20240308

revive us again

1 Samuel 7:1-6 (JDV)

1 Samuel 7:1 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of Yahveh and took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill. They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.
1 Samuel 7:2 Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for Yahveh.
1 Samuel 7:3 Samuel told them, “If you are returning to Yahveh with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to Yahveh, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 7:4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped Yahveh.
1 Samuel 7:5 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahveh for you.”
1 Samuel 7:6 When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in Yahveh’s presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against Yahveh.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

revive us again

Notice the three elements of this period of revival and peace in Israel:

A man – Samuel, the circuit-riding judge. He stood for the LORD and helped his people stay close to him.
A movement – the Israelites forsook their idols and worshipped God alone.
A monument – the Ebenezer stone reminded everyone that loyalty to the LORD was working, and was worth it.
LORD, restore us as you did the Israelites under Samuel. Show us all the idols keeping us from serving you alone, and give us the courage and wisdom to forsake them.