1 Samuel 7 Return to the Lord
The Ark of the Lord is back in Israel, but the people are not serving him. They whine instead. Samuel says return to the Lord and He will help you.
I’m going to admit straight up that I’m a little confused by the timeline. I always believed that the Ark remained in the home of Abinadab for 20 years, and then was brought to Obed-Edom’s house, and finally on to Jerusalem. This is an impossibility. The Ark was absent from Shiloh for MUCH longer. I don’t have exact dates, but it was long enough for Samuel to become ‘old’, long enough for Israel to demand a king, for King Saul to reign (probably 40 years), for David to take the throne in Hebron for seven years after Saul’s death, and for David to finally take the throne over all of Israel. I’m saying this would have to be between 60 and 80 years. The longer timeframe gives Israel time to ‘tire’ of Samuel’s sons’ leadership.
I have another question regarding the Ark. We are not there in our story yet, but I have read ahead. We are told in 1 Samuel 14:18 that Saul called for the Ark because; “For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.” WHY wasn’t it brought back to Shiloh at that time? It was taken back to the home of Abinadab instead. My curious mind at work again.
For our story, I’m going to have the quoted 20 years be a period of time between return of the Ark and the call by Samuel for the people to put away their gods. That is the only timeline that makes sense to me. So, let’s rejoin our story and see where the Sprit takes us today.
♥ ♦ ♥
It has been nearly 20 years since the death of Eli, the high priest. Samuel has grown in wisdom, honor among the people, and of course age. He is now in his third decade of life. He is old enough to be considered a man to be listened to.
During this 20 years period, Israel has been lamenting the separation of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Lord. There is not a day that goes by when someone does not comment on this tragedy. But not a day goes by when Israel doesn’t bow down to some other god. Israel is still under Philistine rule too, as their defeat at Ebenezer at the hand of the Philistines still smarts.
Samuel feels that it is time to call Israel to repentance. This is something he has wished for, for a LONG time. He has not felt that he had the authority, until now, or the urgency from the Lord. As a descendant of Levi, his service could not begin until he was 30 years old. It’s time!
Samuel summons the leaders of Israel to Mizpah. Israel will have to prove themselves worthy of the Lord’s help. Once all the leaders of the tribes have assembled, Samuel stands before them.
“The Lord has heard you crying out over the state of the people and the Ark of the Lord. He would love to save you from the hand of the Philistines, but He will NOT save us when we are in rebellion. We must turn back to Him with our whole hearts if we want to see Him move on our behalf. So, ‘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.’ (1 Samuel 7:3)”
All the leaders cried out as one; “We will do this! We will forsake the false gods and serve only the Lord.”
Samuel nodded his approval. “Go then, and do as you have said. Spread this call to ALL the land.”
Israel was famous for their ‘in the time of trouble’ promises. Samuel was not going to take their word at face value in this instance. He would wait and see if they did as they had said before calling them together to stand against the Philistines.
Six months go by and Samuel is amazed at the change in the people. As he makes his yearly circuit for judging the people, he had not passed one alter to Baal or one Ashtaroth pole sticking up from the ground. Mizpah is his next stop, so he decides to call the people together.
When Samuel reaches Mizpah, he already has dispatches written out for each of the tribes. “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” (1 Samuel 7:5)
It was three days before the last of the people reached Mizpah. Samuel waited patiently, as did those who arrived earlier. When all were in attendance, Samuel stepped before the congregation.
“We will come before the Lord as one people. We will fast and pray that He may forgive our sins and break the yoke of the Philistines from our backs.”
All day long, the people fasted called out to the Lord. “We have sinned against the Lord.” (1 Samuel 7:6b). They also drew water from the well and poured it out before the Lord as an offering.
The Philistines had been watching as Israel gathered. A report was brought back to their lords. “Israel has gathered at Mizpah. We can wipe them out in one attack!”
Quickly, the lords gathered their forces and made their way deep into the heart of Israel’s territory; to the very gates of Mizpah. Their numbers were increased by the Israelites that they forced into service for them, and those who had chosen to stand with them.
The sounds of the approaching Philistines can be heard long before they reach Mizpah. The people are terrified! They remember well the last time these two nations clashed. “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 7:8)
“Bring me a nursing lamb” Samuel called out to his servant.
The man ran quickly and retrieved exactly what Samuel had asked for. He carried it in his arms, rather than trying to lead it. “Here you are, my lord” he said as he handed Samuel the lamb.
While his servant was retrieving the lamb, Samuel had laid the wood for a sacrifice. After taking the lamb in his arms, Samuel quickly slit its throat and let the blood drain out. Once all the blood had been drained, Samuel laid it, whole, on the wood. Then he put the torch to the wood. Fire licked up right away, eating at the lamb’s fine wool. Samuel started to pray.
At that same moment, the sounds of the Philistine army pressing against the gate rang out. All the men of Israel grabbed whatever implement was in their hands; ready to face the Philistines down.
Not a breath passed between the men of Israel rising up and a thunderous noise from the heavens breaking loose! This sound threw the armies of the Philistines into chaos. They turned on one another and began to kill their own comrades. Even those of Israel who had been pressed into service, or who willingly joined, fell on the Philistines. The men from inside the gates of Mizpah rushed out to join the battle. They chased the Philistines all the way back to their own territory.
The Philistines became afraid. They would not abandon their hatred against Israel, but neither did they encroach so deeply into Israel again. Israel, emboldened by their victory began to take back the territory the Philistines had taken from them, including Ekron and Gath.
Samuel’s word became law. He judged Israel for many years. He would make a circuit each year from Bethel, to Gilgal, and to Mizpah where the people came to hear his judgments. When he finished with these three cities, he returned to his home in Ramah; the very place where his family had come from. From his home in Ramah, he also judged the people. He built an altar to the Lord in Ramah where he would offer his sacrifices to the Lord. With the absence of Eli and the Ark of the Lord, Shiloh was no longer home to Samuel.
The years wore on and Samuel’s age was increasing. The yearly trip was not as easy as it had once been. To lighten his load, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah as judges over Israel along with continuing on himself.
(to be continued)
There is so much we don’t know about the timeline of things in Bible days. What we DO know is that God’s word stands true. It is our interpretation and understanding that leaves us open to questions. And I LOVE questions. If it weren’t for questions and curiosity, we would never even try reading His word. The questions are what makes it fun searching for answers. They are the birthplace of the stories we create; the Spirit and I.
Thank You Father God for a curious mind. Thank you for helping me search Your word. Without Your direction I would be forever lost! Not just lost in details, trying to unspool all the threads, but lost to sin without You. That longing to know more is what sent me in search of a personal relationship with You. Thank You for drawing me in each day.
