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Treehouse Homegroup Meeting – 1 Samuel 5-7

Chapter 5

Spurgeon’s Sermon on 1 Samuel 5:2-4 – ”Dagon’s Ups and Downs”
http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols22-24/chs1342.pdf
The Ark was safe when protected by priests. It was captured when it was protected by an army. Then when in enemy’s hands, it was safe. In relation to God’s word, it is strong on it’s own.

”[God] will not be indebted to the might of flesh but will defend His own Glory by His own mysterious power.”

Mark – Goliath was a young man or boy at this time. You wonder what he thought, what he learned from this? Shows Philistines’ depravity. No repentance mentioned even after seeing the miracles and power of God. Worse than the Egyptians, where some repented and went out in the exodus with the Israelites.

Dagon was a fish god, Picture of Dagon: http://www.bible-history.com/past/dagon.html

Chapter 6

Mom – 1 Samuel 6:12
”12And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.”
Every desire in those cows would go against what they were supposed to do – leaving their nursing calves behind, never been bridled before … it’s why they were lowering all the way. But they still did as God bid – went straight ahead – emotionally painful for them (instinctively painful).
Psalms – Don’t be like the horse or mule, unless they have a bit or bridal they won’t come near you.
Stay the course. It might be hard and there might be lowing all the way, but go straight ahead and turn neither to the right or the left.

Karina – Similar to Christ – bearing a yoke and traveling on the path, then sacrificed in the end.

Why did they low all the way?
- indicating they wanted to go back to their calves
- because they were yoked, not used to it, first time, heavy burden

1 Sam 6:19 – God struck the men for looking at the ark – 70 or 50,000.
Numbers in Hebrew are tricky – numbers may be inflated by 10 because of the copy, etc.?
ESV Study Bible – looking indicated staring and perhaps gloating – maybe gloating over the Philistines, indicated irreverence.
What was currently in the Ark – the 10 commandments tablets, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the jar of manna.
Is there a New Testament equivalent? Taking communion irrelevantly? Unrepentant sin.
Is the ark just a box? Or is there something special about it? Something special about communion?

Ezekiel 16 – Israelites more wicked than the surrounding nations. Ezekiel 16:52 – ”Your sins are more vile than theirs, they are more righteous than you.”
Can Christians be more wicked than unbelievers?

1 Sam 6:20 – ”Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?”

Chapter 7

Spurgeon’s Sermon on 1 Samuel 7:2-5 – ”Three Decisive Steps”
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/2220.htm
Two things that were oppressing Israel
1) Philistines
2) The Israelites’ worship of idols – Baal and Ashterah
1 Sam 7:2 – In those some 20 years, Samuel may have been traveling around and telling the people to repent, throw out their idols. Spurgeon said Samuel was plowing but plowing a stone and it was a long and arduous time for Samuel.
Spurgeon encourages us to keep up the good work – keep plowing and faithfully praying. Persist. The Israelites eventually listened to Samuel.

Mark – Ebenezer setting up monuments for victory God has done in our lives. Israelites had been battling the Philistines for decades – it was a big deal when finally they were beaten back (not completely defeated until David’s time)!
Vows after long trials and struggles. Ex: finances, marriage