In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

1 Samuel Chapter 4 the Isrealites are camped at Ebenezer for battle against the Philistines. Ebenezer means the Lord has helped us thus far. Strangely, they are about to go into battle at the end of God’s help. The Israelites bring the ark, but view the ark of the covenant like a magic wand that can be waved.

They didn’t realise that the right heart and attitudes towards God are crucial. Today, someone can pray a good prayer for salvation, but not be saved because the heart is not truly humbled, and grace doesn’t flow. Here for Israel, despite the ark coming into the camp, grace doesn’t flow. So the Israelites lose the battle, and the ark is captured. This is the event prophecied in the last chapter that was going to make the ears of ever ...