June 1, 2001
This is two files combined, so it is confused. The reader can make it all fit together properly with everything in its proper place.

1 Samuel 7

Vv. 1, 2.

V. 2, the people were distressed because of the hard oppression of the enemy. God brings distressing circumstances into our loves to get our attention. The people cry out to the man of God, "What shall we do?" The Lord alone can stir us to be distressed about our sin and our lack of His power and presence. He alone can stir us to cry out to Him with a sincere heart to know and do His will.

As we know, Israel had taken the ark into their battle against the Philistines. The viewed it as not much more than a lucky charm, feeling that it would deliver to them a great victory. Rather than a victory, the Israelites were defeated, and the ark taken captive by the Philistines. The God of the ark plagued the Philistines so badly that the Philistines sent it back.

The ark came back to Beth-shemesh. Beth-shemesh was a city of priests. The people were glad to see the ark, and curiosity overcame them. So many people looked in the ark out of curiosity. What they did was contrary to the law of God, so God smote 50,070 men who looked into the ark. And there was great sorrow.

However, rather than the people repenting of their sin of ignoring the word of God and looking into the ark, they said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? But the question was asked with no desire for an answer.

The men of Beth-shemesh knew that the people did not just die, but they died as an act of justice on the Lord's part. They knew that the 50,070 men died because of sin, and they knew the sin for which they died. So rather than confess and deal with the sin, they wanted to get away from the Lord of justice.

Then they asked, and to whom shall he go up from us? In other words, "We don't want the Lord among us, for He requires holiness, and we don't want such a requirement upon us. So how can we get Him away from us?"

The Lord demands holiness. And rather than the people of Beth-shemesh SANCTIFIED themselves from the world so the Lord could dwell among them, they sent messengers to the people of Kirjath-jearim (city of forests), and asked them to come get the ark.

Sanctify means to be holy, set apart from the world, and dedicated to serving God. Notice here that the men of the city of the priests refused to sanctify themselves, but the non-priests willingly sanctified themselves.

This is a very common occurrence: People will separate from the Lord rather than separate from the world.
People will even separate from churches that preach and require holy living rather than separate from the world.

I have met those who will quite serving the Lord rather than bring their lives into conformity to the word of God, so they can serve Him.

The men of Kirjath-jearim came and got the ark.
They were willing to do what the men of Beth-shemesh were unwilling to do — that is, line up with the word of God, so the Lord could dwell among them.
They removed the known sins, sanctified themselves, and God blessed them.

Do we want God to dwell among us?
Do we want His blessings upon us?
Do we want His blessings upon our church?
Do we want his blessings upon our homes?

Then we must sanctify ourselves — ask God to reveal sin through His word, remove that sin, and line up with the word of God.

It is interesting that Beth-shemesh was a city of priests, yet they let the ark sat outside on a stone, and looked into the ark. On the other hand, Kirjath-jearim was a city of ordinary Israelites, and they prepared a place for the ark inside a house, and appointed someone to care for the ark.

They appointed Abinadab's son, Eleazar, to care for the ark. There is no evidence of Eleazar being of the priestly line.

More than a few times I have seen non-clergy Christians with a far better testimony than clergy.

I remember when I was working for Bob Crist. The largest churches in the 60s were Baptist churches, and most of them bought church busses from Bob. I well remember delivering a buss into Cincinnati on a weekend, so I stayed in a Prophet's chamber over the weekend so I could go to that church on Sunday. It was probably the second or third largest church in the US at the time. I went to breakfast at a local restaurant I believe on a Saturday morning with the pastor and several of his staff members.

I don't remember the exchange that the pastor had with the waitress, but I do remember it was so vulgar that I was embarrassed to be seen with the men.

My experience there with that pastor was not unusual.

I heard a second hand report from a man who was with him. The pastor whom he was with was the pastor of a large Baptist church. This pastor was high up in the "Moral Majority." I know both men. It has been some years ago when the "Moral Majority" was big — the pastor asked the driver of the car they were in to stop so he could get a Playboy magazine.

And we wonder why Baptist churches are no longer the largest churches.

In 1 Samuel 7, we see a higher standard among the "non-clergy" than among the clergy in chapter 6.

