Return to the Lord

Returning to the Lord: The Path of Revival

1 Samuel 7

Big Idea: Revival occurs when God’s people return to Him with repentant hearts, rely on His mercy, remember His help, and continue faithfully under His rule.

Last week we saw how God judges His people when they do not turn from their ways and follow only Him.

This chapter is not merely Israel winning a battle. It is a picture of what happens when a spiritually compromised people stop treating God as a means to their ends and genuinely return to Him. The ark had returned to Israel in chapter 6, but in chapter 7 Israel finally returns to the Lord. That distinction is vital: religious symbols, church activity, and spiritual language are not substitutes for repentance.

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Introduction — The result of God’s People Returning (4 minutes)

Setting the passage

- Israel had suffered a devastating loss to the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4.

- They had attempted to use the ark of God as a religious charm rather than humbly seeking the God of the ark (1 Sam. 4:3–11).

- The ark was captured, returned by God’s own power in chapters 5–6, and finally placed at Kiriath-jearim (7:1).

- Yet, even after the ark was back in Israel, the nation remained spiritually needy: “all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD” (7:2).

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Opening emphasis

There is a difference between wanting God to relieve our pain and wanting God Himself.

Israel’s sorrow became a longing “after the LORD”—a yearning for restored fellowship with the covenant God.

**Transition:** Chapter 7 shows us four movements in the path of revival.

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1. Revival Begins With Repentant Return

1 Samuel 7:1–6 (9 minutes)Change Slide

1 Samuel 7:1–6 KJV 1900

1 And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. 2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. 3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

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1 Samuel 7:1–6 KJV 1900

4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. 6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

> “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only…” (1 Sam. 7:3).

A. Revival begins with holy dissatisfaction of sin in your life.

**Verse 2 — “All the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.”**

- Twenty years had passed since the ark came to Kiriath-jearim.

- Israel had lived long enough with spiritual distance to recognize its misery.

- Their lament was more than grief over oppression; it was a longing for the Lord.

There is a sorrow that merely hates consequences, and there is a godly sorrow that hates sin because it has offended God. Paul describes this godly grief as producing repentance (2 Cor. 7:10).

Application:

Revival often begins when we stop excusing spiritual dryness. We must be willing to say:

- “Lord, I have grown comfortable with too little of You.”

- “I have allowed rival loyalties in my heart.”

- “I want more than relief from difficulty—I want restored fellowship with You.”

B. Repentance requires putting away rival gods

Verse 3 — “Put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth.”

Samuel’s call was clear:

1. Return to the Lord with all your heart.

2. Put away foreign gods.

3. Direct your heart to the Lord.

4. Serve Him only.

Baal and Ashtoreth represented the idolatrous worship of the surrounding countries. Israel could not claim loyalty to the Lord while preserving altars to competing gods.

Repentance is not merely feeling bad. It is a decisive turning:

- Away from sin.

- Away from divided allegiance.

- Toward the Lord.

- Into renewed obedience.

Jesus expressed the same demand for wholehearted allegiance: “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (Matt. 4:10; cf. Deut. 6:13–14).

Application:

Our idols may not be carved images, but they can still demand our trust, affection, identity, and obedience:

- Comfort that keeps us from costly obedience.

- Approval that keeps us from speaking truth.

- Money that becomes our security.

- Entertainment that deadens spiritual hunger.

- Ministry success that replaces love for Christ.

- Politics, fear, resentment, or personal control.

The question is not, “Do I have an idol?” The question is, “What competes with Christ in my life.”

C. Repentance is both personal and corporate

Verses 4–6 — Israel puts away idols, gathers at Mizpah, fasts, confesses, and submits to Samuel’s leadership.

> “We have sinned against the LORD” (v. 6).

They did not minimize, rename, or defend their sin. They confessed it plainly. They fasted, poured out water before the Lord, and gathered as a people in humble dependence. The water-pouring act appears to function as an outward expression of their brokenness and need before God, alongside fasting and confession.

Application for the church:

Here is where it becomes personal

Revival should lead to corporate renewal. A revived church is not simply a church with more activity; it is a church where people:

- Confess sin honestly.

- Restore broken relationships.

- Pursue purity.

- Pray together.

- Submit to God’s Word.

