The Road Home

The Road Home
Words of Faith 8-22-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Samuel 7
[1] So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD. [2] It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. [3] And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." [4] So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. [5] Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you."

The spiritual life of the Israelites was still in great disarray. The return of the Ark to Kiriath Jearim seemed to be a tangible sign that God was once again among His people to bless them and deliver them from all their oppressors. But the mere presence of the Ark did not guarantee God's favor. The casual familiarity some men exercised toward the Ark of the Covenant was just a symptom of something much more profound.
What had started with the abuses of Hophni and Phinehas-- stealing from God's offerings and profaning the place of worship-- had evolved into a strange religious climate. The Israelites had not submitted to the rule of God in their lives, but they certainly did not want the presence of the Lord to depart from them. They were happy that the Ark was back in their possession and "control," but they did not want God too close at hand. This religious spirit desired to be "close enough" to God to call on Him but not so close to being controlled by Him.
The symptom of this casual climate was idolatry. The people claimed the name of God but found their comfort in foreign idols. The people mourned that the presence of the Lord was not manifest among them, yet clung to little statues of Baal and Ashtoreth. The people wanted what the world offered and looked to foreign gods for meaning and some sense of control over the circumstances of life, primarily fertility and agriculture.
So the Ark sat neglected but guarded in the next town up the road. It sounds ridiculous, but it was true. And after twenty years, there was really only one answer. Young Samuel had grown up to be quite a prophetic preacher. He called upon the people of Israel to do two things-- get rid of the idols and assemble for prayer before the Lord. There is no doubt that for twenty years, the idolatry of the people stood in the way of them experiencing the powerful presence of God among them.
The situation causes us to ask some questions. What is the spiritual climate of my life? Have you surrendered to a spirit of religion in place of a personal and powerful walk with God? Have you given your heart and resources over to idols? Are there things you have turned to for happiness, fulfillment, or change of circumstances rather than surrendering to God? Have you kept the presence of God nearby, close enough that you can get to Him if you need Him, but failed to invite His presence into the place of power and control in your life?
We will never get any farther with God as long as He lives in the next town over! We will never grow with God as long as we have idols in our lives, whether those idols are material possessions, career advancement, family, sports, or anything else. We also need to get rid of the idols and get before God.

Father God, forgive me for the times I have kept you at a comfortable reachable distance. Forgive me for the idols I have kept and treasured. I want Your presence to be central in my life. I desire nothing more than You. I draw near to You, O God, now draw near to me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.