Study In1 Samuel

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Catastrophe And Revival

Chapter 7v1-17

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Introduction

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God's awesome judgement on the men of Beth Shemesh, who had looked inside the ark, had the effect of producing a holy fear in the whole community.

Like the Philistines the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh reckoned God was too hot to handle and they decided to play their own game of pass the parcel with the ark. And so word was sent to the men of Kireath Jearim to come and take the ark and give it a home.

Banished to the Borders

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Now we really need a map of Israel before us to see the significance of this action. Kireath Jearim is on the very border of Judah. It is in Judah but only just. Israel’s treatment of the ark reflects their attitude towards God.

God was only just given house room.He certainly was not brought into the centre of their national life. That is a graphic picture of what individuals, churches and nations often do in relation to God

Spiritual Breakthrough

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During this time, God was creating an appetite for blessing through Samuel's ministry. Samuel preached for 20 years before there was any significant movement [this should encourage ministers to be faithful in their ministries]. When the people eventually seek God’s blessing v2, Samuel tests the genuineness of their request by telling them to put their moral and religious life on a right footing. Vs 5-6 indicate those elements that are involved in spiritual restoration: humble intercession, willingness for obedient service [to be like poured out water], self abasement and confession.

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Spiritual BreakthroughNotice that it was not until Israel was prepared to put away her strange gods that God was prepared to answer their cry for his powerful intervention in their midst and with it he brought a new spirit of reality among his people. God did this by creating a hunger and a desperation in their hearts that could not be denied. Ask, how desperate am I for the blessing of God? Do we say with the hymn-writer;The dearest idol, I have knownWhat ere that idol beHelp me to tear it from thy breastAnd worship only thee

Idolatry can be very deep seated and have little to do with external things.

The thing that dilutes and distracts our worship more than anything else is in

fact our love of self. Martin Luther put his finger on the

matter when he said that he was more afraid of the great pope ‘Self’ than all

the other popes in Christendom.

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Spiritual Breakthrough

The Response Of The EnemyThe Philistines heard of Israel's national repentance and planned an attack v7.

On a human level they were opposed to the consolidation and solidarity Israel,

who, if they became spiritually distinctive, could pose a significant

threat. But on another level we surely need to

discern the incitement of Satan. A national revival in Israel was certainly

not in his interests.

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Turning to GodThe Israelites were fearful of the

Philistine advance because they had previously suffered two significant

defeats at their hands. Besides that, Samuel, whom they viewed as their

leader, was not a military man.

However, they meet their fears with God's promise which had been given earlier in v3 and so ask Samuel to do

what he does best. Pray!

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Turning to GodPrayer is practical! In response to prayer God routed the Philistines, thereby demonstrating

that, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God.”2Cor.10v4.

After Israel’s victory over the Philistines Samuel raised up a stone for all Israel to see and called it

Ebenezer v12 the "stone of help”: a name associated with the place of their earlier defeat

by the Philistines. cf. 4v1. Clearly, Samuel’s purpose in raising this stone was to act as a permanent reminder to Israel that God can reverse every defeat in our lives and will come to his people’s help if they but

trust him to do so.

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The Place Of Remembrance

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The standing stone at Ebenezer would remind future generations in Israel of the difference God's presence can make. Previously they had taken God's presence for granted. It was a foolish presumption which owed more to superstition than to faith. On this occasion God's presence was sought through repentance, faith and earnest entreaty. We must not allow that reality to be erased from our memories. There is a whole world of difference between presumption and the dependence of faith.

Learning From DefeatThis victory had long term consequences as v13-14 makes clear. God would protect his

people as they walked in obedience and heeded his voice throughout the length of

Samuel's ministry.Like Israel, we are often able to look back on defeats and reverses in our lives and

bless God for them as we see them to be the means God used in restoring us to a

right walk with him. Isn’t it simply marvellous that God goes to all that

trouble over us?

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