Israel Defeats the Philistines at Mizpah
Notes
Transcript
Handout
What do you suppose would provoke people all over the country suddenly to turn to God?
Massive destruction and catastrophe
How did Samuel define “returning to the Lord with all your hearts?” (v. 3)
Put away the foreign Gods and the Ashtoreths from among you
Foreign gods because of polygamy
Ashtoreths were images of these gods - totems, idols, statues, etc.
Prepare your hearts for the Lord
Serve him only
What significant actions did the people of Israel take in the process of repenting? (v. 6)
Gathered together and drew water and then poured that water out before the Lord.
This act symbolized the people pouring out their hearts before the Lord.
They fasted.
They admitted their sin before God.
What was the significance of the stone Samuel set up between Mizpah and Shen? (v. 12)
“Ebenezer” means “the stone of help”
This was a stone of remembrance. When this stone was seen in the future, it would remind of how God had saved Israel from destruction and fought their battle for them.
How did God answer Samuel and what were the results? (v. 10-11, 13-15)
God sent a massive thunder into the valley which caused massive confusion amongst the Philistines.
God had already revealed Himself unto the Philistines when they had the ark of the covenant in their possession. But now God revealed Himself to the Philistines on behalf of Israel. This is the God of Israel that they had heard stories about, but now have seen firsthand.
The backbone of the Philistine army as a major power was broken.
The territory formally conquered by the Philistines was regained.
Israel made peace with the Amorite (Canaanite) nations.
Why did Samuel see Israel’s repentance and abandonment of idols as a necessary first step to their military deliverance?
He knew that God’s promises were true; those for the good and for the bad.
In order for God’s hand to be upon them again, they needed to get their hearts right with Him.
Only after they were willing to do these things, would God be willing to once again fight for them.
When the people reacted to the approaching army by asking Samuel to “cry out to the Lord our God for us,” how had the stage been set for God’s positive response?
They had acknowledged their sin, repented of their sin, and begged God’s forgiveness. Samuel was now performing a sacrifice to please God.
How do we see Christ in this passage?
The people had sinned.
Samuel kills a lamb and offers it as a burnt sacrifice.
The people got rid of anything in their lives that grieved God and repented of their sin.
God delivered them.