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cerity and truth, Samuel revèaled to them the method of doing so (cf. v. 3). First, they must forsake their idols. “Strange gods” take various forms, but anything that is honored above God becomes an idol. Even good gifts from God may easily become idols. Second, they must trust, or “direct . . . [their] hearts ùnto tie Lord” (v. 3, R. V.). Twenty years earlier, the peo ple had directed their hearts to the ark, as though it could save them. Third, they must “serve Him only,” that is, worship God alone. Thus Samuel instructed Israeliti their time of repentance, saying, "If you do re turn,” this is the manner in which the return must be accomplished. In answer to Samuel’s instruction, the people “ did put away” the idols and served the Lord only (v. 4). They yielded themselves without reserve, pouring out water and fasting at Miz peh, where Samuel prayed for them (vs. 5, 6). Pouring out,the water, to gether with thé fasting, was their ac knowledgment that only in the Lord was their help. Finally, they made confession, saying “We have sinned" (v. 6). They did not blame God for their distress, but they rightly traced their trouble back to its real cause— their sins. They did not call them mistakes, nor misfortune, but sins, the root of all troublé for men. III. S a m u e l ’ s P o w e r (7:7-12) When a people, or an individual, turns back to God in humble contri tion and confession, that is a time of true victory. But it is also a time of danger, for it is then that Satan is particularly aroused. Thè way of victory is for the believer to recog nize that no gift from the Lord is suf ficient, but that the Lord Himself must’ intervene. Israel needed to learn this lesson. It was no. more 'Tt may save us” (4:3), meaning the ark, but "he will save us,” meaning the Person of the Lord Himself. The people’s proper .sense of de pendence was revealed in their ap peal to Samuel to pray for them. It is for this reliance upon Him that God waits. He cannot give to the independent soul, because of the pride of human nature (cf. Judg. 7:2). In reply to the people’s petition, Samuel acted as the priest and presented an offering unto God, and “cried unto the Lord for Israel” (v. 9). When the holy offices of prophet and priest are thus combined in a surrendered man of God, that man goes with power into the presence of God, and with success into the presence of men. While Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Lord acted; the Philistines were discomfited and
7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up againsl Israel. And when the children of Israel heard' it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Sam-- uel, 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. 10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thun dered 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 Bethcar. m 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. LESSON T E X T : 1 Sam. 3:19-21; 7:3-12. GOLDEN T E X T : “ The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faith fully»' (Jer. 23:28). D EVO TIO N A L READ ING : Ezek. 3:16-21. Outline and Exposition f I S a m u e l ’ s P o sitio n (3:19-21) T HE PROPHET appeared before of men. Samuel was chosen to be come both prophet and priest, after Eli had passed away. “The Lord was with him” (v. 19), and Ijis words were established. Sam uel walked with God; he was making progress, moving in step with God, and therefore in agreement with God (cf. Amos 3:3). The people trusted him as they had not trusted Eli. "The Lord revealed himself to Sam uel . . . by the word of the Lord” (v. 21). This is the high privilege of every true prophet of God: to be a channel for revealing God’s pres ence in the midst of the people, and a mouthpiece for God’s,words to the people. One of the World’s great needs today is for men and women like Sam uel, who will live and speak fearless ly for God. IL S a m u e l ’ s I n s t r u c t io n (7:3-6) For twenty years, the ark of the Lord remained at , Kirjath-jearim. When the people told Samuel that they desired to return to God in sin- BLACKBOARD LESSON WfeTHBT •MflTH-mS WORD. LET Him SPEAK ITIM U)ORD FfllTHFULW* jct.u : 2 S
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men for God, the priest before God for men; the former spoke on behalf of God, the latter on behalf
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