Prepare our hearts, O God,
to hear your Word
and obey your will.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
God’s presence, his rule, and his faithfulness are all themes that are all woven through today’s text.
4:3 marks the first time that God’s presence is manipulated by people deciding to move the ark. Look at how verse 4 describes the ark. This is not just a fancy box! Verse 8 shows again how God’s reputation precedes him and has a greater effect on his enemies than on his people.
*8:7 marks a turning point for the whole nation. God acknowledges that the people have rejected him as king, and he is now going to grant their request for a king.
8:19-20 “But the people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.’” Think how disastrous this statement would have been if they had said it to Joshua right when they crossed the Jordan! This is exactly the opposite of what God’s plan for them was.
12:22 – “For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.” God is faithful – take note.
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