1 Samuel 6. We're going to start in verse 13. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their
wheat harvest in the valley, and when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to
see it. The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was
there, and they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.
And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden
figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and
sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the Lord. And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it,
they returned that day to Ekron. These are the golden tumors that the Philistines offered as a
offering to the Lord, one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron,
and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the
five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set
down the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
And he struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the Lord.
He struck down seventy men of them, and the people mourned, because the Lord had struck the people
with a great blow. Then the men of Beth Shemesh said, Who is able to stand before the Lord,
this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us? So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of
Kiriath-Jerim, saying, The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you.
The men of Kiriath-Jerim came and took up the ark of the Lord, and brought it to the house of
Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the Lord.
From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-Jerim, a long time passed, some twenty years,
and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. 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. 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. Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of
the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the
Philistines. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us,
that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines. So Samuel took a nursing lamb, and offered it as a
whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord
thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines, and threw them into confusion.
And they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah, and pursued the
Philistines, and struck them as far as below Beth-kar. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it up between
Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer. For he said, Till now the Lord has helped us. So the
Philistines were subdued, and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was
against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel
were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of
the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites. Samuel judged Israel all the days
of his life. And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in
all these places. Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there. And there also he judged
Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord. So the word of God for the people of God.
You may be seated. Isaiah 40 tells us that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the
Lord stands forever. Luke 1, no word from God shall be void of power. Would you pray with me again?
Lord, we thank you that your word is not scarce, that your Holy Spirit takes up the sword of the
Spirit, the word of God, and wields it powerfully still today. I pray, Lord, that your Holy Spirit
will illumine the truth of your gospel, salvation, and Jesus Christ alone from this ancient passage
in 1 Samuel. I thank you for your people and for those who are still far from you, but who you have
brought to hear your word, Lord. And we pray that your word will pierce in where no human wisdom,
no human words can touch, but that your Holy Spirit will quicken and make alive that which was dead.
Ears that are deaf will be made to hear, and eyes that are blind will be made to see you
in your holy glory for the first time by faith. We ask this for your glory alone and for Christ's sake.
In his name we pray. Amen.
Amen.
Hiro Onoda did not live his life aligned to reality. He became a soldier in the Japanese army in 1944,
and he was sent off to a remote island in the Philippines on a mission, but with the Allies' campaign
of island hopping, they would knock out the communication between these islands. So here
was this Japanese soldier sent there in 1944 without him or his commanding officers knowing
that World War II would come to an end in just a few months. He remained on that island thinking
that World War II was still going on for 30 years. That's 10,000 nights.
Can you imagine the realization to look back on 30 years of your life thinking,
I could have been living in freedom, watching my country boom economically, moving on with all
the other things a normal life and time of peace would give me, but here he was instead in suspicion,
worried, constantly afraid of captivity and death, living as though there's a war.
I've been thinking a lot this week of what does it mean to be a Christian, and really it means to align
our lives to the spiritual reality. Sanctification is watching God do that. He's aligning my life more
and more, every aspect of it, to the reality that he is victorious. There are no other gods besides him.
He's already proven this in Philistine territory.
He's shown that Dagon, remember the father of all the other gods,
the father of Baal and all these lesser gods,
bowed down, prostrate, literally disarmed,
head crushed. There is no other god.
But this happened over in Philistia.
The Israelites are living out of alignment
to that reality.
So, beloved congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ,
what I want to try to walk us through in this passage is how
the Lord applies his victory to his people.
How the
holy Lord God applies,
makes a real experience
of the victory he already accomplished
in the lives of his people.
We have four celebrations
and a couple other observations
as we work through this passage.
The first is this.
The holy
Lord God doesn't keep his victory
to himself.
He turns
his own exile into a great
exodus.
He redeems his people, accomplishes the victory
using reversal,
but he doesn't stay there
and he also doesn't go somewhere else.
He returns
and shares this victory
with the people
of Israel.
We have to start back
in chapter 6
to remember what
he is doing here.
See, this holy
Lord God,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
he is dragging
his ark,
which represents
the presence of God
with sinners
using the means
that he's ordained
for them to receive grace.
And he drags it
all the way across
Philistine territory
using these untrained
mother heifers
with the yoke
to pull it.
Their udders are full of milk,
their calves are bleeding,
and yet they are marching
without turning
to the right
or the left.
Look at verse 12
of chapter 6.
1 Samuel chapter 6
verse 12.
The cows headed
straight for the road
to Beth Shemesh,
and they went along
the highway,
lowing as they went,
and did not turn
to the right hand
or to the left.
