Scripture: First Samuel 4:17-18
“So the messenger answered and said, ‘Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has
been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead;
and the ark of God has been captured.’ Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark
of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken
and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.” Why
wasn’t the hand of God against the Philistines all the days of Eli? What was the difference
between Eli’s priesthood and Samuel’s priesthood? Eli never moved God’s hand. Eli was
never given the privilege of carrying the mish-pawt of God. I wonder why? Why is it that
during one generation the hand of God seems to be against the church and then as soon as
that generation is removed the hand of God turns against the enemy in behalf of the church.
That is precisely what happened in the transition from Eli to Samuel. Samuel carried this all
his days. What are we going to carry all of our days? Where is mish-pawt?
PRAYER
I have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts, feel- ings, and purposes of His heart. (1
Cor. 2:16 AMP.) I am a believer and not a doubter. I hold fast to my confession of faith. I
decide to walk by faith and practice faith. My faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the
Word of God. Jesus is the author, developer, and finisher of my faith. (Heb. 4:14 NKJV;
Heb. 11:6; Rom. l0:17 NKJV; Heb. 12:2.) The Holy Spirit has shed the love of God abroad
in my heart, and His love abides in me richly. I keep myself in the kingdom of light, in love,
in the Word; and the wicked one touches me not. (Rom. 5:5; 1 John 4:16;1 Tim. 6:17; 1
John 5:18.)