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make your life count

1 Samuel 7:7-8:3 (JDV)

1 Samuel 7:7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers went up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
1 Samuel 7:8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to Yahveh our God for us so that he will save us from the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 7:9 Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as an ascending offering to Yahveh. He cried out to Yahveh on behalf of Israel, and Yahveh answered him.
1 Samuel 7:10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. Yahveh thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.
1 Samuel 7:11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and chased the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.
1 Samuel 7:12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “Yahveh has helped to this point.”
1 Samuel 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel’s territory again. Yahveh’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life.
1 Samuel 7:14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
1 Samuel 7:15 Samuel judged Israel throughout his life.
1 Samuel 7:16 Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations.
1 Samuel 7:17 Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to Yahveh there.
1 Samuel 8:1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
1 Samuel 8:2 His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.
1 Samuel 8:3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways — they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.

make your life count

Samuel could not control all that happened during his lifetime, nor could he control the choices his own sons made. But he could choose to make his life count for God, and that is what he did. You and I have the same choice. Make your life count!