And the Philistine lords
went after them
all the way
to the border.
What a sight
that would be.
The kings
of each of the major cities
of the Philistine kingdom
following behind,
drug along
as captives,
so to speak,
watching
the ark
of the Lord
by the power
of the Spirit
alone,
the invisible hand
of God
returning
to Israel.
Not just
to anywhere
in Israel.
Look at
verse 13,
chapter 6,
verse 13.
Where
was this ark
going?
It could have
gone anywhere,
so it must be
significant
where it goes.
See,
the people
of Beth Shemesh,
this is where
it's going.
They were reaping
their wheat harvest
in the valley.
That's significant
as well.
Do you remember
Dagon was
the god
of fertility
and grain?
Dagon was
the god
that could
send storms
and rain
that would
make this
wheat grow
and create
a great
harvest.
And this
is what
the people
of Israel
are doing.
They're
harvesting
their wheat.
Remember,
the Philistines,
they had
encountered
the true
God,
and they
learned to
fear Him
alone.
Now,
how would
the people
of Israel
receive this
God?
Would they
view Him
as the one
and only
God?
Well,
we read
that in
verse 16,
if you'll
skip down
to 16,
when the
five lords
of the
Philistines
had seen
this,
they returned.
They wanted
to be rid
of this
holy Lord
God.
In Israel,
they did
nothing different
in the meantime.
The last
they had
encountered
this ark
was when
the Lord
made them
lose to
the Philistines
and 30,000
of their men
died.
And they
declared
Ichabod,
the glory
of God
has departed.
Nothing
has changed
in Israel
this whole
time.
But for
this fullness
of time,
these 70
days while
the ark,
I'm sorry,
seven months
while the ark
is in
Philistia,
Israel's done
nothing to
deserve God
returning to
them.
Yet the
Lord returns
victorious,
leading captivity
captive all the
way to the
border.
And why is
He going to
this city?
See,
Israel has
not yet
repented
for their
sin.
Who was
it that
carried away
the ark
of the
Lord to
the great
battle that
they lost?
It was
Hophni and
Phinehas.
They're the
last Israelites
to have
handled or
carried this
ark anywhere.
And the
Lord was not
pleased and
He showed
very clearly
in that
battle,
He is not
pleased with
Israel.
They need
to learn
His law
and they
need to
repent of
their sin.
There's not
been a revival
in the land,
there's not
been a
great
reformation,
there's been
no covenant
renewal ceremony
the way the
Lord prescribed
it,
which is the
only way
He'll accept
their repentance.
Well,
why Beth
Shemesh?
Why this
town compared
to all
hundreds or
thousands of
other towns
it could have
gone to?
In the book
of Joshua
chapter 21
verse 13,
we learn that
Beth Shemesh
was a
Levitical
city,
specifically
given to the
clan of
Kohath.
The
Kohathites
were assistants
to the
priests and
the Levites.
They were
the ones
who were
allowed to
go in
and perform
a lot of
the duties,
but only
after the
descendants of
Aaron had
covered up
all the
furniture in
the tabernacle,
including the
Ark of the
Covenant.
And so this
was a
Levitical city.
These are
the ones
God has
set apart
and called
to handle
the ceremonies
of forgiveness
of sins.
In Numbers
chapter 4
verses 3
and 4,
these were
the ones
specifically
the
Korathites
assigned for
the care
of the
Ark.
See,
the Lord
knows that
you and
I need
our sins
pardoned.
The Lord
is victorious.
He's already
seated at the
right hand of
God the
Father Almighty
until all of
his enemies
are put under
his feet.
But he knows
that you and
I need
his victory
that he
accomplished
applied to
our lives.
our sins
need to be
covered by
his work.
You and I
individually,
we can't
approach God
on our
own terms.
He was
victorious
and he meets
his people
for a covenant
renewal.
This is why
he's going
to a
Levitical
city.
the people
of Israel
don't know
what God
requires of
them because
the word
of God
has been
so long
neglected.
Do you
remember?
The word
of God
was scarce
in those
days.
Where we
left off
in 1 Samuel
chapter 3,
Samuel had
been established
as a true
prophet,
but it
takes so long
for the people
of God
to be under
his word
and to
reform their
thinking and
their right
view of
God,
and Israel's
not there
yet.
But this
holy Lord
God does
not keep
his victory
to himself.
He returns
to his
covenant
people.
Well,
the second
celebration
is this,
that this
holy Lord
God,
he comes
near to
sinners
while they
are still
in darkness.
There's the
people of
God,
ignorant,
without his
word,
in darkness,
and yet God
comes to
them.
