Samuel Intercedes For Israel

1 Samuel 7:1-17

Key Verse 1 Samuel 7:12 

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. 

He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us."

We can see the salvation/revival in the time of Samuel. 

(1) God prepared the salvation/revival. (v1,2)

In the hearts of people and Samuel 

(2) God used His servant, Samuel (v3-9)

To delivered Message of Repentance (v3)

To do Intercessory Prayer and Burnt Offering (Atonement) (v5-9)

(3) God saved them (v10-17)

Salvation of God (v10-14) 

Continuity of Salvation through his servants. (v15-17) 

May God prepare our hearts and the hearts of Lord’s servants for the revival in our generations. 

1. Read verses 1-4. How did the men of Kiriath Jearim handle the ark of God? (1) How long did the ark remain at Kiriath Jearim? (2a) What did the people of Israel do during this time? (2b) What did Samuel ask them to do and what would God do in return? (3) Then, how did they respond to Samuel’s instruction? (4) 

1-1) Read verses 1-4. 

1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2 It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord. 3 And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

1-2) How did the men of Kiriath Jearim handle the ark of God? (1) 

a) Took up the ark of the Lord to Abinadab’s house on the hill. 

The ark of the Lord should be in the holy of holies in the tabernacle. (Ex 26:32-34)

But instead, they took it to the Abinadab’s house. 

b) Consecrated Eleazar to guard the ark of the Lord. 

Their motive was to treat the Ark of the Lord with respect and honor. 

But they did not know the Law of God (Ex 29).

1-3) How long did the ark remain at Kiriath Jearim? (2a) 

a) 20yrs: The ark of Lord remained Kiriath Jearim until David. (2 Sam 6:3)

Although they had the Ark of the Lord, their relationship with God was not set right. 

1-4) What did the people of Israel do during this time? (2b) 

a) All the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord. 

Because their armies were defeated: their husbands and sons were dead. 

Because their cities were in ruins: their properties and crops were plundered. 

Because they were under Philistine domination: they were slaves. 

b) God prepared the hearts of people for their salvation.   

i) All the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord. 

‘All the people’ indicated that God is working in this. 

ii) Their mourning may not be true repentance. 

Because they had their own idols for the last 20yrs. 

They were not willing to give up their idol worship, idolatrous life style. 

People mourn about the mess of their lives without repentance. (Worldly sorrow)

Godly sorrow brings us repentance that leads to salvation. (2 Cor 7:9,10)    

Therefore, they needed spiritual leader(s) to lead them to repentance. 

c) God prepared Samuel, spiritual leader, to lead Israel to repentance. 

For 20yrs, Samuel was not mentioned since 1 Sam 4:1. 

Probably, Samuel had been teaching the word of God, praying for all Israel. 

He did not have any visible fruits in his ministry for 20yrs. 

God prepared Samuel from childhood for the revival. 

1-5) What did Samuel ask them to do and what would God do in return? (3) 

a) Samuel delivered the message of repentance.

i) Returning to the Lord: (repent) 

Turning away from “your” sin and turning toward the Lord. 

Repentance is different from worldly sorrow. 

ii) All your hearts [lebab: inner man, mind, will, heart]

All your mind, all your will, all your heart, and your inner man have to repent. 

Real repentance involves all our being: will, mind, heart. 

b) Rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths.

i) Completely removed idols among them: complete rejection for idols.

ii) Idols in Israel

Baal; god of fertility and weather; 

Ashtoreths: goddess of fertility, love and sex

iii) Idols in our time: (Money, Success, Fame, Sex, Pleasure etc) 

Anything in our lives that takes the place of God. 

Give more of your affections than you do to God. 

More important to you than God, His word, and His church. 

Demand the sacrifice and devotion that belongs only to Him 

                                    Idols in the heart are far more dangerous than (visible) idols.

iv) Get rid of source of our idol: Greed ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3:5&version=102" Colossians 3:5)

Greed: desire to have more, lust to have beyond God’s will, covetousness. 

c) Commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only. (Deut. 6:13; 13:4; Matt. 4:10)

[NASB: direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone]

i) Commit ourselves to the Lord (the way of life for believers)

Direct your hearts [everything in our heart, will and mind] to the Lord. 

God-centered, God-exalting, God-glorifying will, mind, hearts. 

ii) Serve Him only: the purpose/goal of God’s creation and of God’s salvation.

d) He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 

Salvation from the slavery of sin and death in NT perspective. 

1-6) Then, how did they respond to Samuel’s instruction? (4)

a) They put away their Baals and Ashtoreths and served the Lord only.

Completely removed idols among them.

b) Genuine Repentance is rare, hard, not natural. (divine work of God) 

Israel’s repentance took over 20 years. 

Confessing one’s sin, is not an easy thing. 

It doesn’t come naturally to us to bow the knee, to acknowledge our sovereign God 

2. Read verses 5-9.  What was Samuel’s second instruction for them to follow? (5a)  What would Samuel do for them? (5b) How did they follow Samuel’s instruction? (6) How did the Philistines try to take advantage of Israel’s’ assembly at Mizpah? (7)  What did Israelites ask Samuel to do for them? (8) How did Samuel help them? (9)     

2-1) Read verses 5-9.    

5 Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel was leader [judge] of Israel at Mizpah.

7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him. 

2-2) What was Samuel’s second instruction for them to follow? (5a)  

a) Assemble all Israel at Mizpah: the place for a repentant Israel. (Judges 20:1)

So that they could continually repent and he could pray for them. 

