I SAMUEL 7 lesson # 8
The True Path To Victory: Prayer
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction:
Note: Israel had suffered great defeat at the beginning of chapter 4 and then the Philistines found out that their understanding of the ark was incorrect. They may have won the battle, but were devastated by the ark when they thought they had captured it.
Q What had the Philistines misunderstood about the ark?
An = It had a mind of Its own. It was extremely powerful and was attended by great miraculous powers. Why it had allowed itself to be captured they did not understand, but it certainly was not weak.
Q What had the Israelites misunderstood about the ark?
An = You cannot "twist God's arm, even if you have His furniture" (D.R. Davis, pp. 52-53). Davis speaks of people having "Rabbit-foot" theology. The ark is not a good-luck charm, and God is not someone you can manipulate. It allowed Israel to be defeated when they tried to "use" it, it ravaged Philistia when they were arrogant, and it struck down and killed many Israelites when they tried to show contempt for it with their curiosity. God is dangerous to try and manipulate like a science-experiment or a rabbit's foot.
>>>> Lets read I Samuel 7:2.
Q What does this mean?
An = Israel felt estranged from the Lord. The ark was not moved back to Shiloh, it was destroyed, but it stayed at Kiriath Jearim. We cannot draw near to God with such attitudes, and so the people finally experienced what was already the case. The crisis of the Philistine war revealed what the true spiritual condition of the people was. Notice they sought but did not find any way to approach the Lord successfully.
III. Getting Back to God, Following His Word: I Samuel 7:3-4.
Note: When we are away from God, it is amazing how clearly God has communicated His truth, but how little we take Him seriously.
Q What are the first two of the Ten Commandments?
An = >>> Turn to Exodus 20:2-4 and read together. The first two commandments are: "No other gods before me", and "make no images". Now lets read what Samuel did.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 7:3-4.
Q What had the Israelites been doing?
An = They had been living a corrupt religious experience and were seeking the Lord while they were doing idolatry. It is like a young man being upset that his girl friend will not talk to him, and the whole time he is with other women. God deeply loves His people and He brooks not rivals. He will not share our loyalty with other things. >>> Read Psalms 16:2,4.
Note: The blessing of good leadership is that is firmly brings things back into focus so that the people could be blessed. Notice, Samuel shows them the cost of following God and lets them make the decision. "If you are returning to the Lord will all your hearts, then...." God leadership has to give decisive direction on the essential issues. This issue is not one of minor opinion, but the opening key elements in the Ten Commandments and in dealing with and pleasing Almighty God.
Note: When we long after God, truly long after Him, He will respond with a call to loyalty. He does wish to be involved with us, but it must be on His terms. He cannot be God if we are telling Him the terms.
>>>> Turn to Matthew 10:37-38 and have someone read these two verses.
Q Is Jesus any different than His Father?
Q What are the key issues Jesus says can be rivals to Him?
An = Family.
Note: The scholars are not sure how much time elapses between what is taking place in 7:3-4 and the coming event in 7:5 and following. I Samuel 7:3-4 may be a summary of Samuel's ministry over a long period of time. It could be a condensation of Samuel's preaching (Davis, p. 70).
Note: There are three main reasons that are possibly responsible for Israel being involved with the idols of those around them. 1) Peer pressure, everyone else (these older cultures) is doing it and we as humans are naturally religious and superstitious, 2) the Canaanite fertility cults had sexual practices with temple prostitutes built into the worship itself. 3) They were contacting some type of "power" and perhaps there seemed to be an advantage economically to appeasing the gods who gave increase to their crops and herds. It was to their advantage, or so they were tempted to believe, to placate these gods. To stand firm with God often seems very costly.
IV. Coming Together for Worship at Mizpah: 7:5-13
A. Ceremony of Repentance: I Samuel 7:5-6.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 7:5-6.
Note: Most every scholar admits that they do not know what "pouring out water" ceremony before the Lord means. There are three major proposals: 1) water = tears of repentance, 2) it speaks of abstinence, they were willing to go with out one of the necessities of life to show their seriousness in prayer, or 3) it was ritual saying they believed Yahweh was the true fertility God.
