Holy Hardware

The children of Israel had been routed in a battle against the Philistines. 4000 Israelite soldiers fell in the battle.

The army retreated and came to the elders asking, "Why had the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines?" (1 Sam 4:3a)

They asked the right question. They wanted to know the cause of their defeat.

"What have we done that God is fighting against us?"

Perhaps they were remembering the curses from the law of Moses.

But the solution that they devised showed that they didn't really want to make any changes.

"Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies" (v 3b).

The result was devastating. The ark was captured. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of the High Priest Eli, were killed. When the obese Eli heard the news, he fell over backwards and died.

Phinehas' wife summed it up perfectly by naming her son born that day, Ichabod, for the glory of the LORD had departed from Israel.

Rather than examining their hearts, confessing sin, turning from sin and calling out to God for help, they wanted the holy hardware. They wanted a good-luck charm.

When God brings difficulties into our lives, we often inquire about God's plans.

But like the soldiers, we want a quick fix. We want something external to do, rather than changing our hearts.

Hang a cross on the wall. Go to church more often. Put more money in the offering. Read the Bible more. Pray more.

Those actions aren't inherently bad. They may help us understand God's plan.

But they aren't the solution. They aren't what God wants.

"For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Ps 51:16-17).

God wants your broken spirit, not a cross on the wall.

God wants your broken heart, not more money in the offering.

God wants your contrite heart, not your perfect attendance at church.

To what holy hardware are you clinging?