Ark to Abinadab - Revival Mizpeh I Samuel 7

I Samuel 7:3 "And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying 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 he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."

The ark stayed at Kirjath-jearim for twenty years. During this time Israel 'lamented' to the LORD much as they did for 400 years in Egypt. Samuel has come to tell them the conditions for getting help.

-Return to the LORD
-With all your hearts
-Put away strange gods
-Put away Ashtaroth
-Prepare your hearts
-Serve the LORD only

The promise when these conditions are met is that the LORD will deliver Israel from the Philistines.

v4 "Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth and served the LORD only."

1) The people drew water and poured it out before the LORD. 2) They fasted. 3) Confessed their sin.

Samuel took one small lamb and offered it as a burnt-offering and prayed for the people.

John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."

John 19:16-18 "Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of the skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha; Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one and Jesus in the midst."

The Philistines thought it would be a good time to attack with Israel gathered all in one place. But on this day Israel was protected by the LORD.

v10 "And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines and discomfited them and they were smitten before Israel."

While they were confused, Israel pursued them and took back the cities the Philistines had taken from Israel. It was a good day.

The rest of the chapter tells of Samuel's circuit days. He went year to year to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh then back to his own place: Ramah. I suppose that may be where the circuit riding preachers got their idea.

Psalm 34:22 "The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."

keywords: Bible, Bible Study, KJV, Old Testament, Samuel, Philistines, Israel, Milton Southerland