Samuel Administers Justice

                                                                Sunday School Lesson

                                                                        July 1,2012

Lesson Focus:

Confession and praise

precede God's justice

Lesson Scripture:

1Samuel 7:3-11,15-17

INTRODUCTION.Some people believe the philosophy that laws are made to be broken.This philosophy is contrary to God’s Word and His intent for His beloved.At the same time God knew that His people would not live true to the laws He set forth.He therefore put a system of justice in place and selected administrators to enforce His commandments, judgments, and ordinances.Samuel was such an administrator.  In this week’s lesson we will see how Samuel interceded for the nation which often violated God’s law.Our lesson takes place about 400 years after Moses reviewed the law for Israel on the Plains of Moab.Under Joshua’s leadership Israel generally followed the Lord, but after he died, the spiritual condition of the Israelites declined.They adopted the practice of worshipping idols and immorality of their neighbors. During this time Israel suffered great humiliation when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant. However the ark brought nothing but calamity for the Philistines causing them to return it to Israel.The Ark of the Covenant was not returned to Shiloh, its proper place, but to Kirjath-jearim (see I Samuel 7:1-2). It remained there for twenty years and all Israel was sorrowful because they thought the Lord had abandoned them.This gave Samuel the opportunity to urge the people to repent.

 

 (7:3).With Israel now in a receptive frame of mind, this verse says “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.”The phrase“If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts” was a call for the people to repent, or turn away from their sins and turn unto the Lord with all their hearts.Their repentance called for them to “put away” or remove all “strange gods” or foreign deities.“Astaroth” is the plural form of Ashtoreth, the female goddess of love, fertility and war.The use of the plural name indicates that Israel and her neighbors were worshipping multiple gods devoted to the same false god.Next, Samuel told the people to “prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only.” Repentance also meant that Israel needed to commit herself to serving the Lord and Him only.  Israel had fallen into the habit of dividing their devotion between the Lord and false gods.  But God demanded complete and exclusive commitment.  He had to be Lord of all; otherwise He was not Lord at all. If the people would do the things Samuel named, he told them that God “will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”The “Philistines” inhabited the eastern coast of Canaan and had dominated southern Israel for many years due to Israel’s sin and disobedience. If the Lord was going to deliver them, Israel had to deal with their spiritual problems.
(7:4) Here, the Israelites responded to Samuel’s exhortation of repentance.This verse says “Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.”They “put away” or removed all signs of worship of “Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.”Just as “Ashtaroth” is the plural of Astoreth, so “Baalim” is the plural for the male god, Baal who was the god of agriculture and fertility.

(vs. 5).To verify Israel’s repentance, Samuel called for a national convocation. “Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.”  He called for all the people to gather at “Mitzpeh” where he said “I will pray for you unto the Lord.”  Samuel would act as intercessor for the nation and would be remembered for that even in Jeremiah’s time (see Jeremiah 15:1). “Mizpeh” was about seven miles north of Jerusalem and seemed to have been a common gathering place for Israel in those days (see Judges 20:1; I Samuel 10:17).

(vs. 6).Here we are told that “they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.”At “Mizpeh” the people repented visibly.First, they drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord.  There is no other reference to this symbolic act in Scripture, so it may have been a symbol of purification from their previous spiritual failure. Next, Israel fasted and confessed their sin, for they said “We have sinned against the Lord.”Then we are told that “Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.”This implies that at Mizpeh Samuel began to exercise his authority as Israel’s judge.

(vs. 7).This verse says “And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.”The Philistines learned of Israel’s massive gathering at Mizpeh, perhaps seeing it as the preparation for an attack. The Philistines then launched an invasion of their own against Israel.The Israelites, who had just restored their spiritual fellowship with God, were not prepared for battle.  When they heard that the Philistines were gathering to attack them, they reacted with fear.

(vs. 8).Acting out of fear “the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”The people cried out to Samuel to “Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us.”In other words, they begged Samuel to keep on praying for them and don’t stop.The phrase “he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines” indicates that they were well aware that the Lord was their only means of deliverance.The encouraging thing about the Israelite’s appeal to Samuel is that they referred to God as their God not just Samuel’s God.  They said “cry unto the Lord our God.”  The people realized that they needed an Intercessor (Samuel), but they also realized that the God Samuel prayed to was their God.

