WHEN WE ARE WEAK, WE WILL STAND BY THE POWER OF OUR GOD

 

 

Israel had just lost a battle to the Philistines and wondered what they had done wrong:

 

·       And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim…(1 Samuel 4:3-4)

 

Israel had put her trust in the wrong thing. When the Ark was brought into the Israelite camp, they cried with such joy that their cry could be heard in the Philistine camp, and they were terrified:

 

·       the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.” (1 Samuel 4:7-8)

 

However, the Philistine warlord rallied them, and again they defeated the Israelites, who suffered 30,000 casualties. They also captured the Ark and brought it back to Ashdod and set it next to their god Dagon and treated it as a good-luck charm, as Israel had. Instead, the possession of the Ark brought tumors upon the Philistines and destroyed Dagon. However, the Philistine priests had more sense than the Israelites and returned it to Israel, reasoning:

 

·       “Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed?” (1 Samuel 6:6)

 

It wasn’t until the godly Prophet Samuel took charge that Israel’s eyes were opened to the reason for their failure and servitude to the Philistines:

 

·       And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.” (1 Samuel 7:3-4)

 

This started a great Back-to-the-Bible movement! Not only were they delivered from the Philistines, but under Samuel’s reign Israel experienced the greatest revival since the days of Joshua and enjoyed peace and freedom throughout his entire reign.

 

What brought their renewal? It wasn’t a matter of rituals or good luck charms but a return:

 

·       Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered at Mizpah 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 people of Israel at Mizpah.” (1 Samuel 7:5-6)

 

Confession and the turning away from sins is the only doorway back to God. For years, the Prophet Samuel traveled a circuit around Israel and would judge the people and their disputes by the Words of God.

 

However, after many years of peace, the people demanded a king so that they could be like other nations. Under King Saul, misfortunes would gradually overtook Israel.

 

·       Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)

 

The righteous Samuel had been reduced to playing second fiddle, and the nation suffered. Why? It is always a matter of living for God according to His truth. This is what Jesus had explained to a Samaritan woman He had met at a well:

 

·       “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

 

There is no other option. We must serve God with all our spirit according to His Word. May God raise up other Samuels for us! Blessings returned to Israel with King David, but when he sinned, the nation suffered.

 

When Joshua took the place of Moses, the people declared:

·       “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses! (Joshua 1:16–18)

 

We too must insist that our leaders be with God so that He will be with them.