Would you
look at
chapter 7,
verse 3?
Samuel has
to tell the
people,
put away
the
bales.
The bales
were the
gods of
the storm
and rain
subservient
to Dagon.
And put
away your
asterisks.
These are
also false
idols,
a pagan
goddess of
love,
fertility,
and
reproductive
desire.
So it's
not a
stretch to
conclude that
here are
the people
in Beth
Shemesh
bringing
these idols
along for
good luck,
bringing
along the
bales and
the asterisks,
and here
comes the
ark of
the
Lord.
Is it
just one
more of
all these
gods that
might give
them an
even better
harvest?
Samuel tells
them,
put away
these idols
from among
you,
prepare your
hearts for
the Lord
and serve
him only.
Now go
back to
chapter 6,
verse 13.
See,
I think
Beth Shemesh
described as
reaping their
wheat harvest
in the
valley is
also significant
because if
these are
Levites,
they're not
supposed to
be farmers.
Remember?
This shows how
far the word of
God has been
neglected and
this is another
pattern in
Israel.
In Nehemiah
chapter 13,
verse 10,
after the
people of God
have been
exiled,
they've abandoned
his word,
they don't know
his ways,
look at what
he has to
correct them
with.
Nehemiah
says,
the Levites
have not been
given their
regular food
allotments,
so the Levites
and the singers
who led the
services of
worship had
all left
and gone
back to
their farms.
So the
people of
Beth Shemesh,
the Lord is
exposing the
sin of the
nation.
You don't
know my
word,
you all as
a nation
should have
been setting
these Levites
apart,
and here they
are,
worshiping the
Baals and the
Ashtaroths,
trusting in
them for a
great harvest.
How wrong
you've gotten
my kingdom.
They're ignorant
of God's
word,
but the
Lord,
he goes
to those
sinners,
and he
will receive
sinners while
they're in
darkness if
they come
to him by
the way of
the covenant
he's provided.
See,
God's covenant
does require
sacrifice for
blood guilt,
but it's not
just any
blood guilt.
There's a
great principle
in the
scriptures called
federal
headship,
and this
means that
one can
represent many,
many.
You can see
why this
principle is
so important
for the
gospel.
How is it
that one
could represent
many?
This is built
into the
sacrificial
system.
Specifically
this,
if a
high priest
or any
priest
sins,
it's not
just any
animal that
could be
brought to
cover the
sin of
the priest.
Remember,
what's been
exposed so
far as the
great sin
was the
two sons
of Eli.
These are
priests who
have sinned.
Israel's never
repented.
The Lord has
never covered
up that
sin of
these
priests.
So how
could anyone
else have
their sins
covered up
until the
priests get
clean?
Leviticus 4
says,
if an
anointed
priest
sins,
bringing
guilt on
the people,
the whole
nation is
now cursed
by this
principle of
federal
headship,
he must
bring to
the Lord
a young
bull,
a male
uncastrated
bull,
without
defect,
as a
sin offering
for the
sin the
priest committed.
And the
priest is to
present the
bull at
the entrance
to the
tent of
meeting
before the
Lord.
The priests
should know
this.
And those
who help
with the
tabernacle
ministry,
the Kohathites
and these
Levites that
live in the
city of
Beth Shemesh,
if they
have the
word of
God
minister to
them,
should know
all of
this.
And this
should be
their posture
toward the
Lord,
who's already
been victorious
over all
the other
gods.
But look
back at
chapter 6
now,
verse 14.
When the
cart came
into the
field of
Joshua
of Beth
Shemesh
and stood
there,
a large
stone was
there,
so they
split the
wood of
the cart
and offered
the cows,
these same
two young
female heifers
that had
left their
calves behind
as a burnt
offering to
the Lord.
So they
did burn
it all
the way,
but the
Lord did
not receive
this as
the atonement
for their
sin that
he required.
How is it
that sinners
can know
the terms
of God?
We must
learn God's
terms from
his word.
God does
not lower
the terms
of his
covenant.
And you
and I,
despite our
sin,
we can know
the terms
of God's
covenant,
but we
must learn
from God's
word.
We need
to be the
people of
his word.
We need
to help
one another,
sharpen one
another.
That's one
of the things
I love about
the culture
of this
church is
we're under
his word
together.
You see
how this
holy Lord
God,
he comes
near to
sinners
while they're
still in
darkness.
Have I
proved that
these people
are in
darkness?
They need
the word
of God?
I think
the reason
the Lord's
exposing this
is because
that will
be Samuel's
ministry.
