Month: August 2025

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel  5-6  Listen: (6:03) Read:  2 Timothy 3 Listen: (2:21)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel  7-8 Listen: (8:34) Read: 2 Timothy 4 Listen: (2:48)
Read: 1 Samuel  9 Listen: (4:42) Read: 2 Peter 1 Listen: (3:06)

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 5.7-12

7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?” They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. 9 But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” 11 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. 12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

1 Samuel 6.6

6 Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel’s god dealt harshly with them, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

Reflection: Not Plagues but Presence

By John Tillman

In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Nazis captured the ark to take to their capital, Berlin, as a prize (and hopefully a weapon) for Hitler. In today’s passage, the Philistines captured the ark, and took it to Ashdod, their capital, as a prize for their god, Dagon.

The only biblically accurate part of Raiders’ is that plagues strike those who captured the ark. In the film, a mysterious power burns off the Nazi symbols stamped on the ark’s crate. In Ashdod, the idol of Dagon was repeatedly toppled until his head and hands were broken off. In the film, those who look into the Ark are burned up. In Ashdod and other Philistine cities, people died from tumors and rats.

Eventually, the Philistines realize they are suffering plagues just like Egypt when they held Israel captive. To stop the plagues, Egypt let Israel go, sending them out with gifts of gold. To stop their plagues, the Philistines let the ark go, sending it out with gifts of gold. Through the Egyptian and Philistine plagues, God redeemed from captivity a people, Israel, and an object, the ark, which represented his presence.

To Egypt and the Philistines, God’s presence was a terror and a plague because they partnered with sin and death. His hand was “heavy,” bringing them death and destruction. To Israel, God’s presence was a joy. His hand sustained them, lifting them up and providing for them. The difference was being inside the covenant or outside the covenant—a partner of life or a partner of death.

As Christians, we are redeemed to represent the presence of Jesus. The curtain to the mercy seat, the throne of God, is open. The Holy Spirit abides with us. In a very real way, we take the presence of God with us wherever we go.

Just as Israel was held responsible for properly carrying and representing God’s presence, we are responsible for carrying the cross of Christ and representing him. When Israel failed to represent and respect God, they lost the ark and God’s presence. The glory departed. (1 Samuel 4.20-22)

How are you ensuring that you respect and represent the presence of Jesus to those around you? We are not called to bring plagues but God’s presence. To those under the heavy hand of sin and death, we bring an invitation to be redeemed from plagues and join the blessings of Christ.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Love the Lord, all you who worship him; the Lord protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily. — Psalm 31.23

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Seduced by Corn Kings

Corn kings promised profit and growth through fertility and harvest. Baal is a god of this type.

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel 4 Listen: (3:56) Read: 2 Timothy 2 Listen: (3:17)

Reflection: Treating God Like Dagon

By John Tillman

After a military loss, Israel’s leaders ask a good question but come to the wrong conclusion. They ask, “Why did the Lord bring defeat…?”

This could have been a good moment. We have seen better versions of moments like this. When Israel lost battles in the past, good leaders sought the Lord through repentance, weeping, and offerings for sin. (Joshua 7.3-13; Judges 20.26-28) That doesn’t seem to be what happened here.

Instead of going to God, Israel brought the Ark of the Covenant, the throne of God, to the war camp. Despite what Indiana Jones said, the Ark is never mentioned as a weapon carried into battle. At Jericho, it was there at God’s direct instructions, representing his presence. However, scripture doesn’t describe the Ark being involved in the battle. (Joshua 6.15-20) In Saul’s camp, the Ark is there explicitly for the purpose of seeking God’s will and is not carried toward the action. (1 Samuel 14.17-20) Presumably, in Joab’s camp, it served the same function. (2 Samuel 11.10-11)

However, in this war camp, Israel cheered instead of confessed because they were after power not communion. They didn’t seek God as a source of wisdom to follow, they fetched him like a weapon to wield. They made God a tool or a prop to deliver invincibility. They treated him exactly as the Philistines treated their gods. And the Philistines recognized that “a god has come into the camp.” (1 Samuel 4.7)

There are many false gods in our culture. The Philistine’s god was Dagon. He was one of the “Baals,” sometimes called Baal’s father. His powers and promises? Prosperity. Growth.

Do you notice powerful cultural forces that promise prosperity and growth in family, business, or politics? If it makes promises like a god and demands loyalty like a god, it’s probably idolatrous, even if it’s not literally a spiritual force of evil. If it quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. Beware.

Israel didn’t start worshiping Dagon here, and we probably wouldn’t knowingly worship our culture’s false gods. However, Israel did treat Yahweh like the Philistines treated Dagon and we might fall into the trap of treating God like cultural “gods.”

Sometimes the real spiritual danger is not being captured by other gods but treating Yahweh as if he is one of them. Do you treat God in the same way you treat a winning political or business philosophy? Are you after God’s presence or his power?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. — Psalm 52.8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: When God Shakes Our Foundation

Why would God treat his own Temple like Samson treated the temple of Dagon?
The people worshiped other idols alongside God…

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel 3 Listen: (3:03) Read: 2 Timothy 1 Listen: (2:37)

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 3:1, 12-13

1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them.

