Both friends and foes of the Lord naturally operate on assumptions and end up deceived. Unpleasant consequences follow, like in 1 Samuel 3. The Israelites were just defeated by the enemy Philistines. The Israelites then assumed in chapter 4 that if they had the ark of the covenant with them, they would win the next battle. After all, hadn’t they won the battle against their enemy Egyptian slave masters when the ark went before them into the Red Sea?
Their assumption that the ark was the key to that victory was a deception. The truth was that God was not with them in this battle, for He was angry with them. The result of their assumption that they would have victory in the ark ended in disaster. Not only were they still defeated, the ark of the covenant was stolen by the enemy Philistines. It’s what 1 Samuel chapter 4 is all about.
In 1 Samuel 5, the enemy Philistines assumed that the ark of the covenant was a god who was on their side, allowing them victory against the Israelites. So, they stored the ark in the house of their god Dagon. Not only did their god Dagon mysteriously fall over twice in front of the ark (with its head and hands cut off the second time it happened), but the men in the cities were destroyed wherever the ark was. The enemy Philistines moved the ark to 3 of its cities to stave off destruction, and each of the three cities was destroyed: Ashdod (5:1-7); Gath (5:8-9); Ekron (5:10-12). Their assumption of victory turned out to be a deceived way of thinking.
Now, all that is history, isn’t it? But, be warned, deception is not over. In the context of the last days, which we are in, notice what Paul says to Timothy: But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13). Little wonder, because Satan knows his days are numbered. Here’s what he has to look forward to: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:9).
Going forward, deception will reign in this world. How is one to live in this reality? The same way you’ve been taught: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we lean on our own understanding, we are leaning on our assumptions.
In these last days of deception in government, education, media and non-Bible believing/teaching churches, we can’t afford to believe everything we hear, assuming it to be true. There are only two sources of truth and certainty: God and His word. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever (Psalm 119:160). Consider not only reading it, but studying it. And not only that, memorize it so His word and not your assumptions fill your mind.
Jody