Samuel is the last of the Judges and the instrument that God uses to announce the time of the kings for Israel. By the time of Samuel, Israel lies in ruins; its cities have been plundered, its armies defeated and the Philistines are dominating Israel. Samuel calls the nation to a time of prayer and repentance at Mizpah. "Return with all your heart and put away your foreign gods and serve God only" was Samuel's instruction to the people. Doesn't that remind you of the prophets call at a later time in 1 Chronicles 7:14, " if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land."
That is exactly what Samuel was leading Israel to do!
Israel had never quit worshiping God, but had layered other gods into their daily lives. they offered their sacrifices to Jehovah but they also asked the blessing of Baal and the ashteroths. Are we guilty of the same? Have we layered our spiritual lives with other little idols that keep us from full allegiance?
Even as Samuel led them in this time of prayer and repentance God was doing what God does.....he was preparing a blessing for those who sought him with their whole heart. the Philistines are sneaking up on Israel thinking they can catch them off guard but our God never sleeps and he intervenes in supernatural way. Israel chases the Philistines right out of the country and for as long as Samuel continues in his duties as God's emissary the Philistines are never a problem again.
Samuel raises a large stone called an Ebenezer as a symbol of what God had done. Does this remind you of a pile of 12 stones on the banks of the Jordan? Visual reminders to tell the stories seem to be a theme in the Old Testament. Any time you see the word ebenezer think of this story and how Samuel raises an Ebenezer as a sign of God's work in that place. Many churches have used Ebenezer in their names.
The story goes on to tell of how Samuel's sons fail to follow faithfully in their father's footsteps. We are reminded that salvation is an individual decision. The prayers of a faithful parent avails much, but each generation must decide for themselves who they will serve. All the more reason that we should redouble our efforts as the Body of Christ to seek those who have not heard the story of God's Amazing Love.
Israel wants a king like other nations. God knew that they would one day have a king, but his preferred future for Israel and for us is that God would be our king; that we would walk in obedience to his decrees. Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place if we could live in a society where all loved God and their neighbor? God consents to Israels desire even though he reminds them that a King will not be all that it is cracked up to be. Our God gives and gives and gives, but a king will take and take and take. Their is an army, and taxes and servants and castles and courts and all of it to paid for with our money.
God has selected a man, his name is Saul, the son of Kish and wealthy and prominent member of the tribe of Benjamin. Chapter 9 retells how God orchestrates the meeting of Saul and Samuel and how God instructs Samuel in recognizing him. We often think things happen just by chance, but looking back on our lives, it ought to be apparent that God had his hand in many of the events that have shaped us and divinely led us to appointed places and people who have blessed our lives. God cares about every event of your life and can work his purpose even when we think he doesn't see or care about what is going on.
Hope you get a chance to enjoy a little sunshine today. God is obviously at work in Eastern Jackson County. Please continue to pray for the people of Japan and those who are trying to contain the potential nuclear disaster their.
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