Serving Jesus in Our Community

Bible Notes

1 Samuel 4:5-9 & Romans 6:22-23 (17.02.21)

1 Samuel 4:5-9
5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

Romans 6:22-23
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Hebrews/Israelites were once slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, but God rescued them. The Philistines don’t want to become their slaves, and so they determine to fight back against them and their god. Both are guilty of misunderstanding God. He is not a token to be brandished for our advantage, nor is he like us so he can be defeated. He is God Almighty and deserves our worship and service.  In Romans, Paul talks about our becoming servants or slaves of God, rescued and bought by him. Rather than punish us or abuse us, this service benefits us, bringing us holiness and paradoxically freedom and eternal life.

Lord, you are far greater than me, deserving my all. You love is greater than mine, bringing me all.

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