It's to
minister the
word of
God finally
that's been
long neglected.
And while
he's been
recognized as
an established
prophet of
God,
they are not
receiving the
word of
God.
So what's
the third
observation
here?
Well,
the Lord
will get
their attention
even further
by showing
the high
cost of
falling short
of his
glory.
This
holy Lord
God,
he shows
the high
cost of
falling short
of his
glory.
They took
the wood
that the
Philistines
had sent
over,
burnt it,
put these
female
heifers on
top,
but they
fell short
of the
glory of
God.
They
sinned
against
him.
The
Philistines
knew the
holiness of
God better
than Israel
did.
We're told
in verse
19,
chapter 6,
verse 19,
the Lord
struck the
men of
Beth Shemesh
because they
had looked
into or
gazed at
the ark
of the
Lord.
They
gazed at
or looked
inside this
ornate
golden box.
Picture this
in the desert
wilderness,
massive box
with two
ornate
angels,
cherubim,
warrior angels,
separating what
is unholy
from the
Lord who
is holy.
What a sight
for these
simple Israelite
farmers.
And the
Lord strikes
them dead
for looking
at the
ark.
They looked
at it because
they didn't
know the
word of
God.
They had
not been
taught that.
One
commentator
said they
put it as
a tourist
attraction.
Here's a
big stone,
set it up
there.
Everyone
traveling this
highway,
come and
gawk and
look at
it.
And the
Lord said,
this is not
how you
worship the
holy creator
of all,
who's
condescended
and made
himself low
to be in
covenant with
you through
the shedding
of blood.
They were
inspecting the
ark and
likely many
were idolizing
the ark
itself with
their eyes
rather than
receiving the
living God
by faith,
not by sight.
In Matthew
15 verses
8 and 9,
Jesus said,
these people
draw near to
me with their
mouth,
they honor me
with their
lips,
but their
hearts are
far from
me.
See how
nothing changes.
This can be
said of us
before Christ
has saved us
or when our
flesh is too
strong and it
can be said of
many who will
look at a
crucifix,
look at a
painting of
Jesus and
think they've
paid him
enough honor,
move on with
their lives
rather than
fearing and
having reverence
for the holy
God and
approaching him
by the shed
blood of
Christ to
cover our
sins.
And so in
verse 19,
the Lord
struck the
men.
The number
that's given
in verse 19
is a topic
of debate.
I don't agree
with this,
but some will
say it's a
copyist error.
I don't agree
with that.
A better
explanation,
some of you
don't even
see the
conflict,
but it's
because in
some translations
it'll say
70 men
were struck
down.
Others will
say 50,000
and 70
were struck
down.
The best
explanation
that I have
come to
believe is
right.
It's that
right before
this we're
given a
summary again
of God's
vengeance
upon the
Philistines.
It's a
summary of
all the
five cities,
all the
gold,
all the
curses of
the plague
that they
endured,
and then the
Philistines
watching up to
this point,
now it's the
handoff,
and these
70 of
Israel also.
So the
number 50,000
is likely the
number of
how many
died in
Philistia
of this
plague,
and 70
based on
the size
of Beth
Shemesh
would have
been how
many died
from Israel.
So in
total,
the total
number is
50,000
and 70.
Five cities
of the
Philistines,
five lords,
50,000
Philistines,
and then 70
of those who
had gawked
and gazed
and looked
into the
ark and
forgotten
the holiness
of God
in Israel.
We're told
this was a
very great
slaughter,
and the
people lamented
because this
holy Lord
God had
struck the
people of
Israel in
this Levitical
city with
such a
great slaughter.
See the
contrast?
I think what
we have seen
right here is
still another
one of the
results of
the neglect
of Hophni
and Phinehas,
the sons of
Eli.
See the
neglect of
the ministers
of the word
and of the
sacraments,
it's far
reaching.
Their sin,
failing to
provide the
word of
God and
calling people
through the
means God
had ordained,
it continued
to affect so
many other
people,
including these
citizens of
Beth Shemesh.
This is the
great lesson
to be learned.
I think that
the Philistines
were to teach
the Israelites
a lesson.
They're used
as a foil
or a contrast
here.
Look back at
chapter 6,
verse 5.
See what the
priests of
the Philistines
realized quicker
than Israel?
In chapter 6,
verse 5,
the priests of
the Philistines
said,
you should give
glory to the
God of Israel.
And the word
glory is you
should give
weightiness to
this God,
Yahweh,
who slayed
Dagon.
And perhaps
he will lighten
his hand
from you.
Perhaps
he'll lift up
some of the
weight of his
glory from
Philistia.