Notice here that folks expect certain things from the pastor, the pastor's wife and his family, things that they themselves are not necessarily willing to follow. But in this passage, we see that the non-clergy Israelites willingly and gladly met a standard that the priests were unwilling to meet.

However, I do not see two standards in Scripture: one for pastors and their families and one for the laymen and their families.

SS teachers stand before their students representing God the same as does the pastor. Therefore, the teachers should have at least as high a standard as is expected of the pastor.

Laymen and their families meet far more people throughout the week than does the pastor. Thus, their standard should be at least as high as they expect of their pastors.

All of His people should realize and see the Lord's holiness daily.

Isaiah 6:1 ¶ In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 ¶ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Revelation 5:8 ¶ And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

We do not see God as He is, or we would be crying out to Him to sanctify us. We would want to be sanctified so He could dwell among us and bless us according to His good pleasure.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It is God who must command the light of His word to shine into our hearts. He must reveal sin, and He must show us the answer to that sin. If we could catch a glimpse of the holiness of God, we would plead with Him to command the light to shine in the darkness of our heart. We would realize that we are fallen sinners; we would not trust ourselves, for we would be continually reminded that we are more often than not controlled by our fallen nature.

My wife, Miss Bettie, called my attention to an article in the Chalcedon Report. It is good enough to quote to you a few points:

Revivals produce emotions. Conviction of sin, thoughts of eternity without God, the offer of grace in Jesus Christ—can I truly grasp these realities and not have my emotions stirred? Am I going to stand in the presence of God and say, "My...isn't this interesting."

The Holy Spirit most certainly gives emotions. Those emotions stir the conscience, and make us broken hearted before God over the uncontrolled and unconfessed sins in our lives.

Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Sanctification means we want to remove sin and line up with the word of God.
Sanctification means we diligently search the word of God.
Sanctification means we continually pray for the Lord to command the light to shine into our hearts and reveal sin.
Sanctification means we continually compar our lives to His word.
Sanctification means we catch a glimpse of who God is and of His holiness, and we plead for God's grace which alone permits us to live up to the standard He has established for us in His word.
Sanctification means that we continue to try to reach God's standard, but we will never be perfect.
Sanctification means that though we will fail to reach the perfect standard established for us in God's word, we will continue to try to reach that standard of separation from the world.
Sanctification means that those who have no desire to remove sin and grow more in the Lord are in trouble with the Lord.

Job said:

Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Moses said:

Psalms 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

David said:

Psalms 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psalms 51:1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.>> Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 ¶ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 ¶ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Daniel said:

Daniel 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 ¶ And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

Isaiah said:

Isaiah 6:5 ¶ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Paul said:

Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

If the great men of God continually saw their sinful condition before the Lord and were continually concerned about their sinfulness, then why aren't we? How is it that we are so smug, and why are we not crying out with David, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

Quoting again from the article:

Consider. Moses sees God, kicks his shoes off, and starts stammering about how God should send Aaron. After conversing with the Law-Giver on the mountain, Moses returns to the people and they beg him to veil his face: the reflected glory is just too much for them to bear. Isaiah sees God, crawls under a church pew, and begins blubbering about how he needs his scummy mouth washed out. Jeremiah hears God and tells the Almighty that he's just a kid and not up for the rough and tumble life of a prophet. Paul hears God, is knocked off of his donkey, and blinded by the light of Glory. John is taken up into heaven and, upon meeting the angelic messenger, he falls on his face as dead. These are not pretty pictures. People "see" God and they are struck with terror. Holy God, plus sinful me, equals...dead me.

We have not seen God, nor do we know who Hie is, or we would be crying out to Him to reveal our sins and our worldliness, and to sanctify us for Himself.

Revival produces emotions. conviction of sin, thougths of eternity without God, and offer of grace in Jesus Christ... Can we truly grasp the reality of God without our emotions being stirred??

Quoting again:

Those who have been truly converted will have a dedication to glorifying God as God because He is God, regardless of what happens to the person. Holy people love holy things primarily because they are holy, not because these things will make the person healthy, wealthy and wise.

Sanctification means that the more we love Him, the more we want to love Him. The more we love Him, the more we want to be separate from the world and to the Lord. The more we see Him, the more we want to be like Him.

