1 Samuel 7:1-2 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all. Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. (And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.)
Israel has the ark back, but they realize just because they had the Ark of the Covenant back again didn’t make them right with God. And we see here all the people of Israel lamented (wail-Mourn after) after the LORD.
Israel has good reason to lament. Their cities were in ruins, their armies were defeated, and they are under Philistine control — all because they were not right with God. (I do believe it took them at least 20 years to do it)
Samuel was born in 1, called in 3, Last mentioned in 4, strangely absent from the whole Ark of the Covenant fiasco. 1 Samuel 8:1 “Now it came to pass when Samuel was old..” (dies in 25) (Beth Shemesh)
Where was Samuel all that time?’ I don’t know what he was doing; but I have a suspicion, that he was going from place to place, preaching repentance; warning the people of their sin, and stirring them up to come back to God.
1 Samuel 7:3-4 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
Samuel calls the nation to repentance. The repentance had to be inward (with all your hearts) and outward (rid yourselves of the foreign gods).
The inward is more important than the outward, and it had to come first. That’s why Samuel first called Israel to return with all your hearts, then told them to put away the foreign gods.
Inward repentance is a secret thing. It’s hidden. We can’t really “see” the heart of another. But when there is an inward change of the heart it will be proved by the outward actions.
Samuel would know if Israel had returned with all their hearts by seeing them put away their foreign gods. Samuel could not see their hearts, but he could see the actions of a heart that had been changed.
Context: Israel was in double bondage. In bondage to the false gods/idols they served as well as in bondage to the Philistines. I want us to understand Israel was in bondage to their enemies because of their idols and their worship of them.
So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreth’s, and served the LORD only: Now we’ll see what God can do with an inward and outward change.
1 Samuel 7:5-6 Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah. Mizpah is where Jacob separated from Laban (Gen 31) It was the gathering place for a repentant Israel in Judges 20. This was a place known for separation and repentance.
Samuel had called the nation to repentance, and Samuel knows God’s work in them could only be completed through prayer and sacrifice. (Samuel intercedes)
They draw water and pour it out before the LORD: This was to symbolize their sincere repentance, humility, and their dependence on God. This act was a form of spiritual cleansing and purification and expressed a total outpouring of their hearts and lives to God.
They expressed the same heart as: Lamentations 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night,
as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. (Pouring out their sin-no way to retrieve it.)
They also fasted (symbolic that nothing else really mattered except getting right with God) and confessed (an admission of guilt and taking responsibility). Poured-Fasted-Confessed “We have sinned against the LORD.”
Confession is vital in maintaining our fellowship with God. When God convicts us of our sins it’s because He knows it can hinder our fellowship with Him. We need to confess/repent for our relationship with God to continue without hindrance.
If it comes from the heart, I can’t think of a better statement of confession than “We have sinned against the LORD.” Remember what David said when he was confronted with his sin by Nathan in: 2 Samuel 12:12. Psalms 51
Experiencing the conviction of sin by God means little, if our response to that conviction doesn’t demonstrate a genuine repentance.
1 Samuel 7:7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
(Samuel interceded-pouring-fasted-confessed-put away their idols) Yet the Philistines clearly have more confidence/faith than the Israelites.
In 1 Samuel 4 Israel was completely confident/faith filled against the Philistines with the ark, but their confidence/faith was soon deflated/defeated. (FEAR & FAITH) Here, Israel is afraid and have very small amount faith. But a little faith (mustard seed) in the true and living God is a very powerful thing.
1 Samuel 7:8-9 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
Samuel takes a sucking lamb and offers it as whole burnt offering and cried out to the Lord on Israels behalf.
Think of this poor young lamb — who never hurt anyone or who never sinned itself, yet its blood was poured out, and it was offered to God. Why?
Because Samuel and Israel had to say, this is what we deserve. This is the punishment that should come upon us. We thank you God for accepting this atoning sacrifice and the punishment of this innocent lamb instead. (Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.) Heb.9
Behold the lamb that atones for the sins of Israel. (Sound a little bit familiar?)
John 1:29 “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1 Samuel 7:10-12 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar. (Mustard Seed) 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
God fought on behalf of Israel and defeated the Philistines. And even though both heard the thunder only the Philistines were panicked and confused.
Samuel knew the nation needed to remember this amazing victory, which came because of a humble and repentant Israel.
Samuel knew it was the LORD who won this battle, not Israel — so he set up a remembrance stone and called it Ebenezer meaning “Stone of Help” or “thus far the Lord has helped us.”
1 Samuel 7:13-17 So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading Israel’s territory (shield of faith) . Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, (Restoration of what the enemy had taken) and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. (Also, Peace) 15 Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord.
WHAT ISRAEL WAS: Spiritually bankrupt people from the top down. An idolatrous people serving false gods Baals and Ashtoreths. God had completely rejected them and was furious. They were disobedient and in double bondage!
WHAT ISRAEL BECAME: A humble people. A people who poured out their heart to the Lord, fasted and confessed: “We have sinned against the Lord. And who served Him only.
Yokes of bondage broken
Enemy subdued
What the enemy had taken–Restored
And there was Peace
It’s amazing what God can do through an obedient people!
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