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The words "twenty years" should be connected with the following sentence, "and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord." Thus twenty years had elapsed before they began to revive from their sad state of religious decline. "And Samuel spake." Now Samuel appears upon the scene. He has been absent since the third chapter. But now he is seen with all the energy of spiritual fortitude, consequent upon deep devotion, trying to excite in other hearts the aspiration of his own. Such an occasion is worthy of his presence, and in the sequel we have at once presented the power and praise of a devoted life. We have here before us a pattern statesman.

I. HE WAS A MAN OF SPIRITUAL DISPOSITION. It generally happens that the leading spirits of a nation are those famous for philosophical thought, scientific discovery, or political revolution. The problem may be atheistic, the analysis anti-Christian, and the social change debasing, yet, because the man has by some marvellous display of genius flashed his name into the bewildered eyes of an astonished world, he is called to eminence. Thus national prominence is attained by the sheer force of mind power, irrespective of character, and while life is so commercial in its tendency and so secular in its habit we must expect such to continue, This was nee the case under the old Jewish theocracy. Samuel, the central figure of these times, was raised to authority, not by mere thought power, but by the Intense spirituality of his character. The spirituality of Samuel's disposition is manifested —

1. By his expostulation with the people (ver. 3). This expostulation contains(1) A supposition. "If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts," In this crisis Samuel does not suggest a series of civil enactments, or a great military stratagem, as calculated to obtain freedom, but penetrating to the deepest source of defeat, urges a return to God. The civilised statesmen of today may laugh at this primitive mode of government, and write, with sarcastic dash, "superstition" on its wish, but might they not learn a lesson from its success that political woes are often to be remedied by moral reform, not by the mock contrition of place-seeking miscreants, but by the devout penitence of guilt-stricken spirits.

(2) Instruction. "Put away the strange gods." Samuel thus places a recognition of Jehovah at the basis of all national reform. Idolatry has proved the overthrow of many kingdoms. Are not wealth, pleasure, fame our Penates? If so, let us heed the voice of Samuel. "Put away," etc.

(3) An assurance. "And He will deliver you" (ver 3).

(4) It was timely. "Then all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord."(5) It was successful (ver. 4).

2. By his supplication to the Apostate nation.

(1) Convention. "Gather all Israel to Mizpeh" (ver 5). A universal humiliation was requisite. It was celebrated: —

(1) By prayer. "I will pray for you." How calm and dignified was this language.

(2) By fasting (ver. 6).

(3) By penitent joy. "And drew water and poured it out before the Lord." Some have thought this a ceremony belonging to legal purification, or an expression of deep humiliation or of expiation, but it is possible that they poured out this water in token of joy, as they were accustomed to do at the Feast of Tabernacles(4) By sacrifice (ver. 9).

3. By his strict recognition of God This is observable: —

(1) In the ordinary life of the nation. He tells them to put away the strange gods.

(2) In important national crises. "The Lord hath helped us." The victory led to: —

(1) Retrospection. "Hitherto." And what a long string of events does that represent — what contingencies — what sorrows — what joys? The whole of their past lives was crowded into one word!

(2) Perpetuation. "Took a stone."(3) Ministration. "Hath helped us." Here we behold the strength of Samuel's character. He was one against a nation. He had force of will to resist the tide of wrong, and to bid it recede.

II. SUCH CHARACTER MAY HOPEFULLY ANTICIPATE THE COOPERATION OF HEAVEN. "But the Lord thundered" (ver. 10). Samuel, the holy legislator, was the connecting link between God and help. How dependent is human life upon leading powers!

1. A religious assembly mistaken for a national army (ver. 7). Now the Philistines draw near for battle. This is a typical incident; the effort of moral improvement necessarily excites opposition, either the sneer of forsaken friendship, the persecution of sects, or the enmity of Satan.

2. The surprised worshippers.

(1) They were timorous. "Afraid" (ver. 7). Causes of their fear. They were without means of defence. They were conscious that past sin had enfeebled their national prowess. The discipline of extremity developed their reformed character.

(2) They were victorious. We have here illustrated the inherent power which is to be found in an assembly convened for religious exercises: such an association of contrite souls possesses some mysterious influence which almost naturally draws God into its life, and such allegiance is potent for any conflict.The issues of victory.

(1)  Subjugation of enemies (ver. 13).

(2)  Restoration of territory (ver. 14).

3. In the elevation of spiritual character, we have a guarantee for the execution of justice. "And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life" (ver. 15).

4. Home the sanctuary of public life.

(1) Samuel's return (ver. 17).

(2) Samuel's devotion. "He built an altar unto the Lord." If a man is to be influential abroad, he must be devotional at home. True public life catches its inspiration from the domestic altar Lessons: —

(1) The practical influence of one holy life upon a nation.

(2) National humiliations are acceptable to God.

(3) God's mercy illustrated in the victories of life.

(4) That public life should have its altar of devotion.

(J. S. Exell, M. A.)

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KJV: 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.

WEB: Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."