1 SAMUEL LESSON 7
We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 7:1 "And the men of
Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought
it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his
son to keep the ark of the LORD."
The house of Abinadab in the hill is, probably, the same as
Gibeah. They had an entirely different attitude. The ark was handled
with great respect by just the Levites. This Abinidab was a Levite,
and his son, Eleazar, was sanctified to take care of the ark.
I Samuel 7:2 "And it came to pass, while the ark abode in
Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and
all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD."
This was a long 20 years. It seemed, the Philistines were still
very powerful opponents of the Israelites. There was not a national
worship going on at this time. It appears, the ark abode there with
very little worship going on. During this time, Samuel is trying to
get the people to repent of their evil. There needed to be a national
repentance, before the LORD would bless Israel, again. They were sad
and lamenting their separation from the LORD's blessings, but they
were not repenting.
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."
It seemed that, Samuel was a lone voice crying out for the nation
to repent. They needed to stop lamenting, and start doing what would
put them in good standing with God. They still worshipped their false
gods, and specifically, Ashteroth. They must have a total change of
heart. The following is a promise to the people from God.
II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their
wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land." This is not true just for these Israelites,
it is true in our day, as well. God will always deliver His people, if
they will put 100% of their trust in Him.
I Samuel 7:4 "Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and
Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only."
Finally, it appears, they did put away their false gods and
served the LORD only. Baal and Ashteroth were the national false gods
of the Philistines. This, in effect, was a statement against the
Philistines, as well as the false gods.
I Samuel 7:5 "And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I
will pray for you unto the LORD."
Mizpeh was up on a high hill. We said, in the verse above, to
denounce the false gods of the Philistine was a revolt against the
Philistines. "Mizpeh" means watch tower. This was a high area, where
they could see their enemy coming.
I Samuel 7:6 "And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew
water, and poured [it] out before the LORD, and fasted on that day,
and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the
children of Israel in Mizpeh."
The "pouring out of the water" symbolized their sorrow for the
sins they had committed. They fasted and dedicated themselves, again,
to the LORD. Samuel had been a prophet, and now, he is a judge of
Israel. In fact, he is the last of the judges. Samuel would be their
leader against the Philistines.
I Samuel 7:7 "And when the Philistines heard that the children of
Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines
went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard [it],
they were afraid of the Philistines."
The Israelites gathering at Mizpeh was so great a number of
people, that the Philistines heard of it, and came against Israel.
These Israelites still had not learned to put their total trust in the
LORD. They were afraid, when they heard the Philistines were coming.
I Samuel 7:8 "And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease
not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of
the hand of the Philistines."
They call out to God to save them. They know that Samuel is in
good standing with the LORD, so they ask him to pray for them to the
LORD. Their only hope is in the LORD, because the Philistines have a
mighty army.
I Samuel 7:9 "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."
Notice, the difference in the offering here, from when they
offered the two milk cows. This was an offering, pleasing unto the
LORD. The lamb was at least 7 days old or older, but was still a baby.
Samuel is acting in the office of priest in this situation. He prays
for the people to the LORD, and the LORD hears and answers him.
I Samuel 7:10 "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."
We see, from this, that the Philistines were almost in the camp,
before the lamb finished burning. The LORD brought a thunderstorm of
great magnitude on the Philistines, just as they were about to enter
the camp. It was, probably, accompanied by lightning. Many were
killed, and many others turned to run. They knew this attack was from
the LORD.
I Samuel 7:11 "And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and
pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until [they came] under Beth-
car."
It appears, the LORD had killed so many, that the others headed
away from the hill. Just as they did so, Samuel sent the Israelites
down on them with great force. The word "under" indicates that Beth-
car was a place of safety, like a cave.
I Samuel 7:12 "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."
"Ebenezer" means help stone, or stone of help. The stone was a
memorial for the help the LORD had given them in battle.
I Samuel 7:13 "So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no
more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against
the Philistines all the days of Samuel."
The Philistines are not annihilated. They are subdued. In other
words, they do not come against Israel, again, in the time of Samuel.
The LORD fought for Israel, while Samuel was alive.
I Samuel 7:14 "And the cities which the Philistines had taken
from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and
the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the
Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites."
We remember, these cities had been counted in the 5 most
important cities of the Philistines. It, perhaps, means they are on
the border of the Israelite territory. The Israelites and the Amorites
are friendly during this time. They both have the mutual enemy of the
Philistines.
I Samuel 7:15 "And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his
life."
We remember that, Samuel had been dedicated to the LORD by his
mother Hannah, even before he was born. He stayed in the service of
the LORD, until his death.
I Samuel 7:16 "And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-
el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places."
He was like the supreme judge of these people. He went from city
to city, judging the things too difficult for their local leaders to
decide.
I Samuel 7:17 "And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his
house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto
the LORD."
Ramah was the home of his father and mother. His father Elkanah
had been wealthy and owned much land. It appears that, some of the
inheritance went to Samuel, and he lived in Ramah. He built an altar
there on his own land, it seems. He built a home and lived in Ramah.
Samuel lived his entire life in the service of the LORD. We do not
read of Samuel doing anything which would be displeasing to the LORD.
1 Samuel 7 Questions
1. Where did the men come from to get the ark?
2. What is, probably, the same as Gibeah?
3. How was the ark handled?
4. Who was sanctified to take care of the ark?
5. How long did the ark remain in Kirjath-jearim?
6. The house of Israel lamented for the _________.
7. Who is trying to get the people to repent, and turn to the LORD?
8. What was the main thing they must do, to show they have turned to
the LORD?
9. Quote 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14.
10. What were the names of the two false gods they did put away?
11. Turning from these false gods was a statement against the
_______________.
12. Where did Samuel tell them to gather all Israel?
13. What does the name mean?
14. What did they do at Mizpeh, in the way of worship?
15. What did the pouring out of the water symbolize?
16. __________ would be their leader against the Philistines.
17. What did the Philistines do, when they heard about Israel meeting
at Mizpeh?
18. How did the Israelites feel, when they knew the Philistines were
coming?
19. What did they ask Samuel to do for them?
20. What did Samuel sacrifice to the LORD?
21. Samuel is acting in the office of _________ here.
22. What did the LORD do to fight for Israel?
23. What does "Ebenezer" mean?
24. Who became friends with Israel?
25. How long did Samuel judge Israel?
26. What did Samuel judge?
27. Where did Samuel return home to?
28. Samuel got his land from ___________.
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