Don’t make “sacred” fetishes of people or things
1Samuel 4-6 / Revelation 5-6
How to get the most out of Hungry Bible
OT
4:3 After the battle was over, the army of Israel retreated to their camp, and their leaders asked, “Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”
6:19-20 But the LORD killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the LORD. And the people mourned greatly because of what the LORD had done. “Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?” they cried out. “Where can we send the Ark from here?”
NT
5:8-14 And as he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense–the prayers of God’s people! And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become God’s Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “The Lamb is worthy–the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped God and the Lamb.
6:17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?”
OT Flash Points
“Bring the fetish!” – Big mistake!
So the priestly line was broken
“How can we get rid of this thing?”
The right question?
America is so clueless, they can’t even connect its plagues to what is causing them
At least the Philistines knew what was causing the plague of tumors
Dagon fell and was broken before the Ark
NT Flash Points
All heaven and earth bows and worships the One sitting on the throne
The others who opposed God begged for relief from the face of the One on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb
Perspective
Bring God’s presence
He will do the rest
[About Bible Reading for the Hungry]