- Serve the Lord alone.

Transition: Repentance does not remove every battle immediately. In fact, obedience sometimes brings the battle into sharper focus.

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2. Revival Expresses Itself in Dependent Prayer

1 Samuel 7:7–9 (8 minutes)Change Slide

1 Samuel 7:7–9 KJV 1900

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

> “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines” (1 Sam. 7:8).

A. The enemy attacks when God’s people gather

Verse 7 — The Philistines hear of Israel’s assembly at Mizpah and move against them.

The Philistines may have interpreted Israel’s gathering as a military threat. Israel, however, was gathered for repentance, worship, and prayer. The people who had once presumed upon the ark in battle now tremble before the approaching enemy.

This is a needed contrast with 1 Samuel 4:

- In chapter 4, Israel tried to use God to secure victory.

- In chapter 7, Israel asks God to save them because they know they cannot save themselves.

If you have ever wondered if repentance works.… here is some really great proof

Application:

Do not be surprised when spiritual renewal is met with spiritual opposition. When believers begin taking holiness, prayer, family discipleship, reconciliation, and witness seriously, conflict often follows.

But opposition does not mean God has abandoned His people. It may reveal that they are finally walking in a way that requires genuine dependence on Him.

B. Desperate people ask for intercession

Verse 8 — “Do not cease to cry out…”

Israel asks Samuel to pray without ceasing. They understand that their hope is not military strength but the Lord’s mercy.

Samuel responds in two ways:

- He offers a whole burnt offering (v. 9).

- He cries out to the Lord for Israel (v. 9).

The sacrifice pointed to the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. Israel could not simply stroll back into fellowship with a holy God. Their restoration required God’s appointed provision.

C. Prayer rests in God’s answer, not human ability

Verse 9 — “And the LORD answered him.”

This is the turning point of the text. The Lord answered Samuel.

Notice that Scripture does not say Israel became strong enough, organized enough, or strategically skilled enough. It says the Lord answered. Prayer is not a way of persuading a reluctant God; it is the humble confession that our help must come from Him.

Application:

When pressure rises:

- Pray before you panic.

- Pray before you strategize.

- Pray before you speak impulsively.

- Pray with the church, not only in isolation.

- Ask others to intercede for you.

James 5:16 teaches, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Prayer is not the last resort of the powerless; it is the first response of those who know where power truly resides.

Christ connection

Samuel stands before God as an intercessor and offers sacrifice on behalf of the people. But Samuel points beyond himself to Jesus Christ:

- Christ is our final and perfect sacrifice (Heb. 10:10–14).

- Christ is our living High Priest (Heb. 4:14–16).

- Christ “always lives to make intercession” for those who draw near to God through Him (Heb. 7:25).

We do not approach God through a human priest or through our religious performance. We come through the crucified, risen, and reigning Christ.

Transition: When the Lord answers, He makes it unmistakably clear who won the victory.

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3. Revival Depends on God’s Deliverance

1 Samuel 7:10–14 (9 minutes)Change Slide

1 Samuel 7:10–14 KJV 1900

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

> “But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel” (1 Sam. 7:10).

A. God fights for a people who cannot save themselves

Verse 10 — Samuel is still offering the sacrifice when the Philistines draw near.

The timing matters. Israel’s deliverance comes while Samuel is offering the sacrifice and crying out to God. Before Israel ever pursues the enemy, the Lord acts.

God thunders against the Philistines and throws them into confusion. In the Old Testament, thunder is often associated with the Lord’s majestic, sovereign power (Ex. 19:16; Ps. 18:13–14). Israel’s God is not a powerless little stone statue. He is the King who commands creation and defeats enemies.

Key truth: Israel participates in the victory, but God produces the victory.

Verse 11 says Israel pursued the Philistines and struck them down. They did fight. But they fought from a victory God had already secured.

Application:

There is a place for action in the Christian life:

- We resist temptation.

- We confess sin.

- We reconcile relationships.

- We witness to the lost.

- We serve in the church.

- We endure suffering faithfully.

But we must never confuse faithful action with self-salvation. We work because God works in us (Phil. 2:12–13). We fight sin by the power of the Spirit, not by sheer willpower (Rom. 8:13).