Reflection: Rare Visions and Blind Priests

By Erin Newton

Do you think God ever needs time to “recharge his social battery”? Is he ever at a loss for words? No, that’d be ridiculous. The God of the universe does not grow tired or weary.

So why is the word of the Lord during Eli’s priesthood a rare occurrence? Koowon Kim points out that just as Eli’s eyesight was failing, so too was his spiritual vision (1 Samuel, Asia Bible Commentary).

The text says, “There were not many visions.” So there had to be some. God was still speaking to his people, just as he had been doing during Abraham’s sojourn, Moses’s wildnerness wandering, and so on. God wasn’t suddenly mute. God’s leader simply stopped listening.

The apprenticeship of Samuel meant fresh eyes toward God. In fact, notice where Samuel was sleeping—in the temple. He was in the prime location to convene with God. However, when God called once, twice, and a third time(!), Samuel was unaware of his voice.

What exactly had Eli been teaching his young protégé? Lessons must have been centered around the liturgical duties he’d need to perform someday: sacrifices, cleansing, blessings, intercessions, burning, washing, etc. In all of his lessons, Eli must not have mentioned that God liked to talk to his own people. The priesthood for him was simply going through the motions.

But God doesn’t give up. Koowon Kim notes that God would have called Samuel over and over and over until he responded. He is that persistent with us. If Eli was going blind (spiritually and physically), God would grab the attention of those fresh eyes—someone willing to jump up in the middle of the night to answer the call of his master.

If God never tires of speaking to his people, why was the word of the Lord so rare? Based on the vision given to Samuel of the impending judgment for Eli, Koowon Kim suggests, “As it turned out, the corrupt leadership constituted the obstacles that prevented the words and visions of God from making it to the nation.”

And so it is today. Some Christian leaders are blind to the vision of God. Like Eli, they ignore “the sin they knew about” and tolerate those who yoke our God with sinful practices.

We can be Elis or Samuels: obstacles or prophets. We can snuff out the Light of the world in our lives or we listen to God calling us.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined from ore and purified seven times in fire. — Psalm 12.6

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: God Starts In The Dark

Samuel’s light that brought judgment and exposed corruption…banished his mother’s shame but shamed Eli’s wicked sons.

Read more: Where Judgment Falls

Samuel comes to remind us that judgment is coming for the Hophni’s, Phinehas’s, and Eli’s of the world…

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel 1 Listen: (4:13) Read: Hebrews 12 Listen: (4:36)

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 1.15-20

15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,  saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

Reflection: God Starts In The Dark

By John Tillman

God always seems to begin things in the dark.

In the beginning, God’s Spirit hovered over chaotic darkness and brought light. Narratively, God does this over and over. God keeps showing up in the dark saying, “Let there be light.”

We see many biblical people experience darkness of one kind or another. They once were “walking in darkness” before God entered their lives and they saw “a great light.” (Matthew 4.16; Isaiah 9.2)

Hannah’s darkness was being a barren woman in a culture that measured women’s worth by the one thing she lacked: children. (Our culture still does this in subtle ways and if certain cultural forces have their way, may do so in legal and tangible ones.) When God spoke light into Hannah’s darkness, she joined a special group of women. Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah’s wife, Hannah, the Shunammite woman, and Elizabeth all gave birth to children that were miraculous gifts of God.

Infertility is not the only kind of darkness. Are you in the dark? What kind of darkness is in your family, school, community, or nation? Cry out, like Hannah. Don’t hold back. Even if others, like Eli, misunderstand, God won’t. God hears.

Samuel’s name means, “Heard by God.” But God did not just bring light to Hannah. Through Hannah’s light, Samuel shone, making a difference in the lives of Israel. Samuel reminded Israel that God heard them.

Light does different things in different situations. Under certain circumstances, light burns, melts, and destroys. Under the right circumstances, light finds lost things, brings safety, and cleanses, dries, and purifies things left too long in damp or dark.

Samuel’s light that brought judgment and exposed corruption. He brought encouragement and hope, truth and justice. His light banished his mother’s shame but shamed Eli’s wicked sons. His light exposed darkness in Saul, the seemingly ideal warrior king, and exposed righteousness in David, the seemingly unfit shepherd king.

No matter how chaotic or dark life seems, whether you are experiencing personal darkness, like Hannah, or national darkness like Israel, light is coming.

Sometimes God shines light for you—to comfort, encourage, heal, help, or guide you. Sometimes God shines light through you—to teach truth, expose sin, confront wickedness, or find lost things. God never brings light to you, that he doesn’t expect to shine through you.

The light has shone and will shine in the darkness. The darkness cannot and will not overcome it.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim. — Psalm 80.1

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Room For Hannah

We need to clear out some space for people in emotional distress — theological space, physical space, and liturgical space.

Read more: New Days Begin in the Dark

God does hover, caringly over our dark chaos. He does cause his light to shine on us.