1 Samuel 7

1 Samuel 7:1

7:1-6 The ark was brought to the house of Abinadab in Kirjath Jearim, where it remained for twenty years. Then Samuel came forward and urged the people to return to the LORD so that God could deliver them from their Philistine oppressors. Idols were thrown away and the nation gathered to Samuel at Mizpah. There they fasted and repented before Jehovah. Their repentance was symbolized by pouring out . . . water on the ground. 7:7-14 Hearing that the Israelites were at Mizpah, and supposing that a revolt was in the making, the Philistines attacked. The Hebrews, unprepared for war, were terrified. When they pleaded with Samuel to intercede for them, he offered a whole burnt offering (which it seems Levites could do1Ch_23:26-31), and prayed. God subsequently routed the enemy miraculously with loud thunder, and Israel won the day. In gratitude Samuel . . . set . . . up . . . a stone as a monument and named it “Ebenezer” (stone of help). Verse 13 refers only to a temporary victory, as is clear from the last part of the verse and from 1Sa_9:16. Some land was also recovered at this time, and Israel enjoyed peace with her neighbors for a while. 7:15-17 After this, Samuel became a circuit judge, traveling through the cities of Israel and administering justice according to the law of the Lord. He lived in Ramah, his father’s home, and built an altar . . . there. We aren’t told why he didn’t return to the Lord’s altar, now at Nob, nor why he allowed the ark to remain in Abinadab’s house. But these were days of irregularities, many things being practiced which God allowed even though they weren’t according to His original design. Chapter 7 is a study in revival. God first raised up a man, Samuel, who called the people to repentance, confession, and cleansing. Intercession was made through the blood of a lamb (a type of Calvary’s Lamb), and then there was victory. These are the steps to individual as well as national revival.