I Samuel Chapter 7

Please read:  I Samuel 7 –

In the beginning chapters of I Samuel we read about a little boy who was dedicated to the service of God.  Samuel grew up in the tabernacle serving and learning more about the God of Israel.  It was for this purpose that we read about in chapter 7.  God purposed in Samuel’s life that he would be raised up to become a leader and a judge for the people of Israel.  The people desperately needed a leader that had a heart attuned to God.  They needed someone who would tell them how their wicked departure to worship other gods was leading them down a wrong path.  They needed someone to bring conviction of God’s holiness back to their hearts.

The Philistines brought constant oppression on Israel, and when they heard that all of Israel was gathered in one place, they thought it an opportunity to attack.  They could not have been more wrong because at last the people of Israel were turning their hearts back to God.  God heard their cry for help, and He acted on their behalf in a miraculous way.

Let's Reflect

1.  The Ark of the Covenant had not yet been returned to its rightful place in the tabernacle.  It was kept in the home of Abinadab.  How long was the ark kept in this man’s house?

2.  The Bible says that the people of Israel lamented after God.  We humans tend to blame God when things are not going well.  Israel was experiencing continual oppression by its neighbor the Philistines.  We read in verse 14 that the Philistines had taken something from Israel.  What was that?

3.  Samuel understood exactly what needed to be done.  He gathered the people for fasting and prayer and he told them what they needed to hear.  According to verse 3 what did he tell them?

4.  In verse 6 we read that the people, when they were gathered at Mizpah for prayer, took a very important step.  What did they confess before God?

5.  Israel heard that the Philistines were planning to attack and they were very afraid.  What did they ask Samuel to do for them?

6.  Samuel offered a sacrifice to God and called out to Him on behalf of the people and God answered in a mighty way.  The Philistines were just about to attack but what did God do?

7.  This confusion allowed the men of Israel an opportunity to attack the Philistines.  They were subdued and they returned cities to Israel they had overtaken.  God was restored to be the protector of Israel.  The people had put away their sinful gods and turned their hearts back to the one true God.  Samuel wanted the people to remember what God had done for them, so what did he do?

8.  The last verse tells us that Samuel was the spiritual leader now in Israel.  He continued to judge the people – pointing them back to God.  What spiritual leaders has God brought into your life?  Let’s thank God today for those leaders.