1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
Big Idea
The Philistines capture the ark of God and bring it to Ashdod, but the hand of the LORD is heavy against them, causing panic and tumors.
Commentary
The Philistines are afraid of the LORD and try to send the ark away.
The priests and diviners advise the Philistines to return a guilt offering to the LORD.
The guilt offering includes five golden tumors and five golden mice.
The ark is taken to Kiriath-jearim, where it is lodged for 20 years.
Samuel advises the people of Israel to return to the LORD and put away foreign gods.
The Philistines are defeated by the LORD, and the cities they had taken from Israel are restored.
Samuel judges Israel all the days of his life.
The hand of the LORD is against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel are restored to Israel.
There is peace between Israel and the Amorites.
The Philistines are afraid of the LORD and try to send the ark away.
The people of Israel gather at Mizpah and Samuel prays to the LORD for them.
Claims
- The Philistines capture the ark of God and bring it to Ashdod.
- The hand of the LORD is heavy against the Philistines, causing panic and tumors.
- The Philistines send the ark to Gath, but the hand of the LORD is against the city, causing a great panic.
- The Philistines send the ark to Ekron, but the people of Ekron cry out for it to be sent away.
- The Philistines call for the priests and diviners to advise on how to send the ark back to its place.
- The priests and diviners advise the Philistines to return a guilt offering, including five golden tumors and five golden mice.
Popular Mistakes
Misunderstanding
The Philistines capture the ark of God and bring it to Ashdod, but the hand of the LORD is heavy against them, causing panic and tumors
Correction
The Philistines capture the ark of God and bring it to Ashdod, but the hand of the LORD is heavy against them, causing panic and tumors, and the Philistines try to send the ark away.
Misunderstanding
The Philistines send the ark to Gath, but the hand of the LORD is against the city, causing a great panic
Correction
The Philistines send the ark to Gath, but the hand of the LORD is against the city, causing a great panic, and the Philistines try to send the ark away.
Misunderstanding
The Philistines send the ark to Ekron, but the people of Ekron cry out for it to be sent away
Correction
The Philistines send the ark to Ekron, but the people of Ekron cry out for it to be sent away, and the Philistines try to send the ark away.
Misunderstanding
The Philistines call for the priests and diviners to advise on how to send the ark back to its place
Correction
The Philistines call for the priests and diviners to advise on how to send the ark back to its place, and the priests and diviners advise the Philistines to return a guilt offering.
Application Questions
- What can we learn from the Philistines' experience with the ark of God?
- How can we apply the principles of the guilt offering to our own lives?
- What does the story of the ark of God teach us about the importance of worship and reverence?
- How can we, like the people of Beth-shemesh, rejoice to see the ark of God?
- What can we learn from Samuel's leadership and example in this passage?
- How can we, like the people of Israel, return to the LORD and put away foreign gods?
John 6:1-21
Big Idea
Jesus feeds the crowd of 5,000 with five barley loaves and two fish, demonstrating his power and authority.
Commentary
The passage begins with Jesus' departure to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, emphasizing his movement and activity.
A large crowd follows Jesus, drawn by his signs, indicating their recognition of his authority and power.
Jesus sits down with his disciples on a mountain, creating a sense of calm and contemplation.
The Passover is near, and Jesus asks Philip about buying bread, testing Philip's faith and understanding of Jesus' plans.
Andrew suggests using a boy's five barley loaves and two fish, highlighting the humble and unexpected nature of the miracle.
Jesus has the crowd sit down and distributes the loaves and fish, demonstrating his power and generosity.
The crowd eats their fill, and Jesus gathers up leftovers, emphasizing the abundance and provision of God.
The crowd recognizes Jesus as the Prophet who is to come, acknowledging his divine identity and mission.
Jesus withdraws to the mountain to avoid being made king, highlighting his humility and reluctance to be idolized.
Jesus' disciples depart by boat, but Jesus walks on the water to join them, demonstrating his power and control over nature.
The disciples are frightened, but Jesus calms them and they reach land, emphasizing his presence and care for his followers.
Claims
- Jesus has the power to feed a large crowd with a small amount of food.
- Jesus is the Prophet who is to come, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.
- Jesus has control over nature, as demonstrated by his walking on the water.
Popular Mistakes
Misunderstanding
The crowd is following Jesus because they want to make him king
Correction
The crowd is following Jesus because they are drawn by his signs and recognize his authority.