In chapter 6,
the Philistines
made the
connection.
They need to
learn from
the history
of Israel
that Israel
apparently had
forgotten.
Why do you
harden your
hearts as
the Egyptians
and Pharaohs
had hardened
theirs?
John B.
Webster
commented,
religion is
sin when it
makes God
into something
which we
can handle.
If the
holiness of
God is not
perceived and
appreciated,
then the
entire work
and conduct
of God
cannot be
grasped.
Israel needs
to understand
first and
foremost,
before anything
else,
God is
holy.
You have
forgotten
this,
people of
God.
You need
to grasp
that he
is holy
before you
will appreciate
anything else
of the work
of God
for you.
Maybe that's
a lesson
for us
today.
So,
in chapter
6,
verse 20,
the men
of Beth
Shemesh
come to
the same
conclusion
that the
Philistines
had come
to.
Who is
able to
stand before
this holy
Lord God?
The Lord
needed to get
Israel's attention
and needed to
expose to them
their need to
be under
his word.
God.
And they
came to the
conclusion,
we cannot
stand before
this holy
God.
Who will
teach us?
Who will
come and
show us
how it
is that
we can
even be
near
Yahweh
who
delivered
our
people
out of
Egypt?
Instead,
they say
right now,
who can
we pass
him up
to?
Who can
we get
rid of
the ark
to?
But we
know it's
got to
be above
us.
It's
got to
go upward,
not down.
So,
they send
the ark
of the
Lord
away.
In
Job
chapter
21,
the wicked
are described
this way.
They spend
their days
in prosperity
and in
peace they
go down
to Sheol,
to hell.
And they
say to
God,
depart from
us.
We do
not desire
the knowledge
of your
ways.
And those
in Bethshemesh
who did
not desire
to know
the ways
of God,
enjoying
their harvest
and their
prosperity
going down
to hell.
Who wants
to know
the will
of God?
Who desires
to have
the knowledge
of the
holy God?
The
holy God
had come
down to
them,
yet they
would not
have him
on his
own terms.
And the
holy Lord
God shows
the high
cost of
falling short
of his
glory.
Well,
brothers and
sisters,
the Lord
Jesus Christ
is the
one who
makes this
same holy
Lord God
encounter
you and
me.
And in
his work
he showed
the high
cost of
falling short
of the
glory of
God.
It's the
wrath of
God poured
out on
sin.
And it's
poured out
on you
still if
you don't
know
Jesus.
But only
in Jesus
he received
the wrath
of God
for the
ways in
which we
fall short
of his
glory.
And now
we celebrate
we do
have a
mediator
who took
the wrath
of God
in our
place.
And we
receive God
in covenant
through Jesus
Christ every
time we
gather.
Well,
here's the
fourth
celebration.
It's that
this holy
Lord God
causes his
people to
desire the
victory he
already
accomplished.
He got
their attention.
Now he
causes them
to desire
this victory
for themselves.
Israel
neglected to
keep the
word of
God and
Israel was
unfaithful
to God.
What would
God do?
Will this
holy Lord
God lower
the terms
of his
covenant?
What the
Lord does
is he
acts in a
holy way
once again.
He uses
time to
work on
people.
Look at
chapter 7
verse 1.
They send
the ark
of God
away and
specifically
on a
hill.
They know
he must
be higher
than us.
They
consecrate
a priest
Eliezer.
the son
to keep
the ark
of the
Lord.
In verse
2 we're
told it
was there
that the
ark remained
at Kiriath
Jerom for
a long
time.
It was
there 20
years.
And all
the house
of Israel
lamented
after the
Lord.
So the
Lord is
back in the
land of
Israel.
The glory
of God
has returned
but he's
still not
communing
with these
sinners.
20 years
pass.
Would the
Lord prepare
a generation
to receive
him?
And how
would he
do it?
Well let's
think what
we can
deduce
would have
happened
during these
20 years.
In Israel
all the
indicators are
that over
20 years
time once
the ark
is again
out of
sight it's
out of
mind for
the people.
We don't
see them
coming to
repentance
in those
20 years
no worship
no prayer
no covenant
renewal
ceremonies
on a
regular
basis.
Samuel's
not
mentioned
at all.
Either
Samuel was
negligent
as possible
or he
was
established
but no
one would
listen
to him.
What about
in the
Philistines?
What would
have happened
to them?
Well one
generation of
the lords
of their
cities would
have died
20 years
past.
The soldiers
that would
have been
in their
prime
and would
have
remembered
the plagues
and the
story of
the God
of Israel
invading
their land
and slaying
them.