On the day of Penticost, Peter preached the resurected and exalted Lord. Peter's hearers got a glimps of who the Lord is; Peter's hearers got a glimpse of the Lord's holiness. Notice what they said:

Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

We claim to be Christians. We claim to love God. We claim to want to serve the Lord with all our hearts. Where, may I ask, is our question to the Lord, what shall we do? Lord, what do you want me to do? Show me from your word, and then give me the strength and power to do it.

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 Samuel 7:2, is an extremely sad commentary:

And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

The house of Israel did not lament very much, because they still had Baalim and Ashtaroth, v. 4.

How can people be so blind and hard? They serve their false gods, and sit around and feel sorry for themselves when they have such hard times, and they are under the Philistines' oppression.

The Lord demands holiness from His people. He demands that they look and act differently from the world. He demands that they love one another. He demands that we serve one another with love. He demands humility before Him. He demands we study His word and commune with Him in prayer.

We know what the Lord requires from His people. We know the promised blessings He has for His people who separate from the world and to Him. Yet rather than cry out to God that He would convict us of sins, rather than cry out to God that He would separate us from our worldly loves, ways and dress, we lament that we do not have His blessings.

Vv. 3-6

Samuel said, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and (THEN) he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Sad to say, many people who name the name of Christ would rather be under the control of the false gods around them and have their good times and "freedom" from the supposed restrictions of God's word than sanctify themselves; than put away their strange gods and serve the Lord only.

Notice that though the men of v. 1 wanted to prepare themselves so the Lord could dwell among them, they were still under the oppression of the Philistines because the nation served the strange gods.

V. 3, the man of God told them what to do - put away their false gods, and serve God truly and with their whole heart. The man of God must also pray that the Lord will make His words effectual. Though the man of God uses the word of God, it is the Spirit of God who must move, or the hearers will remain unaffected.

V. 7 through the end of the chapter.

V. 7, when we determine to deal with sin and serve the Lord only, we can depend upon sin to rase its nasty head again, seeking to bring us back under its control. But the grace and power of God is stronger than all our sin combined, and our victory is in Christ's victory over sin and death.

Of course, when God's people turned back to the Lord God, He intervened, and delivered them from the Philistines.

Question: What kind of oppression is the Lord going to have to allow to force HIS people to put away their strange gods and return to Him?

Man's nature is to take the easyist way. If it is easer to serve Baalim, he will, though many times he is a Christian. If it is easier and will benefit him more, he will serve the Lord.

V. 8, the people realized their distress as sin sought to retain its hold, and cried out to the man of God to pray for them. We need to pray one for another that the Spirit of God would keep them faithful to their profession, and would supply all their needs as they face the daily attacks of sin.

V. 8, we have a Great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ, the righteous. He continually makes intercession with the Father for His people.

V. 10, the enemy was subdued by the Lord, for the battle is the Lord's.

V. 12, a special marker was set up to commemorate the victory the Lord gave to His people.

We should have dates written in our Bibles commemorating special times when we were about to perish, and the Lord moved in a special way.

V. 15, as we serve the Lord, the enemy is subdued, but given the slightest opportunity, he will rise and take control again. That fountain of sin is not removed by the blood of Christ; it is simply controlled by the Spirit.

1) The people were distressed because of the hard oppression of the enemy. God brings distressing circumstances into our loves to get our attention.

In v. 2, we saw that the men of Kirjath jearim welcomed the presence of the Lord among them, and they sat apart Eleazar to care for the ark. Meanwhile, all of the house of Israel lamented after the Lord of the ark.

Where was Samuel from chapter 4:1 to this point? The ark had been captured, returned to Bethshemesh, and then to Kirjathjearim. We do not hear of him until the people lament after the Lord When the people lament after the Lord, Samuel shows up.

Lament means to mourn, or sorrow, grief - "the people followed after God with lamentation for his departure

There is not much a man of God can do until people realize they need help.

Evidently, the people were fed up with their servitude to the Philistines. They realized the reason why they were in servitude, and they decided to start serving the Lord again. The reason they were going to serve God was because life had become so difficult for them.

Most of us are hard headed and hard hearted and it is not until we get pretty distressed that we decide that it is time to get right with the Lord. It is not until people get distressed or in a tight place that they realize their condition before God, then they can be helped. Notice what the men of Acts 2 said after Peter preached his first sermon:

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37)

They were pricked (an emotion of sorrow) in their heart... The Spirit of God must stir the heart. He works through the emotions, and the emotion we need is distress over sin. We we need to pray that He will stir our hearts, and the hearts of those about whom we are concerned.

