False Assumptions and Impressions

Verse of the day: 1 Samuel 4:5, And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.

When we allow sin to go unconfessed in our lives, it becomes easier for the enemy to deceive us and for us to deceive ourselves. In this verse we see how completely oblivious Israel that they were on a path of destruction due to their unrepentance and complete lack of relationship with the Lord. The have stooped to the level of using the Ark of the Covenant as some good luck charm, and now, under false assumptions, are celebrating a victory that has not yet been won. The ruckus they created gave a false impression to the Philistines, as we read in verses 6-7, “Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, ‘What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?’ Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. 7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, ‘God has come into the camp!’ And they said, ‘Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before.’” Let us fast forward to present day, and how some local churches and many believers worship. I will say up front that we all know that there are different preferences as far as methods of worship. Some local churches prefer a quieter time of corporate worship, while others prefer to bring the house down with their approach to worship. I want to caution us, that we do not fall into an emotional trap when it comes to worshipping the Lord. I have seen far too many “worship” services where it was all about putting on a show and where they equated being excited and loud as being more spiritual. Israel was so loud that the Word of God tells us that the earth shook. Yet, they could not have been further from the Lord at that moment. In Isaiah 29:13 it is written, “Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men”. Jesus repeated this verse in Matthew 15:8-9, but put it this way, “‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Note that He said that “in vain they worship Me.” Our noisy worship does not always equal true worship. True worship is not about getting together, singing a few songs, and hollering amen, holding up our hands and putting on a show for everyone else to see. True worship is about having a genuine relationship with God that shows up in the way we treat others, how we live by faith, and how we live when no one else is looking. It is about living a life of gratitude toward God, regardless of what is going on in our lives and worshipping Him by giving Him praise and thanksgiving in the toughest of times (Hebrew 13:15-16). If we are doing all of that and then choose to worship God by raising our hands in praise and hollering amen, then I would say it is acceptable before the Lord. Like Israel, too many born again believers are coming before the Lord raising hands that are dirty with unconfessed sin, and putting on a façade that gives the false impression that we are more spiritual than we really are. In the end, the Philistines chose to challenge the Israelites. Not only was Israel defeated, but God’s holy Ark of the Covenant was captured (v. 11). I will also say this…the people not only brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle like a good luck charm, but it was brought in by two men who, even though they were God’s priests, did not honor God in their life or service. May we be careful to serve God with a pure heart and pure hands, because there will come a time when the Lord will expose our hypocrisy. I will leave you this to consider from James 4:7-10, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).