesis 18:32. In this verse Abraham prays for those to be spared that God is about to destroy. You can pray to God when you're scared like Jacob in Genesis 32:9-12. Jacob was terrified when he was returning home to Canaan. His brother had sworn to kill him and now he was returning to the land they had lived. Jacob models a person praying in times of fear. All types of prayers are pleasing to God, but He does like it when you just talk to Him. So just remember, as long as you pray to God about everything, and not just for objects, you are not using Him as a "good luck charm". You are though if that's all you pray about. God loves to hear from you!
