Good morning,
Where do we put our trust?
The ark of the covenant has been returned and has resided in Kirjathjearim for twenty years.
Then the prophet Samuel challenges the nation of Israel to return to the Lord with all their heart, put away their strange gods, prepare their hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only.
IF
“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.” (1 Samuel 7:3)
THEN
If they choose to do this, God will deliver them out f the hands of the Philistines. The children of Israel did make the right choice.
Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. (1 Samuel 7:4)
Israel Repents and asks God to save them
“And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.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. 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.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.” (1 Samuel 7:5-8)
Samuel prays for Israel
“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.” (1 Samuel 7:9)
Philistines defeated; cities restored
“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. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. 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.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. 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.” (1 Samuel 7:10-14)
FINALLY, the nation of Israel turned to God. They repented of their sins, gave up worshiping false idols, sought God with their whole heart, and as a result GOD gave them the victory. Not the ark of the covenant! God did it!
COVID-19 is our Philistine.
Israel had to make a decision. Follow the ways of the world or the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To follow the failed ways of the pagan society in which they lived or the living truth of God’s word.
They chose to follow God. THEN, and only then, did God go to work for Israel and gave them the victory over the Philistines.
Choose today who you will serve.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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