1 Samuel 7:3-11 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to the LORD with all your hearts… For more than twenty years the Philistines had held undisputed sway over the greater part of the territory of Israel. Shechem and Shiloh, the ancient sanctuaries of worship, were both in the possession of the Philistines. Even the sacred ark of the covenant had been surrendered ingloriously into the hands of the uncircumcised. Restored by miracle, it still remained in the Hivite town of Kirjath-jearim upon the border. Israel was without a sanctuary as well as without a ruler. The power of the oppressor was to be broken. Deliverance was to come in the only way in which it could come, through the interposition of Divine aid. This help of God bringing deliverance is the great theme brought to our consideration. I. The help of God which brings deliverance comes THROUGH THE AGENCY OF A PERSONAL DELIVERER. This is the first great historical lesson of those dark days in which the judges ruled. Each of the hero-judges was officially a type of the great Deliverer. In each succeeding one the personal analogies to the great Antitype become more and more apparent, until in Samuel, the last and noblest of the line, we reach one of the most illustrious types of Christ to be found in Old Testament history. II. The help which brings deliverance comes ONLY UPON CONDITION OF SINCERE REPENTANCE FOR SIN AND WHOLE-HEARTED RETURN TO THE LORD. Samson adventured all upon personal prowess. Conscious of extraordinary powers, he sought to annoy and intimidate the Philistines into submission. Wasting his strength in brilliant but vain exploits, a romantic life was crowned with a glorious death, yet he passed away, leaving the Philistines still in possession of the land. Samuel, tracing the miseries of the people to their true source in the chastisement of God for their sins, realising that the first step towards disenthrallment must be taken in repentance and reformation, sets himself quietly but steadfastly to work to rekindle in the hearts of his countrymen the smouldering fires of religion. At the basis of all true freedom from the Philistines that rule the heart, from the bondage of corruption, from the fetters of guilt, from the "lusts that war against the Soul," is this bitter work of repentance, this putting away the idols of the soul, this turning with the whole heart to the service of the Lord. III. The help which brings deliverance comes THROUGH A COVENANT SEALED WITH BLOOD. As deliverance from Philistine bondage came only through the provision of the covenant with Abraham, as that covenant was ratified and rested in by the oppressed and suffering people, so deliverance from the bondage of Satan comes only through the provisions of the covenant of grace, as that covenant is sealed with the blood of Christ and joyfully accepted and rested in by the sin-oppressed soul. IV. The help which brings deliverance comes IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. The Church of God has never yet tasted to its lull extent the power of prayer. It is Samuel's memorial that he is (Psalm 99:6) "among them that call upon God's name," who "called upon the Lord, and he answered them." Luther, Knox, Whitefield, Wesley, the men who carried forth great movements and accomplished glorious works for God, have been men preeminent in prayer. V. The help which brings deliverance comes IN THE USE OF APPOINTED MEANS. Not when the first alarm was sounded, and the people, started by the unexpected assault, "were afraid of the Philistines," did the Lord appear, but when Samuel, going calmly forward with the sacrifice in the face of the advancing enemy, had shown the sincerity of his trust in God — when the hosts of Israel, drawing inspiration from the faith of their dauntless leader, had set the battle in array and were making use of all available means of defence. In all our convicts with Satan, the world and sin, help comes from God, but only as direct effort is put forth by us. It comes to give efficiency and success to our efforts. We may not sit idle and wait for some marvellous interposition of God's power. We may not first do our part in our own strength and then wait for God to do His. It is in and through our working that Divine power is put forth and Divine help given. We work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure, VI. The help which brings victory in the first conflict is THE PLEDGE, TO BE GRATEFULLY RECOGNISED, OF COMPLETE AND FINAL DELIVERANCE. VII. The help which brings deliverance ENGAGES TO THE LIFELONG SERVICE OF HIM WHO SO GRACIOUSLY INTERPOSES FOR OUR RELIEF. Each mercy received should be a silken cord binding more closely to the service of God. Instead of presuming upon gracious interpositions in the past as occasions for indulgence or inaction in the present, we should find in these both incentive and encouragement to steady progress and patient labour in the Christian life. (T. D. Witherspoon, D. D.) Parallel Verses 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. |
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