B. God’s deliverance calls for remembered grace

Verse 12 — Samuel sets up a stone and names it Ebenezer.

> “Till now the LORD has helped us.”

“Ebenezer” means “stone of help.” Samuel erects a memorial so that Israel will remember the real source of its rescue.

This is especially striking in light of 1 Samuel 4. Earlier, Israel had been defeated near a place called Ebenezer. Now Samuel establishes a new Ebenezer memorial—not to glorify Israel’s strength, but to declare that the Lord had helped them.

The same God who allowed His people to be humbled in their rebellion now gives help when they return to Him.

Application: Build remembrance into your life.

- Keep a written record of answered prayer.

- Tell your children what God has done.

- Testify of God’s faithfulness in the congregation.

- Mark spiritual milestones.

- Let Communion continually remind you of Christ’s death and victory.

We are prone to remember our wounds and forget God’s mercies. Samuel teaches us to build “Ebenezers”—testimonies that say, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

C. God’s deliverance provides real, though not final, peace

Verses 13–14 — The Philistines are subdued, territory is restored, and there is peace with the Amorites.

The text tells of a season of deliverance and restoration during Samuel’s leadership. God reverses losses and restrains Israel’s enemy.

Yet this peace was not the final peace. Israel would still need a greater King and a deeper deliverance. The cycle of sin, conflict, and partial restoration in the Old Testament points forward to the need for Christ.

Christ connection

At the cross, Jesus accomplished the decisive victory:

- He bore the penalty of sin (Isa. 53:5–6).

- He disarmed the rulers and authorities (Col. 2:13–15).

- He conquered death through His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:54–57).

- He gives peace with God to all who are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1).

The victory at Mizpah was real, but temporary. Christ’s victory is final and eternal. We do not fight **for** acceptance with God; in Christ, we fight **from** the acceptance He has secured.

Transition: A moment of victory is not the same as a life of faithfulness. The final verses show how revival is sustained.

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4. Revival Is Sustained by Steadfast Faithfulness

1 Samuel 7:15–17 (5 minutes)Change Slide

1 Samuel 7:15–17 KJV 1900

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.

> “Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life” (1 Sam. 7:15).

A. Revival needs ongoing shepherding

Samuel did not treat Mizpah as the finish line. He continued to travel a circuit through Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, judging Israel and giving spiritual leadership.

Revival cannot be sustained by a single emotional service, a powerful conference, or one dramatic response at an altar. Genuine renewal continues through steady submission to God’s Word.

Samuel’s ministry was marked by consistency:

- “All the days of his life” (v. 15).

- He returned regularly to minister among the people (v. 16).

- He maintained an altar at Ramah, a life centered on worship and intercession (v. 17).

B. Lasting renewal is ordinary faithfulness over time

The final picture is not dramatic thunder. It is a faithful servant traveling, judging, teaching, worshiping, and serving year after year.

This is often how God preserves revival:

- Daily prayer.

- Regular worship.

- Ongoing repentance.

- Faithful preaching.

- Biblical accountability.

- Disciple-making in the home.

- Servant leadership in the church.

Application for leaders and members:

Do not pursue spiritual excitement while neglecting spiritual habits. The health of a church is usually formed not only in its extraordinary moments, but in its ordinary obedience.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

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Conclusion — Return, Rely, Remember, Remain (3–4 minutes)

1 Samuel 7 gives a clear pathway of renewal:

- **Return** to the Lord with all your heart (vv. 2–4).

- **Repent** by putting away every rival allegiance (vv. 3–6).

- **Rely** on God through humble, persistent prayer (vv. 7–9).

- **Remember** that every true victory comes from the Lord (vv. 10–12).

- **Remain** steadfast through ongoing worship and obedience (vv. 15–17).

The invitation is not merely to improve ourselves or try harder. It is to return to the Lord through Jesus Christ. He is the greater Samuel, the perfect intercessor; the final sacrifice; the victorious King; and the One who can truly revive His people.

Closing call

Ask the congregation:

- What must I put away in order to return to the Lord wholeheartedly?

- Where have I sought relief from God without seeking God Himself?

- What battle am I trying to fight in my own strength?

- What “Ebenezer” can I raise in testimony to God’s past faithfulness?

- What ordinary act of obedience will help sustain renewal this week?