2-3) What would Samuel do for them? (5b) 

a) I will intercede with the Lord for you. 

Samuel wanted to pray for them as a priest because he saw their repentance. 

b) Intercessory Prayer

i) Definition: the act of praying on behalf of others.

ii) Who intercedes for others? All believers. (1Pet 2:9)

Believers are all priests who should pray to God on behalf of others

iii) Whom do we intercede? 

We should intercede for all men ( HYPERLINK "http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Timothy%202.1" \t "_blank" 1 Tim 2:1) and all believers (Eph 6:18) 

People in authority ( HYPERLINK "http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Timothy%202.2" \t "_blank" 1Tim 2:2) and Enemies ( HYPERLINK "http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Jeremiah%2029.7" \t "_blank" Jer 29:7,  HYPERLINK "http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%205.44" \t "_blank" Mat 5:44)

Ministers ( HYPERLINK "http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Philippians%201.19" \t "_blank" Phil 1:19, Eph 6:19) and the sick ( HYPERLINK "http://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%205.14" \t "_blank" Jam 5:14) 

iv) Who intercedes for believers?

The Holy Spirit (Rom 8:26,27) and Jesus Christ (Rom 8:34)

2-4) How did they follow Samuel’s instruction? (6) 

a) They assembled at Mizpah: 

They showed their desire to repent and to come back to God. 

b) They drew water, and poured it out before the Lord

It was an expression of total inability to fight against the enemy. (Ps. 62:8)

It was an expression of our emptiness and need. (Lamentations 2:19)

c) They fasted and they confessed. 

Fasting: Desire to be right with God is more important than physical needs. 

They confessed their own sins before God. (1Jn 1:9)

Confess every sin and ask for His divine forgiveness based on the work of Jesus. 

2-5) How did the Philistines try to take advantage of Israel’s’ assembly at Mizpah? (7)  

a) When the Philistines heard: 

When they saw the humble repentant Israel, they saw their weakness. 

They wanted to attack them because they thought they would be off-guard.

 

b) When the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

They had no confidence in themselves or in God: No faith in God. 

They had more confidence when they brought the ark of God. (1Sam 4:5) 

Our feelings of confidence can be very deceptive. 

2-6) What did Israelites ask Samuel to do for them? (8) 

8 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 

a) Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us.

Before, they said, bring the ark of the Lord (1 Sam 4:3).

Now, ask Samuel to cry out to the Lord. (v8)

b) He may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.  

Before, this ark may save us. (1 Sam 4:3)

Now, the Lord may rescue us. 

2-7) How did Samuel help them? (9)     

a) Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as whole burnt offering to the Lord. 

A suckling lamb was given to God as burnt offering.

Samuel knew in order to come to God, atoning sacrifice was needed before Him. 

Jesus, the Lamb of God was given to God as burnt offering on the cross.

To take away the sin of the world. (Jn 1:29) 

c) He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf. (the intercessory prayer)

After atoning sacrifice, we can pray for the salvation of people. 

Because of the atonement of Jesus, we can pray for salvation.  

 

d) The Lord answered him: 

The battle was over even before it began, because the Lord answered him.

Samuel was a man of prayer. (Psalm 99:6)

3. Read verses 10-14.  How did God help the Israelites? (10) What did the men of Israel do to the Philistines? (11) How did Samuel commemorate God’s help? (12)  How did God restore Israel’s territory and keep peace in the land throughout Samuel’s lifetime? (13, 14)

3-1) Read verses 10-14.  

10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”  13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 

3-2) How did God help the Israelites? (10) 

a) The Lord thundered with a loud thunder.

God fought against the Philistines on behalf of Israel. 

God threw them into a panic. 

b) God punished the Baal (god of weather; storm) which was pictured with a thunderbolt. 

God showed the Philistine who was the real God of thunder. 

3-3) What did the men of Israel do to the Philistines? (11) 

The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines.

God provided the courage to the men of Israel to pursued the Philistines. 

3-4) How did Samuel commemorate God’s help? (12)  

a) Took a stone and set it up.

Remember the Salvation of God is extremely important. 

Because we forget about the grace of salvation so easily. 

We should remember His past work which is a guarantee of future help.

 

b) Named it Ebenezer [stone of help] 

The battle was won by the Lord, not by Israel. 

3-5) How did God restore Israel’s territory and keep peace in the land throughout Samuel’s lifetime? (13, 14)

a) The hand of the Lord (the power of God) was against the Philistines. 

The towns were restored to Israel. 

Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the Philistines.

There was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 

4. Read verses 15-17.  How did Samuel continue to serve the Israelites as judge? (15-17)

4-1) Read verses 15-17.  

15 Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also judged Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord.

4-2) How did Samuel continue to serve the Israelites as judge? (15-17)

a) Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life.

b) Samuel worked hard as a judge: Every year, went on a circuit, from town to town.

c) Samuel worshiped the Lord faithfully: built an altar to the Lord. 

An altar was a place of sacrifice and worship. 

Samuel had a consistent relationship with the Lord in sacrifice and worship.

In Conclusion, God in his Sovereign will saved the people of Israel and caused revival among them. Revival is amazing work of God. God can save us for his revival. He could cause the great revival among us.  God prepares everything so that we can repent of our sins and fully commit to Him. As priests of God, all believers must deliver the message of repentance, must do intercessory prayer based on atonement of Jesus. Then God will save His people from the power of sin and death. Praise God who is our Savior. Praise God who is powerful and sovereign.