Many of
them would
have died
off by now
and been
forgotten.
So up
comes the
next generation
proud and
arrogant in
just 20
years time.
So the
Philistines
begin to
become greedy
again and
they start
looking at
the land
of the
Israelites
and they
become a
massive threat
once again
20 years
later.
And now
the people
are woken
up a little
bit.
God's got
their attention
here come
the
Philistines.
What are
we going
to do?
We're told
in verse
5 that
they summoned
Samuel.
Then Samuel
said this is
nationwide.
He says
gather all of
Israel to
Mizpah.
It's a point
of reference.
It's most
likely a stone
there and
the name of
the stone
Mizpah is
Watchtower.
Samuel says
gather
representatives from
all of Israel
and I will
pray for you.
And here's
how Samuel
judges all
of Israel
at Mizpah.
Verse 5
If you
return to
the Lord
with all
your heart
and put
away the
foreign
gods to
the
Ashtaroth
from among
you and
prepare your
hearts for
the Lord
and serve
him only
he will
deliver you.
Will this
generation
repent?
Will the
Lord give
them a
desire to
do just
that?
What they've
been called
to do?
We read
in verse 6
that they
gathered
they drew
up water
they prepared
a ceremony
with these
big vases
of water
and then
they poured
it out
before the
Lord.
Most likely
this is
a visual
symbol
of repentance.
Lamentations
chapter 2
verse 19
calls God's
people to
do that.
It says
arise
cry out
in the night
at the
beginning
of the
watches
pour out
your heart
like water
before the
face
of the
Lord.
And these
representatives
from all
of Israel
fasted
that day
and they
said
we have
sinned
against
the Lord.
They put
away their
idols
and they
demonstrated
pouring out
their hearts
and depending
on God
alone.
What an
encouragement.
Finally
20 years
later the
Lord has
prepared a
people
and given
them a
desire
to receive
the victory
he already
accomplished
long in
the past.
Some of
them would
just now
have heard
of it.
Repentance
is a
change
in direction
and God
calls us
to nothing
less than
full repentance.
Serve the
Lord only.
A change
in direction.
It's a
180
change
from 12
o'clock
to 6
o'clock.
You're
on I-25
you're
going
south
due
south
to
New
Mexico
he
turns
you
around
puts
you
back
going
due
north
to
Wyoming
that's
repentance.
See
repentance
is
stop
living
as if
God
is not
your
king.
Live
as if
God
alone
is
your
king.
And what
a difference
it makes.
He's already
king of
kings
and lord
of lords.
He already
sits enthroned
at the right
hand of God
the father
almighty.
But do
you live
in light
of this
reality?
Those
that Christ
purchase
he will
give you
a desire
to live
your life
aligned
to this
reality.
Well the
fifth
celebration
is this
that this
holy
lord
god
teaches
his
people
to
live
on
earth
in
light
of
the
reality
of
heaven.
This
is the
climax
of the
story
in
verse
8
do
not
cease
to
cry
out
to
the
lord
our
god
for
us
that
he
may
save
us
from
the
hand
of
the
Philistines.
Will
the
lord
do
it
or
not?
Don't
stop
interceding
for us
Samuel.
We've
learned to
fear this
holy
god.
Pray
pray
for us.
They're
not asking
to go
get the
ark
down
from
the
hill
country
and
bring
it
back.
No
they're
just
asking
for
the
lord
to
deliver
them.
All
they know
to do
now
is
to
pray.
They've
given
up
pagan
ways
of
thinking
and
viewing
God.
Will
the
lord
do
it?
Last
time
30,000
of their
men
were
slain.
They
were
humbled
Made
Lo
before
the
Philistines.
Will
God
save
his
people?
And
how
does
the
lord
have
them
prepare
for
this
great
battle
as
the
Philistines
approach?
He
does it
with a
worship
service.
This
is what
pleases
God.
Look
at
verse
nine.
Samuel
took
a
lamb
and
he
offered
it
as
a
whole
burnt
offering
to
the
Lord.
A
burnt
offering
is
a
sin
offering.
They're
praying
to
the
Lord
trusting
that
the
blood
of
this
whole
lamb
burnt
!
on
their
behalf
receiving
the
wrath
of
the
holy
God
on
their
behalf
that
God
will
hear
their
prayer
and
forgive
them
and
deliver
them
from
the
Philistines.
And
the
answer
is
yes
absolutely
the
Lord
is
pleased
with
us.
He's
pleased
with
his
people
forsaking
their
idols
repenting
turning
to
him!
