Preparing for a New Age (1 Samuel 4:1–4)
Preparing for a New Age (1 Samuel 4:1–4) 9/27/2026
By the grace of God, I returned safely after completing the ministries in Korea and the Philippines. Before leaving, I shared messages for two weeks on Light Camp and Language Camp. No matter how much darkness covers the whole earth, those of us who have the light of God can instead enjoy God’s blessings even in the midst of that darkness and do the work of saving lives. The words that come out of our mouths at such times can revive the church and save the world.
The Bible says, “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground”(1 Samuel 3:19).
The result of the lives of believers who failed to hold on to this blessing is described in this week’s passage, 1 Samuel 4. Eventually, darkness covered their families, their church, and the entire nation, and the result was devastating. War broke out against the Philistines, their long-time enemies, and Israel suffered two terrible defeats. In the first battle, 4,000 men were killed (v. 2), and in the second battle, 30,000 were killed (v. 10). In this war, the Ark of the Covenant was also captured, and priest Eli’s two sons were killed. When Eli heard the news, he also died of shock.
Why do such shameful and tragic things happen in the personal lives, families, and churches of God’s people? It was God’s discipline toward His people, who had failed to recognize the opportunities God had given them for such a long time. Yet even this discipline is an expression of God’s love toward us (Hebrews 12:6), and it is also a mirror and a message from God for every generation that comes and goes (1 Corinthians 10:11).
But this is not the end. There is an important conclusion. God was preparing a new age. In the midst of all this, God was preparing Samuel, and David who will be raised through him, as the “remnants,” the “ones who remain,” whom He would use for His absolute plan. We are people who are in the covenant to be used in this age as the ones who remain, the remnants. God desires for us in this age to rise as remnants, as the ones who remain, and as disciples whom God will use, who possess three things clearly.
- God tells us to begin anew in the midst of every problem.
In Isaiah 43:18–19, God gave an important answer and message to Israel, a people who had experienced failure and shame.
1) “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” There are things I have done well, and there are things I have done poorly. God tells us not to become trapped by those things. If we become consumed with the things we have done well, we can fall into self-confidence and pride. If we become consumed with the things we have done wrong, we can live under guilt and eventually try to escape from it. We may make excuses for ourselves and begin to lie. We may even shift the blame onto someone else and begin to hate people. That is the spiritual problem that began in Genesis 3.
2) “See, I am doing a new thing!” God said that He would make a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. This means that no one should give up, but instead expect the new work that God will do. That is faith. The moment we are saved, we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Holy Spirit is with us to help us, because we are deeply lacking, and He groans within us and intercedes for us in prayer (Romans 8:26). When we acknowledge and confess our shortcomings, God promises to forgive all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
3) It goes even further. God makes our problems, failures, and suffering become at least three kinds of opportunities. This is why God called out to Adam and Eve, who had sinned before Him and hidden among the trees (Genesis 3:9).
① God heals and renews our hidden weaknesses and wounds and makes us mature before Him. An opportunity for re-creation As people who have been saved, we must experience this re-creation of God within us every day (Psalm 51:10).
② As we are healed and re-created, God gives us the opportunity to save people who are truly like us. An opportunity for re-production. Even though we may have been shameful, God makes us witnesses who can tell others what it means to live according to His will (Psalm 51:13).
③ Even if we experience shame and discipline for a short time, God ultimately turns it into an opportunity to enjoy His greater blessing. An opportunity for re-challenge (Proverbs 24:16). This is the covenant contained within God’s absolute grace and absolute love (hesed).
- God tells us to go deeper into the covenant in the midst of every problem. The reason the Israelites repeatedly fell into the world and idol worship, experiencing failure and shame, was because they had lost hold of the covenant.
1) Unbelievers are not simply people who do not believe. The Bible calls them Gentiles, meaning people who are without the covenant (Ephesians 2:12). There is an original covenant that God gave us (Covenant of Creation). It is found in Genesis 1:26–28. We were created according to God’s plan. We were created in the image of God, and we were to subdue and rule over the things God created. Yet people live while completely losing sight of this fundamental covenant and blessing. They do not know God’s plan for their lives. Therefore, their own plans and their own will come first. They do not know the mystery of the Holy Spirit being with them. As a result, spirits of darkness control them. Naturally, they follow the culture of the world, become oppressed by the world, and live as slaves to it.
2) What is the covenant God gives to those who are saved? It is called the Covenant of Grace.
① We were people who had no choice but to live trapped in sin, the curse, and our destiny, but God called us by His grace and set us free. No matter how strong the world appears, and no matter how great the problems seem, do not be afraid or anxious. Fear and anxiety are what cause us to make mistakes and experience failure(Job3:25).
② Just as God made Abraham a source of blessing, He has made us a source of blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3–5). It does not matter if people disregard me or if the world considers me insignificant. I have become a person who is able to enjoy God’s blessing.
③ Satan tries to cover the whole earth with darkness. He especially attacks the weak areas of God’s people, deceiving them and trying to destroy them. God tells us to become strong by looking to the power of Christ, to hold on to the Word of promise, and to stand against by faith (Ephesians 6:10–11). The Lord Himself will oppose those who oppose us (Genesis 12:3), and He will fight for us to the very end and give us victory (Revelation 17:14).
④ What is the ultimate blessing? It is both a blessing and a mission. “And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring” (Genesis 12:3; 17:6; 22:18). We must raise our children so that they can grow into vessels (character, spirituality, and specialty) who can receive this blessing and be used by God to this extent. This is also why we go to the ends of the earth for missions (Acts 1:8).
3) Those who train themselves in at least seven areas are the leading figures of the Remnant Age and evangelists who will save the world. These are the blessings held by people – the evangelists and disciples of their generations – throughout the Bible who were blessed and used by God.
① They held on to the blessing of the “remained” (Isaiah 6:13; Romans 11:5). They were deeply inadequate, yet God chose them by His grace and established them.
② They held on to the blessing of the “pilgrim” (Hebrews 11:16). They were not ashamed of God, and they looked toward His eternal kingdom.
③ They held on to the blessing of the “conqueror” (Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 15:57). They did not become discouraged by problems and suffering but enjoyed spiritual victory.
④ They held on to the blessing of the “scattered ones” (Isaiah 49:6). They became witnesses in their own fields and went to the ends of the earth to proclaim salvation.
⑤ They held on to the blessing of the “watchman” (Ezekiel 3:17; Isaiah 62:6). They understood that through the prayer of one person, a family, a household, a church, and an entire generation could be revived.
⑥ They held on to the blessing of the “spy” (Numbers 13:1–16; Joshua 2:1). They were people who sought out the fields God had prepared and the disciples God had prepared.
⑦ They held on to the blessing of the “one who raises the banner” (Isaiah 62:10). They raised only the banner of Christ and stood as people who would save all peoples.
Conclusion – We are living in a difficult time throughout the whole world. May God bless us to experience victory by holding on to the covenant that God is preparing a new age through us.
9.27.26 Preparing for a New Age