The man of God told them what to do, to put away their false gods, and serve God truly and with their whole hearts. The man of God must also pray that the Lord will make his words effectual. Though the man of God uses the word of God, it is the Spirit of God who must move, or the hearers will remain unaffected.

V. 3 If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts... Put away the strange gods...

Samuel warns them against half-hearted, hypocritical service to the Lord. If we expect the Lord to work in our midst, our sincere cry must be for Him to reveal our sin, and our turn to Him cannot be half-hearted nor hypocritical.

Samuel said If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and (THEN) he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Sad to say, many people who name the name of Christ would rather be under the control of the false gods around them and have their good times and "freedom" from the supposed r restrictions ores of God's word than sanctify themselves -that is, put away their strange gods and serve the Lord only.

V. 28, too bad the king of Assyria did riot call for a prophet to go teach e people about the Lord. Evidently, they took one of the false priests because he settled in Bethel rather than in Jerusalem. Bethel was one of the homes of Jeroboam's calves.

Whether this priest taught the people from tradition or from God's law, we don't know. All we see here is that he only taught the people enough to keep the lions away, but they still remained in captivity.

It seems as though many Christians today only serve God enough to ease their conscience, but not enough to change anything.

Samuel told the people that if thy wanted the Lord to be on their side, they had to return to the Lord with their whole heart.

1 Samuel 7:4

Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

When we determine to deal with sin and serve the Lord only, we can depend upon sin rase up its nasty head again, seeking to bring us back under its control. But the grace and power of God is stronger than all our sin combined. and the victory is in Christ's victory over sin and death.

These false gods have passed off the scene, but there have been plenty to take their place. The false gods include anything that hinder our faithfulness to the requirements of our Lord, as outlined in His word.

Baalim and Ashtraoth represent all of the false gods and sins that so easily beset us.

Hebrews 12:1 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and letwith patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Cloud of witnesses... The context implies that these are probably the saints who have gone before us. But this cloud of witnesses could be those around us and those who know and watch us in our daily activity.

Steve Covington has been working on his dad to get him to come to church. But some Christian boys did some very unchristian acts in front of his house, and you can imagine what he now says about church.

THE sin which doth so easily beset us... We are surrounded by sin, as well as sin swelling up from the inside like a fountain.

James gives this picture:

James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

So not only does sin make its offer from every place around us, but it is continually swelling up from within, as an artesian well flows continually, inviting us to drink from it.

I OPERATED A DOZER FOR A LAND DEVELOPER in Carmel, on 119th st. Just down the road from where we were working, was an artesian well. The water was good, and very inviting on the hot summer days. It was not unusual to see several people lined up waiting to get water.

Sin is like that artesian well. It is flowing all the time from within, seeking to gain its hold upon us:

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: S To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

1 Samuel 7:5, God's man gathered all of the people, and prayed for them.

Preachers must pray that the word of God will be effectual in the hearts of the hearers. Note that facts will not change a sinner, nor bring repentance. Only God's spirit can and will do that.

V. 6, they drew water... The Chaldee reads, They poured out their hearts in repentance before the Lord. They wept rivers of tears, and sorrowed after a godly sort, for it was before the Lord and with an eye to him. (MH)

Or it could simply mean that this expressed their willingness to deal with their sin, and turn from it. They made public profession, saying, We have sinned

And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. (Numbers 12:11.)

V. 6, Samuel judged them.

Samuel assures them, in God's name, that upon their repentance and turning from sin, their sin is forgiven.

Or Samuel may have received information against those who did not turn from their idols, and enforced the law against them.

Or Samuel now begins to act as a magistrate, passing the proper sentence upon those who serve the false gods.

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor. 11:27.)

Note: Either we will own up to our sins, where we have departed from God's word, or He will deal with us accordingly.

Vv. 7-12

V. 7, The Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together, and assumed that the people were uniting against them. So they sought to nip the rebellion in the bud.

Israel, being unarmed and untrained, was afraid when they saw the Philistines gartering together.

I guarantee that as soon as we make up our minds to deal with sin, claim our freedom from the power of sin and claim our victory that we have in Christ over sin, as soon as we put that sin under the blood of Christ, the enemy will rise up with all his might to do everything he can to hinder us, and to draw us back into that sin.

