FRIDAY November 16, 2018

Cries that Reach Heaven

Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!” So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
1 Samuel 5:10-12

The Ark of the Covenant was passed on to yet another Philistine city–– Ekron. After knowing what had happened to the people in Ashdod and Gath, the Ekronites cried out in terror. The people pleaded for the Ark of God to be returned to its own place. Already there began a deadly destruction throughout the entire city. Those who did not die were stricken with the tumors––possibly hemorrhoids, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

Why did the cry go up towards heaven? What kind of cry was it? It was no a cry of repentance, all the Philistines were interested in was to be rid of the plague. They wanted relief––that was it.

Interestingly, God hears the wicked when they cry out. He is aware of everything that is going on in their lives. The problem is not with God; it is with the people. They can cry out all they want, but they have to cry out to God in repentance. Understand, the LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as  have a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18).

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
~Psalm 34:15-16~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!