1 Samuel 7:1-17 (2)

What: God wanted his people to remove their idols from their midst and to serve Him alone so that they can experience deliverance and peace.

Why: God is holy and He alone is worthy to be worshipped and he does not want His people to harm themselves by worshipping idols.

Drawing Near to God Brings Peace and Restoration

(Right Attitude to the Holiness of God)

How can we draw near to God so we can experience His peace and restoration?

I. Repent of your sins (vv.1-6)

A. God’s silence causes the Israelites to mourn (vv.1-2)

The Ark was taken by the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, and stayed in the house of Abinadab for 20 years.

God was not communicating anything

so, they lamented (mourned) for the Lord.

The Ark was returned but the favor of the Lord and was not with them.

They felt the sadness and longing...

Reflection:

This is something that we don’t want as Christians - God’s presence and favor not accompanying us.

B. God’s condition for their deliverance (vv.3-6)

Samuel spoke on God’s condition for their deliverance:

If Israel will

Return to the Lord with all your heart

Remove the foreign Gods

Direct your hearts to the Lord

Serve Him Alone

God will

Deliver them from the hand of the Philistines

The Israelite’s action (v.4)

They removed their idols

They served the Lord alone

Samuel

Instructed the Israelites to gather at Mizpah. (v.5)

Samuel prayed for them (v.5)

They gathered, fast, confessed their sins to the Lord (v.6)

Timeless Truths:

No one can serve two masters at the same time.

Christ and corruption cannot be in the same room.

II. Rely on God through prayers (vv.7-11)

A. God’s power displayed in bringing them deliverance (vv.7-11)

The Philistines attacked Israel (v.7)

The Israelites were afraid (v.7b)

Cry for help and deliverance (v.8)

Samuel offered a lamb and prayed to the Lord and the Lord answered Samuel’s prayer (v.9)

The Lord alone defeated the Philistines (v.10)

The Israelites did their part in pursuing the defeated Philistines (v.11)

Samuel erected a memorial stone and named it “Ebenezer” meaning “The LORD has helped us”.

III. Remember God’s character and work in the past (vv.12-14)

Samuel erected a memorial stone and named it “Ebenezer” meaning “The LORD has helped us” (v.12)

God’s blessing upon the renewed people (vv. 13-14)

The Philistines were defeated (v.13)

The land was restored to Israel (v.14)

Peace in the Land (v.14)

IV. Receive guidance and help from godly people (vv.15-17)

God gave Samuel to the people as his spokesperson and Samuel continued serving the Lord and the people as a judge and prophet (v.15-17)