Gaining National Consciousness

I Samuel 7:1-8, 13-15

GOLDEN TEXT: “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”—Jeremiah 7:23

FOLLOWING the death of Joshua, Israel was ruled by “judges” for a period of 450 years, and Samuel was the last of this type of ruler. (Acts 13:20) Samuel was also a prophet as well as a judge, serving in either or both capacities as divine providence indicated the opportunity and need. Each of Israel’s judges was raised up at a time of dire need resulting, as a rule, from the people’s unfaithfulness to the Lord. The judges called attention to the sinful ways of the people and encouraged them to rededicate themselves to the Lord. Doing this, God’s favor would return and they would again enjoy peace and prosperity.

It was under such circumstances that Samuel’s judgeship began. The “ark of the Lord” had been removed from its proper place, which in itself foreboded calamity for the Israelites. For twenty years this situation continued, and during all this time “the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. 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.”

Israel’s failure was often attributable to their disposition to compromise. It was not so much a. case of their turning against God as it was of permitting their affections to be divided between Jehovah and the various heathen gods. They were desirous of all the blessings Jehovah was willing to give them, but supposed that other advantages accrued from giving a certain amount of allegiance to “strange gods.” Divided worship has never been pleasing to God nor satisfactory to the worshiper. James wrote (1:8) that a “double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” That was true of the Israelites, and it is true of Christians.

So, properly, Samuel admonished the people to return unto God with all their hearts. It was necessary that they make a definite decision and break away entirely from all semblance of devotion to other gods. The people saw the wisdom of Samuel’s advice, and did as he suggested, “and served the Lord only.”

Under the circumstances more seemed to be necessary than merely to change their way of life. Samuel arranged an event that would help the people remember the stand they had taken—an outward demonstration of their change of heart. He told them all to gather at Mizpeh, saying, “I will pray for you unto the Lord.” They did as he requested, and while at Mizpeh drew water and “poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord.”

The gathering of so many of the Israelites at Mizpeh aroused the suspicions of the Philistines so “they went up against Israel.” This was a real test of the Israelites’ faith. They had returned to God with their whole hearts. Was he now willing and able to protect them? Samuel took the matter to the Lord in prayer, offering an appropriate burnt offering, and in answer to this prayer God fought for Israel, and the Philistines defeated.

This marked a definite turning point in the experiences of Israel. For a long time the Philistines had harassing them, capturing one after another of their cities and holding over them a constant threat of aggression. But now the people returned to God, and he had returned to them, so the Philistines were powerless to do them further harm. Furthermore, the cities which had been wrested from Israel were recaptured. During all the time that Samuel ruled over Israel as judge, the Philistines were powerless to do them harm. There was also peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.

In this we see exemplified the principle set forth in the Golden Text in which the Lord states, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” (Jer. 7:23) These words were recorded by Jeremiah, who, like Samuel, had the responsibility of calling Israel’s attention to her sins. The underlying principles of God’s dealings with his people never change. Circumstances under which these principles operate may and do change, but the principles themselves always remain the same.

Israel’s history, with few exceptions, is one of failure in that they were not wholeheartedly for the Lord. This led to their unpreparedness to accept the Messiah when he came to them at the end of the Jewish age. But God in his great mercy will give them another chance in the world’s coming judgment day. been Then judges will be raised up to them and to all mankind, and by heeding their instructions rich blessings of peace and life will had come to all the families of the earth.—Isa. 1:26

QUESTIONS:

What was the position of Samuel in the nation of Israel?

Why did the Israelites so often lack the blessing of the Lord?

Will Israel have another opportunity to turn wholeheartedly to the Lord?

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