Seeing the Big Picture

While drawing spiritual parallels from biblical historical accounts can provide insights, we must remain vigilant to survey the big picture.  For example, this morning I read 1 Samuel 7 which explains how the Ark of the Covenant remained in the home of Abinadab for 20 years before the children of Israel returned to the LORD with all their hearts, put away their idols and served God only.  For a long time the nation of Israel had been oppressed by the Philistines, and drawing near to God according to His covenant was an important step in their restoration.  The Hebrews gathered at the word of Samuel and humbled themselves before God in acknowledging their sin with fasting and repentance.

The Philistines heard the Hebrews had gathered in Mizpeh, and they decided it provided an opportune time to attack.  The people were likely weakened from their fast and not organised to fight a battle, so it seemed they would be easy prey.  Some might read this passage and draw a spiritual parallel, that when God's people take steps to be right with God and serve Him the enemy of our souls will muster forces to attack.  We do observe it was after Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and hungry from an extended fast Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread.  While this interpretation may have merit, it is not the whole story.  If we hold fast to this interpretation of events on a spiritual level, we do a disservice to ignore what happened later.  Focusing on the enemy attack or satanic temptation results in poor--even unbiblical--personal application.

When the people saw the advancing Philistines, they were afraid and asked Samuel to intercede on their behalf with God.  Samuel cried out to God, and God heard him.  1 Samuel 7:10 reads, "Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel."  In response to the cries of His people, God delivered them from their adversaries with a mighty hand, for He thundered against them.  The passage goes on to say in 1 Samuel 7:13-14, "So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. ¹⁴ Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites."  When the enemies of Israel seized an opportunity to fight and overcome Israel, God fought for His people, overcame their enemies, kept the Philistines out of Israel's territory, and restored cities long inhabited by Philistines!  God brought peace where there had only been oppression and warfare.

For those who would use the 1 Samuel 7 passage to suggest we ought to expect opposition when we turn to the LORD and serve Him wholly, we also ought to praise God because He will deliver us!  After the temptations of Satan proved futile, the Gospels of Matthew and Mark say after the devil left him angels came and ministered unto Him.  God allowed Job to suffer at the hands of Satan with the aim to doubly bless him in the end and reveal His compassion and mercy (James 5:11).  The devil imagined he could destroy Jesus on Calvary, but by God's grace the death of Jesus ushered in the means of justification and salvation for all sinners forever.  From these passages the big picture is revealed, that whenever God allows attacks and trials God is able to redeem them as a massive win for those who love Him.

If we only focus on the likelihood of attacks for seeking the LORD and serving Him, it follows people may conclude opposition is validation of their piety.  A better interpretation and application is to realise our sovereign God is able to deliver, save and minister to us because He preserves us by His grace.  Let us be those who cry out to Him for salvation and abide in His word.  John 8:31-32 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  In Christ we are free from the shackles of worry, sin, fear and pride, and we are free to worship, praise and thank God for His salvation.  As it is written in Psalm 34:6, "This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."  More than focusing on enemy attacks or what we must do to overcome, how good it is to rejoice in our Saviour who hears and saves us out of all our troubles.