Note: Of more importance is the clear pattern in Scripture: Repentance can begin with sorrow and grief (7:2), followed by ceremony, but it must entail action. There is call to action here. Davis reminds us that genuine repentance must have a tangible aspect to it (Davis, p. 70). Note: It was after they had got rid of their idols that they could assemble at Mizpah and make confession (7:6). Confession without action would be meaningless.
>>>> Turn to Luke 19:5-10 and have someone read these six verses.
Note: Notice this man had a tangible means of expressing his repentance. It was action and confession combined that prompts Jesus to pronounce the arrival of salvation.
B. Crisis Caused by Corporate Worship: I Samuel 7:7-9.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 7:7-9.
Q What caused the Philistines to attack?
An = The Israelite gathering for worship. You can count on opposition from Evil when we gather to worship and especially when we gather to confess.
Q What does Israel do this time when they are facing defeat from the Philistines?
An = They pray. Before they tried to "use" God and now they "talk" to Him.
Q When we face crisis why do we often try to manipulate God (chapter 4) instead of just praying (chapter 7)?
An = It seems so simple but there is a huge difference in "planning evangelism" or doing the right "approaches", using just the right "music", etc. instead of just going directly to God and saying: please help me.
Note: They understand that Samuel will have more power in prayer than themselves and so Samuel intercedes for them. Good leadership give biblical direction to the people and effectively prays for them. You would be amazed how little leadership truly "cries out" to the Lord in behalf of the people. They, of course, pray, but to truly intercede for the people is another thing. Notice, the end of 7:9: "and the Lord answered him". We deeply need such leaders.
C. God Involved with the Crisis: I Samuel 7:10-13.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 7:10-13.
Q What happened? Who brought the victory?
An = It was all God. There act was to repent in emotion and in deed and then to ask.
Note: As we have said many times before, the book of Samuel is carefully written, let us note a careful (but subtle) pattern between chapters 4 and 7.
Chapter 4 Chapter 7
A. Israel "struck down" Philistines "struck down"
(Hebrew: nagap) 4:2,3,10 (Hebrew: nagap) 7:10
B. Manipulation Repentance
"Let it save" 4:3 "Let Him deliver/save" 7:3,8
C. Philistines hear Philistines hear
4:6 7:7
D. Result: Result:
"Ichabod" 4:21 "Ebenezer" 7:12
Note: This is Davis' chart (p. 73) and he says the author of Samuel wants us to see the clear difference between "dabbling in religious magic (chap 4)" and "walking by sheer faith". "Their only weapon is prayer...."
Q What does this mean for our group, for our church, or for our family?
Q What do specifically need to pray for in our church or community?
Q Is God the same as He was in the days of Samuel?
An = I believe God is the same and Davis gives another good bit of advice: "More and more God's people must walk the way of desperation-prayer. Once we see this, we will no longer regard prayer as a pious cop-out but as our only rational activity" (Davis, p. 74).
Note: Samuel is the subject of all the main action in this chapter. Note 7:3, 5, 6b, 9, 10, 12, 15. Good leadership is important according to our text.
Note: Samuel directed the people to erect a stone and call it Ebenezer, meaning thus far it has been God who has helped us.
Q Why set up such stones what do they do that is positive?
An = It helps us focus on who really brought us victory. It helps us focus on gratitude for His grace. An old saint once told me mother: "We will need 10,000 years in heaven just to catch up in praise and thanksgiving." It has been a blessing to just say thank you.
V. After the Crisis: I Samuel 7:14-17.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 7:14-17.
Q Why does the author tell us about Samuel's activity after the great victory?
An = Samuel was a "shield to Israel" (Davis p.77). Also, good leadership needs to continue to provide direction and see that fairness and justice continues in the community: that is what "judges" implies.
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