March 28 – Reading 87

MARCH 28 – Reading 87

by John Christian Pra | March 28

“WHO IS LIKE THE LORD?”
(1 Samuel 4:2 – 7:1)

“Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?”– 1 Samuel 6:20

One of the greatest dangers in a Christian’s life is becoming too familiar with God. Whenever you find yourself becoming casual with God or complacent in your walk with Him, pause, get back into His Presence, and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. This curse of familiarity happened far too often in Israel and it cost them dearly.

Today’s passage brings us into the heart of a low point in Israel’s history. The sons of the priest are corrupt. The Israelites lose a battle to the Philistines in an embarrassing fashion after they presume God is going to win the battle for them. The ark of the covenant (the dwelling place of God’s Presence) is captured. Eli, the priest, dies after hearing the ark has been taken. His daughter-in-law gives birth and names her son, “God is Gone”. 

All of this occurs because God became familiar to them. Instead of seeking God and what He desired, they presumed they knew and tried to use Him for their purposes. After everything, the place of God’s Presence is now gone.

For Israel, this seemed like the end of the world. Yet, even though the ark of the covenant was captured, God Himself was not. The Presence of God in the camp of the Philistines was too powerful for them too. Eventually, they are doing everything they can to get rid of God’s presence due to the plagues and chaos that came from Him being around. Even their god, Dagon, has his head and hands cut off simply by being in the same room as the ark.

Over and over, the power of God’s Presence is being revealed to us, and the reality that He will not be controlled or contained. We need to be reminded that God is not like any other. God is greater than any force coming against your life. He is stronger than any enemy you may face. He is more vital to your life than you may recognize. He is holy and there is no one like Him.

Simple Truth:
God is greater than we believe, and when we come before Him, we need to remember who it is that we are approaching. A God who will not be used by us for our own pleasure. A God who is able to destroy false gods without a contest. A God who desires to be with His people, but will let us feel His absence to remind us of our need for Him. Who is like the Lord?

Reflections: 

• Do you find yourself becoming familiar with God?
• How does familiarity with God impact your desire for Him? 
• What are some ways you can cultivate a reverence for God in your life?

Application: 

• God is holy and greater than we can imagine – how you approach Him matters. 
• God is not to be used for what we desire, but rather we should align ourselves to what He desires.
• There is no enemy that can withstand the power of our God.
• God desires to be in the midst of His people, but He refuses to be secondary in our lives.

Closing Prayer: 
Father, thank You for the invitation You have given me to know You and live with You. I ask today You would forgive me for becoming too familiar with Your Presence. Remind me today of Your greatness, holiness, and majesty. I repent for seeking to use You for my own will instead of surrendering to Your will. Teach me to love You more and desire Your presence in a stronger way in my life. Show me Your glory and reveal to me in a deeper way who You are. There is no one like You, Jesus. Amen.