(7:9).  In response to the people’s request for Samuel to intercede for them “Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.” Before he prayed, Samuel offered a “sucking lamb for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord.”The word “suckling” identifies the lamb as at least eight days old according to the law (see Leviticus 22:27).This burnt offering symbolized total dedication to the Lord.  At this point, Israel was completely surrendered to the Lord and acknowledged their total dependence upon Him for deliverance from the Philistines.  Note: It is important to recognize that when the Philistines attacked, Samuel didn’t resort to a political or military solution.  He understood that God’s people needed God’s help so Samuel resorted to a spiritual solution---an act of worship, trusting God to do as He saw fit.  This should remind us that in our crises of life we need to turn our problems over to Him. In other words, do all that you can do and leave what you can’t do up to God.  Remember, man’s extremity is God’s opportunity!  As Samuel offered the sacrifice, he also “cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.”  Samuel prayed and the Lord heard his prayer.  The fact that God heard Samuel shows how effective his prayer was.

(vs. 10). God’s answer was immediate.This verse says “And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.”As Samuel presented his offering and prayed, the Philistines came close for battle.However, the Lord sent deafening thunderclaps echoing throughout the Philistine ranks throwing them into massive confusion and panic. This is the meaning of “discomfited them.” 

(vs. 11).With the Philistines in confusion “the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.”After the Lord threw the Philistines into utter confusion with the loud thunder, Israel attacked them, pursuing them to a place below Beth-car, which may have been located between the Mediterranean Sea and Mizpeh, although we can’t be sure of its location.  Note: Israel’s victory shows that the Lord honors the trust of a repentant and dependent people.Their victory was significant for three reasons.First, Samuel set up a memorial stone between Mizpeh and Shen and called it “Ebenezer” which means “stone of help.”This would remind Israel that the Lord helped them against the Philistines.Second, this victory was important because the Philistines were no longer a threat to Israel until the days of King Saul.  And thirdly, all Israelite cities that the Philistines had taken were restored to Israel 

Samuel 7:15-17).  These verses give a summary of Samuels’ ministry.
(vs. 15).  Here we are told that “Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.”Samuel began his judgeship at the gathering at Mizpeh (see vs. 6) but he was recognized as a prophet at least twenty years earlier (see I Samuel 3:19-21; 7:1-3).However, his political functions as judge began with the defeat of the Philistines. Note: Samuel served Israel as an outstanding and godly judge all of his life.As the last of Israel’s judges, he anointed Israel’s first king, Saul.  He marked Israel’s transition from the period of the judges to the early monarchy.Samuel’s influence covered over fifty years.

(vs. 16). As Samuel acted as judge, this verse says “And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.”  Even though Samuel’s reputation as prophet was known from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south (see I Samuel 3:20), he travelled a circuit of four cities, three of which were Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh.  Beth-el, which means “house of God” was so named by Jacob when he had a dream while fleeing form Esau (see Genesis 28:16-19).  Beth-el was about ten miles north of Jerusalem.  There were two places with the name Gilgal.  One was near Jericho in the tribal area of Benjamin where the Israelites first camped after entering Canaan (see Joshua 4:19-20).  The other Gilgal was located in the tribal area of Ephraim about 8 miles north of Beth-el.  We cannot be sure which Gilgal is meant in our text, but because of the proximity of the second Gilgal to Beth-el it may be the one referred to in this verse.  The third city on Samuel’s circuit was Mizpeh, the same place where Samuel gathered Israel together in repentance.  It was also in the territory of Benjamin not far from Beth-el.

(I Samuel 7:17).  Still referring to Samuel, this verse tells us “And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.”  The fourth city on Samuel’s circuit was “Ramah.”  This was also Samuel’s home base where his house was located.  Not only did Samuel judge Israel from Ramah, but he also built an altar there to the Lord.  In those disorganized times, Samuel exercised authority in the political, military and religious arenas at the same time.  

 Conclusion.  Before Israel could receive God’s protection and blessings, it was necessary for the people to cleanse themselves of false religion. As a result of Samuel’s decisive action, Israel confessed their sins and returned to the Lord.  They gathered together and offered sacrifices to God, they fasted, and they confessed their sins.  They also sought Samuel’s prayers, and in response God brought deliverance with long term results.  This is the kind of deliverance we need today.  We need God’s active hand of power and justice to fall upon His church granting us power and influence in our society for the sake of the gospel.  So, what will it take?  It will take sincere prayer and fasting.  It will take devotion.  It will take confessing and turning from our sins.  It will take devoted obedience to our God and willing accountability to spiritual leadership.