A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out. When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man hurried and came and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see. And the man said to Eli, “I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.” And he said, “How did it go, my son?” He who brought the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
(1 Samuel 4:12-18 ESV)
When Eli hit his head, broke his neck and died, it represented an all-time low for Israel. The messenger spared the worst news for last. It was what Eli had feared the most. Not only did his nation lose the battle; not only did many friends and fellow citizens die; not only did his two sons die; most of all, the ark was taken captive. That was the straw that broke the camel's back - in this case, Eli's neck. The thought of such a thing happening was overwhelming. Israel had hit bottom. It was not the physical ark itself, but everything it represented: the presence of God, the power of God, the provision of God, the commandments of God. And with the death of Eli, the nation lost its leader - both priest and judge for forty years. It was like Israel was all alone, with no ally. How do we know when we have hit bottom? Are we truly all alone? Can things get any worse? What will be our first step?
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