Sometimes a politician has been notable by their absence in a political debate or press conference, whether this is due to sickness or political expediency! In this story, God is notable by his absence (as is Samuel!).

This battle may have taken place while Samuel was growing up, or maybe 20 years later. The Philistines have been long-term enemies of Israel. Remember Samson (Judges 13–16)?! The leaders of Israel’s army assume God is to blame for their initial defeat. There is no suggestion that they consult him, but they grasp at an obvious solution to bring God onto their side. Note what the author says about the Ark of the Covenant (vs 3–5). 

But the appearance of the ark of the covenant makes the Israelites assume victory, and fires the Philistines with renewed determination to win. Utter devastation follows (vs 10,11).

Who are we to demand that God plays by our rules? He is the ever-present God. We believe this, by faith, even if we don’t ‘feel’ it all the time. He was present on both of Israel’s battlefields. There is no point in bargaining with God or performing superstitious rituals to force his hand. He will decide when and how he will act. 

‘The sacrifice acceptable to God is … a broken and contrite heart’.¹ Come before him in true penitence.

Towards the end of his life, my grandfather – who was a high-church priest – admitted to my mother that his faith had become buried under ritual. It is not only the smells-and-bells churches who may rely on ritual. How many nonconformist churches always begin their services with a long extempore prayer? How many charismatics think that raising the arms while singing somehow makes worship more acceptable to God? Some rituals can be helpful – including all the above! – but when anything comes to be looked upon as a guarantee of spirituality, or a means of ensuring God’s blessing, or simply more important than the object of worship – God himself – we shouldn’t be surprised if God doesn’t show up in our lives.

Superstition around the Ark of the Covenant (which held the copy of the agreement between God and Israel, brokered under Moses) blinded the minds of the priests and people. Today we might say that they held to the trappings of religion without the relationship. It wasn’t helped by the attitude of Eli’s sons.² In today’s reading, they thought they could control God by bringing the Ark into the battle, and make him give them the victory. It’s a tragic story. It particularly speaks to those of us who have a leadership responsibility in our churches. Through our teaching and preaching, our example and lifestyle, it is essential that we get across as true a picture of God as we can and encourage our congregations to move away from relying on our cherished rituals. 

Meanwhile, the Philistines, who had reacted with terror when the Ark was brought into the Israelite camp, were rejoicing! They must have felt that they had conquered the God of Israel himself. They had defeated his army and captured his Ark.

Father, forgive us for the times when we subconsciously think we can control you. May our worship always be pleasing to you.

¹ Ps 51:17, NRSV  ² 1 Sam 2:12–17