The Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. – 1 Samuel 4:7

Today's Scripture Reading (May 14, 2025): 1 Samuel 4

Officially, it is called the "Oski Yell." Essentially, it is a battle cry that is thought to have first appeared at the University of California-Berkeley games that originated from the school's mascot "Oski the Bear" during the late nineteenth century. Although, that assertion needs to be amended with a huge maybe. We know the "Oski Yell" was used at the University of Illinois in 1899. However, the most common form of the "Oski Yell" I am familiar with has been used by Hamilton Tiger-Cats fans in the Canadian Football League since the 1920s. I also remember Tom Hanks leading a Hamilton crowd in the "Oski Yell," although trying to remember what the circumstances were escapes me. Maybe I just imagined that event. The Tiger Cat version of the Oski Yell is;

Oskee Wee Wee

Oskee Waa Waa

Holy Mackinaw

Tigers ... Eat 'em RAW!!

Maybe sports is the last refuge of the battle cry. Traditionally, the battle cry has had two functions. First, it raised the soldiers' courage, reminding them they did not go into battle alone. Soldiers have always moved into battle with their brothers; It has never been a solitary act. 

But the second purpose of the battle cry was that it was intended to instill fear in the enemy. A large cry meant a confident warrior class was on their way to fight. And if there was any doubt in the opposing army, it could be multiplied by a loud cry. 

The Ark of the Covenant has come into the Israelite Camp, and the people let out a yell. The importance of the Ark was known to Israel. The fighting men of Israel believed that their God had come into the camp. It was a battle cry unlike any that Israel had used before. They felt the elation that came with knowing Yahweh was with them. They understood, even if that understanding was faulty in several ways. 

Over in the Philistine camp, they also heard the Israelite cry and wondered what was happening. They received the answer that "a god" (Elohim) had come into the camp. Some experts have credited the Philistines with understanding the theological significance of the Ark of the Covenant. But that might be overthinking the situation. The reaction of the Philistines is not that they knew they were coming against the one true God, but simply a god. Elohim is used in the Bible to indicate Yahweh, but that is not necessarily how the Philistines used the word here. It is simply that one of the many gods the Philistines knew about that had come into the camp. And apparently, the Philistines had never had to go up against a god in battle before. 

But what shook Philistine to the core was probably not the god, but the battle cry that the god had elicited from the people was important. It meant that the soldiers they met on the battlefield the next day would be confident and ready for the battle. If the Philistines were going to win, they would need to match the energy and enthusiasm that Yahweh had elicited from their enemy.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 5