The Steps of Repentance

Intro:

Some background information.

After the events in chapter 6, the ark comes to a man in Kiriath-jearim (Abinadab) and the Ark of the covenant stays there for about twenty years.

During this time, it seems that Samuel was still working on getting Israel to follow after God.

This is shown in verse 2, Israel finally reached a point of lamentation.

This is the first of three repentance scenes in 1 and 2 Samuel.

This one: genuine repentance

1 Sam. 15:24

Saul “repent,” but quickly justifies Himself, therefore making his repentance not valid

2 Sam 12:23.

David legitimately repents because of his relationship with Bethsheba

However, this seems to be one of the clearest examples of what it actually looks like to repent.

Big idea: I want you to repent, if you don’t do that by the end of the sermon, then I’ve failed.

The Call

1 Sam 7:3.

You will not repent of something that you do not know you need to repent from

So, you will often get reminded of what you need to repent of, whether that be from within or without.

The Israelites were told to repent, and were reminded of what they had done.

They had other gods and not been Faithful to God.

The Israelites had to be brought to the point of lamentation to prepare their hearts for repentance

Within the call to repentance, God will work on your heart to bring you to a point oF acknowledging your need For repentance.

The Act

1 Sam. 7:4, 9

The Israelites moved past conviction and stepped into fulfillment

They got rid of their idols!

They even continued in their repentance when they sacrificed the lamb as an atonement offering. They repented of their sin.

In order for repentance to actually happen, you need to respond to the call.

A feeling of conviction without the action of repentance is not repentance, it is disobedience fueled by cheap grace.

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” - The Cost of Discipleship - 47

The Effect

1 Sam. 7:10-11.

God does not call us to repentance because He likes to toy with our emotions, He calls us to repent to make things right with Him. Therefore, there will naturally be an effect when you repent.

The Israelites in this story experience something amazing because they repented.

They get back some of the cities they had lost like Gath and Ekron (v.14)

This does not mean that everything is going to get better because you repented, there are legitimate consequences to sin that must be paid

In the story of David repenting because of his relationship with Bethsheba, his son still died, his children fought, and he even lost his kingdom for a time. Things did not go perfectly for David just because he repented, but his relationship with God was mended

And that was the most important thing in David’s life.

The Continuation

1 Sam. 7:12.

Samuel set up the Ebenezer stone to remind the Israelites to continue in their repentance.

Repentance doesn’t mean much if you go back to the way you were soon after you repent.

That is merely pausing a habit for a time, just to pick it back up again.

Set up a reminder for yourself of God’s provision, and continue in your repentance.

Gospel: God in repentance

Application:

Consider thoughtfully and prayerfully what you need to repent of, and write them down in a place you will remember to look.