For 20 years, the Ark of the Lord was not in its proper place, the tabernacle. The people were saddened by this.
From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD (1 Samuel 7:2).
This reminds us to never take for granted the absence of the Lord’s presence. When we attend church, we might hear good preaching or moving music, but these do not replace God’s presence.
If God’s presence seems missing in our lives, we need to do what the people did back then: cry out to God for help.
The people of God still worshiped Yahweh, but they mixed in the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth. To fix this, they needed to return to God and remove all the false gods from their lives.
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreth from among you, and direct your heart to the LORD, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
So Israel put away the Baals and Ashtoreth, and they served the LORD only (1 Samuel 7:3-4).
Baal was a fertility god and thought to be the son of Dagon, the god of grain. Ashtoreth was the goddess of love and fertility. Together, they were believed to create the seed that came from heaven to earth through their union.
This idea was acted out in their temples with prostitution, as people believed that what happened on earth mirrored what occurred in the realm of their gods.
If we feel the Lord’s presence is missing in our lives, if our prayers lack energy, if worship feels empty, or if our service to God seems reduced, it might be time to ask ourselves if we’ve placed any idols alongside God that need to be rejected.
True Worship Tested
When the Israelites showed their repentance, Samuel gathered them for worship and dedication to God. The Philistines saw this as a chance to attack.
Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines.
And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:7-8).
One thing we can count on is that when we dedicate ourselves to serving the Lord, that dedication will be tested.
Just as the Philistines challenged the Israelites, our devotion to God will face tests. These challenges might tempt us to return to the old idols we’ve left behind.
Samuel prayed for the Israelites and God responded in a dramatic way.
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the LORD thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel.
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, as far as below Bethcar.
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Hitherto the LORD has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:10-12).
God might not have answered your prayers with thunder to defeat your enemies, but you can likely remember times when God responded and gave you relief from struggles or temptations.
You probably didn’t set up a stone declaring God’s help in your journey, but you likely have moments in life where you can see God’s work. For those, we thank God.
Take some time today to reflect on the times when God helped you and offer a prayer of thanks.
God, thank you for being my helper and strength up to this point.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 