We read
in
verse 9
the
Lord
answered
Samuel.
Verse 10
sets the
stage
now as
Samuel
was
offering
up
the
burnt
offering
as
he
was
doing
that
there's
the
smoke
going
up
and
there's
the
lamb
being
reduced
to
ashes
as
that's
happening
and
the
people
are
gathered
around
praying
and
interceding
in
verse 10
the
Philistines
were
drawing
near
in
battle
against
Israel
and
how
does
the
Lord
show
that
he's
forgiven
their
sins
and
he
will
be
faithful
when
they
were
faithless
we
read
in
verse
10
the
Lord
thundered
with
a
loud
thunder
upon
the
Philistines
that
day
and
so
confused
them
that
they
were
overcome
before
Israel
when
the
Lord
sent
the
plague
he
was
acting
with
nature
when
the
Lord
made
the
cows
go
back
to
Israel
away
from
their
calves
he
was
acting
against
nature
and
now
by
sending
thunder
from
heaven
he's
acting
above
nature
exalting
his
own
creation
saying
it's
not
Baal
who's
the
god
of
the
storm
I'm
the
creator
of
all
and
he
made
nature
itself
go to
war
against
the
Philistines
and
confuse
them
one
commentator
called it
a celestial
bombardment
he
turned
lightning
and
thunder
into
his
artillery
this
is
exactly
what
Hannah
had
prophesied
back
in
chapter
2
verse
10
would
you
flip
back
to
chapter
2
now
think
about
this
as
Samuel
was
a
little
boy
growing
up
this
wonderful
little
poem
song
a hymn
that his
mom
was inspired
to breathe
out
would have
been on his
mind
and his
lips
and all
of Israel
waiting
and watching
even for
20 more
years
waiting
how will
the Lord
even do
this
look at
chapter
2
verse
10
long
ago
Hannah
her
last
words
in this
wonderful
prayer
the
adversaries
of the
Lord
shall
be
broken
in
pieces
from
heaven
he
will
thunder
against
them
the
Lord
does
exactly
what
he
said
he
would
do
this
event
is
celebrated
later
in
Psalm
18
verse
19
that
the
Lord
sent
his
arrow
What
was
the
arrow
of
the
Lord?
Lightnings
in
abundance
to
vanquish
in
verse
11
we're
told
Israel
pursued
the
Philistines
and drove
them
back
verses
13
and
14
tell
us
then
all
the
land
that
the
Israelites
had
lost
was
recovered
and
they
enjoyed
peace
the
Lord
is
their
king
the
Lord
is
showing
his
favor
to
his
people
again
and
it
all
centers
around
this
covenant
renewal
ceremony
!
A
lamb
A
burnt
offering!
A
whole
lamb
on
behalf
of
these
sinful
people
who
were
in
darkness!
Redemption
the
victory
of
God
is
now
applied
to
his
people
they're
learning
to
live
in
light
of
what
he
already
did
look
at the
three
contrasts
between
the
great
defeat
of
Israel
and
the
great
victory
that
God
gave
them
now
in
chapter
four
remember
there
was
their
proud
attempt
to
manipulate
the
Lord
1st
Samuel
chapter
four
verse
three
they
said
bring
the
ark
that
it
may
save
us
but
now
in
chapter
seven
we
see
this
humble
response
the
Lord
gives
them
a
desire
to
return
to
him
spiritual
repentance
they
learn
to
completely
trust
in
God
their
only
preparation
for
war
is
to
pray
!
and
to
worship
him
alone
second
contrast
is
back
in
chapter
four
the
word
slaughtered
is
used
in
verse
10
we
read
that
there
was
a
very
great
slaughter
and
there
fell
of
Israel
30,000
foot
soldiers
now
in
chapter
seven
it's
the
Philistines
who
were
slaughtered
the
third
contrast
is
the
result
that
can
be
summarized
in
one
word
when
the
people
were
proud
and
unrepentant
and
a
low
view
of
God
it
all
resulted
in
one
word
chapter
four
verse
21
Ichabod
the
glory
of
God
is
not
with
us
and
now
after
this
great
deliverance
from
the
Lord
the
word
is
Ebenezer
the
Lord
has
helped
us
this
holy
Lord
God
teaches
his
people
to
live
on
earth
in
light
of
the
reality
of
heaven
see how
much
better
it is
to
trust
him
and
to
live
with
him
as
the
king
he
is
all
powerful
our
hearts
are
prone
to
wonder
just
like
the
Israelites
and
the
Lord
continues
to
meet
us
and
call
us
back
and
bind
our
hearts
to
him
well
the
sixth
encouragement
for us
today
is
this
that
God's
people
we
need
regular
reminders
of
how
the
Holy
Lord
God
is
faithful
God's
people
need
to
regularly
!
