SAMUEL LED THE PEOPLE TO TURN TO GOD

1 Samuel 7:2-17 / Keywords 7:3

And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, “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.”

 

7:2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all.

Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. 3 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.

5 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[a] of Israel at Mizpah.

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. 8 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.

10 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.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[b] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

13 So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. 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, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

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.

Footnotes

a. 1 Samuel 7:6 Traditionally judge; also in verse 15

b. 1 Samuel 7:12 Ebenezer means stone of help.

1. Twenty years had passed, and the Israelites were turning back to God. Samuel encouraged them to return their hearts to God by getting rid of all foreign idols. They were to consecrate their hearts and devote themselves only to God (3). He called an assembly of prayer in Mizpah. They fasted and confessed their sins.

 

2. When the Philistines heard about this, they thought it was a good opportunity to attack the Israelites. Probably, they were vulnerable after fasting and crying in their prayers. The Israelites were afraid, but Samuel, as their leader, gave a burnt offering to God and continued his intercessory prayer for Israel. The Israelites were weak, but they were depending on God, who is almighty.

 

3. As the Philistines came to attack, God threw thunder upon the Philistines to drive them in panic and confusion (10). Then, the Israelites chased and slaughtered them to win a great victory. It was a victory they won by depending on God with humble and broken hearts. Samuel took a stone and named it Ebenezer, to commemorate the Lord who helps. Is your heart heavy with worries and anxieties? Consecrate your hearts by repenting your sins. Confess that He is your only hope and salvation. Trust in the Ebenezer God.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for helping me out of your mercy. I put my trust in you today.

One Word God is willing and able to help