I could not tell you how many people I have met that almost as soon as they determined to deal with sin, an old friend they had not seen for years showed up, and urged them back into an old sin that had dominion over them.

5) The people realized their distress as sin sought to retain its hold, and cried out to the man of God to pray for them. We need to pray one for another that the Spirit of God would keep them faithful to their profession, and would supply all their needs as they face the daily attacks of sin.

V. 8, their fear of the Philistines caused the people cry out to Samuel, "Cease not to pray for us."

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Colossians 1:9 1 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Do we pray one for another as we are told to do? I realize that each person is responsible for his or her own sin, but how much responsibility lies upon other believers in prayer?

But then again, we are very proficient at hiding our true self from one another - we refuse to be open with each other, so others do not know how to pray for us as they should.

6) We have a Great High Priest who has passed into the heaves, Jesus Christ, the righteous. He continually makes intercession with the Father for His people.

V. 9, Samuel intercedes for them with the proper sacrifice, and he prays for the people, and the Lord heard him. So does our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ the Righteous, intercede for us with His proper sacrifice:

Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Our Great High Priest has passed into the heavens; He is now seated on the right hand of the Power on High. He delights in our coming to Him in our time of need (temptation), and He will intercede for us as did Samuel for Israel in their hour of need.

Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. S Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (See also Psalms 118:6.)

Vv. 9-12.

7) The enemy was subdued by the Lord, for the battle is the Lord's.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

The children of Israel knew that the enemy was moving against them, and they were afraid. So they asked Samuel to pray for them, that the Lord would deliver them from their enemy. Samuel agreed to pray, made the proper sacrifice, and the Lord heard him. Even while Samuel was praying, the Philistines drew near to battle, and the Lord discomfited them - that is, He confused the enemy so that Israel could have the military victory over them.

I John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

8) After the victory over the enemy, a special marker was set up to commemorate the victory the Lord gave to His people.

Samuel set up a stone, calling it EBENEZER, or a stone of help.

I Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 T To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, S Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should skew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Notice here that our stone of help, the Word of God, is to the disobedient a rock of offence. The disobedient are offended at the requirements of God's word, but we find great hope and comfort in those same words.

THE LINDEN LIBRARY set up a stone to commemorate an event of years ago. I teased the librarian about the tombstone in their front yard.

We should have dates written in our Bibles commemorating special times when we were about to perish, and the Lord moved in a special way. Do we have a stone, and EBENEZER, or a place or time that we can look on and say, "Here is where the Lord showed, Himself strong in my behalf'?

9) As we serve the Lord, the enemy is subdued, but given the slightest opportunity, he will rise and take control again. That fountain of sin is not removed by the blood of Christ; it is simply controled by the Spirit.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Vv. 13-16, The Philistines were subdued, and they left Israel alone.

But notice, Samuel continued to judge Israel, and as long as Samuel lived, the Philistines were kept at bay.

In other words, only as Israel followed the Lord were the Philistines subdued. Soon after Samuel died, the Philistines raised up again, and oppressed Israel.

I guarantee that as soon as we lay the word of God aside again, the enemy will be there waiting to oppress us again with sin.

1) The people were distressed because of the hard oppression of the enemy. God brings distressing circumstances into our loves to get our attention.

2) The people cry out to the man of God, "What shall we do?" The Lord alone can stir us to be distressed about our sin and our lack of His power and presence. He alone can stir us to cry out to Him with a sincere heart to know and do His will.

3) The man of God told them what to do - put away their false gods, and serve God truly and with their whole heart. The man of God must also pray that the Lord will make His words effectual. Though the man of God uses the word of God, it is the Spirit of God who must move, or the hearers will remain unaffected.

4) When we determine to deal with sin and serve the Lord only, we can depend upon sin rase up its nasty head again, seeking to bring us back under its control. But the grace and power of God is stronger than all our sin combined, and our victory is in Christ's victory over sin and death.

6) We have a Great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ, the righteous. He continually makes intercession with the Father for His people..

7) The enemy was subdued by the Lord, for the battle is the Lord's.

8) A special marker was set up to commemorate the victory the Lord gave to His people.

We should have dates written in our Bibles commemorating special times when we were about to perish, and the Lord moved in a special way.