Samuel leads the people back to God

1 Samuel Chapter 7

The men of Kiriath-jearim came to get the Ark and took it to the hillside home of Abinadab and ordained Eleazar, his son, to be in charge of it.The Ark remained there for twenty years and during that time all of Israel mourned because it seemed that the Lord had abandoned them.

Then Samuel told the people of Israel if they were serious about wanting to return to the Lord, they must get rid of their foreign god and idols and obey the Lord and he would rescue them from the Philistines. So the Israelites did what Samuel told them to do and destroyed their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and only worshiped the Lord.

Samuel told all of the people to come to Mizpah where he would pray to the Lord foor them. So they all came and gathered there and in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted all day and confessed they had sinned against the Lord. So it was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel's judge.

When the Philistine rulers heard of the huge gathering of Israelites at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they heard the Philistines were approaching. They begged Samuel to plead with the Lord to save them from the Philistines. So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a burnt offering. He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel and the Lord answered. Just as Samuel was making the sacrifice, the Philistines arrived for battle. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion, that the Israelites defeated them.

Then Samuel took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah and named it Ebenezer "the stone of help" for he pointed out that the Lord helped his people. And the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel again for a long time. And throughout Samuel's lifetime, the Lord's powerful hand was raised against the Philistines. The Israelite towns near Ekron and Gath that had been captured, were restored to Israel along with the rest of the territory that the Philistines had taken. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Samuel continued as Israel's judge for the rest of his life. Each year he traveled around Israel setting up his court and judging the people at these places. Then he would return home to Ramah and hear cases there too. And he built an altar to the Lord at Ramah.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The Israelites put the Ark away like an unwanted box. They complained bitterly, but did nothing to change their own circumstances until Samuel rousted them to action. He urged them to get rid of their idols and realize that the Lord alone is worthy of worship.
Baal was believed to be the son of El, chief deity of the Canaanites and hewas regarded as the god of thunder and rain and controlled vegetation and agriculture. Ashtoreth was the goddess of love and war, she was called Ishtar in Babylone and Aphrodite in Greece. The people believed that by a sexual union with these two gods, the earth would magically rejuvenate and become fertile.
The significance of pouring water on the ground before the Lord was a sign of repenting from sin, turning from idols and obeying God alone. Samuel's obedience and dedication to God made him one of the greatest judges in Israel's history.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Aren't we like the Israelites often complaining about our problems even to God? We often don't take the advice he has already given us. Do you feel sometimes that God has abandoned you? Check to see if he has already told you what to do and act on it. If your communication with him through prayer holds true, he is trying to help you. Perhaps you are just not seeing the writing on the wall, so to speak. He DOES hear you and see you. He DOES love you and care for you.

Yours in Christ,

SUCESSFUL HEALING REPORT: Thanks to your prayers, Al’s cancer is gone! His tumor, however remains inoperable and he is home living as normal a life as can be expected. Continue to pray for him. Gene’s biopsy proved his tumor was benign and he has been removed from our prayer list. Barb has been moved to a rehab facility to work on her speech etc., keep praying for her.

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Arlene’s nephew David, Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family and my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. And Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke. Also for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She is 10 weeks old and has her own room at the hospital. The doctors continue to experiment with respirators, but her parents can see progress in her lung activity. Pray also for healing of Mark after brain surgery. These folks need your prayers so badly. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.