1 Sam 4:1-11 / Mark 1:40-45
The greatest test of courage is to bear defeat without losing heart. (Robert Green Ingersoll)
Actually, there is more to be learned from defeat than from victory. And it is said that defeat is the mother of victory.
But defeat cannot teach us anything if the defeat is from our own ignorance.
In the 1st reading, we heard that the Israelites engaged in battle with the Philistines, and the Israelites were defeated with about four thousand killed.
In the Old Testament, when one nation goes into battle with another nation, it also means that the god of one nation goes into battle with the god of the other nation.
So when the Israelites lost that battle against the Philistines, they should have asked why.
The God of Israel was the God who struck down Egypt with every kind of plague and hence defeated all the gods of Egypt.
So the Israelites should have asked why they were defeated. Certainly, it was not because God is not powerful enough.
But instead of asking and examining themselves as to why God allowed them to be defeated, they put God to the test by bringing along the ark of the covenant for the next battle.
So in their ignorance, they side-stepped self-examination; in their obstinance, they even forced God to go before them to fight for them.
Ignorance and obstinance are like defeat and failure that one does not learn anything from.
But let us be courageous enough to look at ourselves and look into ourselves and see what is wrong with us first.
That would be the first step towards victory and success for the glory of God.