Misunderstanding
Jesus is asking Philip about buying bread because he needs help with logistics
Correction
Jesus is asking Philip to test his faith and understanding of Jesus' plans.
Application Questions
- How can we respond to Jesus' call to follow him, even when it requires us to step out of our comfort zones?
- How can we trust in Jesus' provision and care for us, even when we face uncertainty and scarcity?
- What does it mean to recognize Jesus as the Prophet who is to come, and how can we live out this recognition in our daily lives?
Psalm 106:13-31
Big Idea
God's people are prone to forgetfulness and disobedience, which leads to consequences such as disease, destruction, and scattering among the nations.
Commentary
The psalm highlights the recurring theme of God's people forgetting His works and not waiting for His counsel.
The wilderness is a place where God's people test Him, and He responds with a wasting disease.
Dathan and Abiram are punished for their jealousy and disobedience, and a fire breaks out among them.
The people make a calf and worship a metal image, exchanging God's glory for an ox's image.
God considers destroying them, but Moses intervenes to turn away His wrath.
The people despise the pleasant land and do not obey the voice of the LORD, leading to God's promise to make them fall in the wilderness.
Phinehas intervenes and the plague is stayed, and his actions are counted as righteousness from generation to generation.
The Baal of Peor is a false god that God's people worship, leading to a plague.
The Red Sea is mentioned as a place of God's awesome deeds.
Claims
- God's people are prone to forgetfulness and disobedience.
- Moses and Phinehas are examples of leaders who intervene on behalf of God's people.
- The consequences of disobedience include disease, destruction, and scattering among the nations.
- Phinehas' intervention is counted as righteousness from generation to generation.
Popular Mistakes
Misunderstanding
They "had a wanton craving in the wilderness"
Correction
They had a craving for God's presence and guidance, but it was not satisfied.
Misunderstanding
They "put God to the test in the desert"
Correction
They tested God's power and provision, but it was not a test of His character.
Application Questions
- How can we avoid the pattern of forgetfulness and disobedience that God's people exhibit in the psalm?
- What are some ways that leaders like Moses and Phinehas can intervene on behalf of God's people?
- How can we learn from the consequences of disobedience and strive to obey God's voice?
Proverbs 14:32-33
Big Idea
The fate of the wicked and the righteous is determined by their actions and character.
Commentary
The passage emphasizes the consequences of one's actions, highlighting the contrast between the wicked and the righteous.
The wicked are punished for their evildoing, while the righteous are protected from harm.
Death is portrayed as a refuge for the righteous, suggesting that it is a safe haven from the troubles of this life.
Wisdom is associated with understanding and is present even among fools, indicating that it is not limited to intelligent or wise people.
The passage suggests that wisdom is a characteristic of the man of understanding, but it can also be present in unexpected places.
The use of antithesis (wicked vs righteous, evildoing vs refuge, death vs life) emphasizes the contrast between the two groups.
The passage implies that the righteous will find peace and safety in death, while the wicked will be punished for their actions.
The phrase "wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding" suggests that wisdom is a personal and internal quality.
The phrase "but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools" suggests that wisdom can be present in unexpected places and can be recognized by others.
Claims
- The wicked will be punished for their evildoing.
- The righteous will find refuge in death.
- Wisdom is associated with understanding.
- Wisdom is present even among fools.
Popular Mistakes
Misunderstanding
The wicked are punished in this life
Correction
The wicked are punished in the afterlife (correction: The passage emphasizes the consequences of one's actions, but it does not specify when the punishment occurs).
Misunderstanding
The righteous are safe from harm in this life
Correction
The righteous are safe from harm in the afterlife (correction: The passage suggests that death is a refuge for the righteous, but it does not imply that they are safe from harm in this life).
Application Questions
- How can we apply the principle that wisdom is present even among fools to our own lives?
- What does it mean to have wisdom in our hearts, and how can we cultivate it?
- How can we balance the idea that death is a refuge for the righteous with the reality of suffering and hardship in this life?
- What are some ways that we can recognize and respond to the presence of wisdom in unexpected places?
- How can we apply the principle that the wicked will be punished for their evildoing to our own lives and relationships?
- What does it mean to be a "man of understanding" and how can we cultivate this quality in ourselves?