Word for Today: Thursday, February 21, 2013

1 Samuel 7:2-177 Day of National Repentance

Memory Verse 1 Samuel 7:12(KJV)

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Yesterday, we learnt that God is not a respecter of anybody. Yes, he is merciful but he is also just. Failure to obey God’s commandments can lead to severe punishment or even death as in the case of the men of Beth Shemesh.

We will see the difference between Eli and Samuel, while Eli was responsible for turning the hearts of the Israelites away from God, Samuel was responsible for turning their hearts back to God Verse 3. This is what a priest or any man of God should do; they should lead the sheep astray but instead guide them and lead them to God.

Israel heeded to Samuel’s call for repentance, by turning away from idol worship. Samuel in turn arranged a day of national repentance for them verses 5, 6. The Philistines mistook the repentance rally for a war rally and assembled their troops terrifying the Israelites verses 7, 8 but Samuel interceded for them and God answered verse 9. After many years of defeat the Israelites were able to subdue the Philistines verse 13.

There are dangerous consequences for sinning and turning our hearts away from God. When you sin, do not hesitate to return back to God. True repentance means forsaking those idols or things that holds first place in our lives and turning to God totally and when we return to God in true repentance we are assured of victories especially in that situation that currently seem impossible. When you get the victory, do not forget to thank God, our Helper (Ebenezer). God bless you.