remember
how
this
Holy
Lord
God
is
faithful
to
us
again
and
again
don't
we
need
that
and
that's
what
Israel
receives
in
verse
12
chapter
7
verse
12
a
memorial
is
set
up
the
two
points
of
reference
are
two
other
stones
that
have
a
unique
shape
so
these
travelers
along
the
ridgeline
as
they're
going
across
the
spine
of
Israel
and
the
mountains
they
have
these
points
these
stones
that
are
points
of
reference
and
as
you
travel
in
between
the
two
Samuel
has
all
the
army
the
men
set
up
another
stone
and
the
name
of
this
stone
is
Ebenezer
because
remember
in
20
years
how
quickly
Israel
forgets
out
of
sight
out
of
mind
set
up
reminders
and
Samuel
said
thus
far
I
actually
prefer
the
old
word
hitherto
all
the
way
to
right
here
the
Lord
has
helped
us
the
word
help
is
used
numerous
places
in the
Bible
and
it
literally
means
the
Lord
ran
to
deliver
and
relieve
us
from
the
great
distress
that
we
were
in
and
he
healed
us
that's
the
type
of
help
the
Lord
brought
to
us
we're
told
at
the
end
of
this
wonderful
passage
that
Samuel
judged
Israel
everywhere
he
ministered
God's
word
the
word
judged
at
the
end
of
the
chapter
is
the
same
word
used
that
Mizpah
he
judged
Israel
what
did
he
do
at
Mizpah
three
things
ministry
of
the
word
repent
have
no
other
gods
before
God
the
ten
commandments
ministry
of
the
word
number
two
sacrament
here's
a
lamb
burnt
for
your
sin
and
he
prayed
it's
word
sacrament
and
prayer
and
now
we're
told
across
all
of
Israel
this
circuit
judge
ministering
word
sacrament
and
prayer
reminding
the
people
giving
them
God's
word
we're
told
in
verse
17
he
always
returned
to
his
home
in
Ramah
and
from
there
to
he
judged
Israel
and
there
he
built
an
altar
to
the
Lord
now
the
Lord
will
refine
Israel's
worship
over
time
but
the
Lord
is
in
no
hurry
remember
he
gave
it
20
years
let
a
new
generation
rise
up
the
Lord
is
in
no
hurry
altar
we're
told in
1 Corinthians
chapter 10
verse 11
that all
these things
happened
to
Israel
with the
brief
recounting
of their
history
and it
happened
as an
example
to you
and to
me
church
for our
admonition
so just
like they
set up
this stone
Ebenezer
to remember
to celebrate
God's
victory
we're to
learn and to
remember as
well
all
those
who
are
pilgrims
and
sojourners
in
this
life
just
like
that
generation
and for
generations
to come
we're
to
remember
thus far
hitherto
the Lord
continues
to help
us
his
people
we're
to sing
of his
saving
power
like they
were
this
is the
holy
God
who
still
comes
near
to
sinners
while
we're
in
darkness
Jesus
sought
me
when a
stranger
wandering
from the
fold
of
God
and he
to
rescue
me
from
danger
interposed
his
precious
blood
he is
the
lamb
that we
celebrate
he is
the
Ebenezer
the great
stone
that we
look to
this
holy
Lord
God
still
shows
the high
cost
of falling
short
of his
glory
and it's
good for
us to
remember
that
our need
for his
grace
oh
to grace
how great
a debtor
daily
I'm
constrained
to be
this
holy
Lord
God
still
doesn't
keep
his
victory
to
himself
streams
of
mercy
never
ceasing
call
for songs
of loudest
praise
this
holy
Lord
God
causes
his
people
to
desire
the
victory
he
already
accomplished
he
stirs
your
heart
and
mind
to
say
praise
the
mount
I'm
fixed
upon
it
mount
of
thy
redeeming
love
so
here
I
raise
my
Ebenezer
hither
by thy
help
I've
come
you see
how this
holy
Lord
God
applies
his
victory
to
his
people
till
his
kingdom
comes
on
earth
as
it
is
in
heaven
may
it
be
so
by
his
power
and
for
his
glory
would
you
pray
with
me
oh
Lord
we
praise
you
our
great
deliverer
the
only
one
who
can
be
the
help
of
your
people
who
runs
to
relieve
us
from
great
distress
and
who
heals
us
we
pray
that
you'll
do
that
today
Lord
by
your
power
amen