1 Samuel 7:7-12 – A stable faith is developed through testing

The people of Israel had repented. Their relationship with God restored. Life with God is never static. It’s a dynamic process where God constantly allows us to encounter tough moments so that our faith in Him can be developed. God knows that an untested faith is an unstable faith. It is in the turmoil of daily living that faith in God is best cultivated. Our abiding faith can become the anchor for our life. So once again the people of Israel found themselves returning to precisely where they were 20 years earlier. Once again, they came face to face with the hostility of the Philistines. However, the good news is that the result this time would be very different.

The Philistines returned to harass the people of Israel. Learning that they had gathered in Mizpah, the enemy came with malicious intent against them. Having been through much, it was natural for the Israelites to be afraid. Previously, when Eli was at the helm they did not have the trepidation. At that time, they had presumed on God and took Him for granted. Now they were not so cocksure, so they were afraid. They dared not presume on God this time. So, they turned to Samuel saying, “Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” In reality, the people had turned to God.  

Remember things were quite different then. Without consulting God, they took the Ark and went out in battle with the Philistines. The had presumed on their covenant relationship with God. This time with humility, they turned to God through Samuel, who began by offering a sacrifice to the Lord. He took  “a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the Lord”.  Samuel prayed to God on their behalf. God then answered hi sprayer like he answered the prayer of Hannah, Samuel’s mother.  So, Israel was delivered.   

Verses 10-11 tell us how God fought for them. As “Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them so that they were routed before Israel. The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.” The victory Israel experienced was God’s doing.  This time it was the Philistines who had to flee. So, Samuel set up a memorial that day to commemorate the victory. He set a stone between Mizpah and Shen and called it Ebenezer, meaning “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 

Every victory has a lesson to teach us. We should learn to build memorials to recall how God had brought us through. In recalling our victory, we engender our courage to move forward. Besides, it will help us not to forget the God who has helped to see us through. In so doing, we build a life of thanksgiving for His unwavering help. Every victory today stabilizes our trust. We must never forget how God had taken us through every moment in life. We do so by constantly giving thanks. This we must do!