From Weepers To Warriors

FROM WEEPERS TO WARRIORS

1 Sam 7:2-13

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. I heard about this 85-year-old woman. She went on a blind date with a 92-year-old man. She came home very frustrated and her daughter said, "Mom, what's wrong?"

2. She said, "I had to slap him three times." The daughter said, "You mean he tried to get fresh?" She said, "No. I thought he was dead."

B. TEXT

4:1Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer. 2 Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men. 10 [In a second battle]...There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 7:2 [For] twenty years…the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. 3 And Samuel said…"If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. 5 Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 6 On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." 7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. 8 They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines." 9 Then Samuel...cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him. 10 But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car. 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.

C. THESIS & TITLE

1. We’re going to see how God can move us from weakness to strength, from sadness to joy, from defeat to victory.

2. The title is “From Weepers to Warriors.”

I. THEIR DEFEAT

A. THE CAUSE OF THEIR DEFEAT

1. Samuel pointed out in 1 Sam. 7:3 the cause of the Israelites’ defeat – they were serving other gods! Samuel said, “Rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths.”

2. Of course, God tells us that we can have no other Gods beside Him, Isa. 44:8. Syncretism is the worship of more than one god. God won’t allow that. He’s a jealous God. He wants all of us or none of us!

3. He wants us to love Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind & strength – not just a portion of us. That’s how much He loves us!

B. EFFECT OF THEIR DEFEAT

1. Israel was terribly defeated because of their sin. They lost 34,000 men and also their confidence in themselves. There were 34,000 wives and mothers who had lost their husbands and sons. There were multitudes of children who had lost their fathers.

2. The loss of their battle also meant the loss of much of their land and being ruled over by the Philistines, who took all they wanted – the spoils of war. It’s horrible to be helpless under the domination of a cruel master!

C. THE GOOD THAT CAN COME OUT OF DEFEAT

1. LOSSES CAUSE US TO REASSESS THINGS.

a. There’s nothing like trouble to bring you to your senses. That’s why the Bible said, “It was good for me when I was afflicted.” A loss, a defeat, a setback – is a good time to do some self-examination – “Have I been disobedient to God or do I have any sin in my life?”

b. The furnace of affliction can turn into a hotbed of revival. I didn’t learn faithfulness from somebody’s podcast, I learned it when all hell broke loose. That’s when God showed up!

2. RESTORED FEAR OF GOD. Israel had played games with God and lost 34,000 men. They thought they could use God like a butler or bellhop – bringing the Ark of the covenant to the scene of the battle. God showed them, “Don’t take My favor for granted.” God sometimes allows casualties – like careers – in order to make a statement.

3. THE LOSS BROUGHT HUMBLING. You can’t beat an enemy unless you get lower – a lower center of gravity.

a. The problem with the church is that we want to fight standing straight up and looking cute. No! Get down low.

b. Do you have a bad doctors report? Get down low. Is your house being foreclosed on? Get down low. Because God gives grace to the humble!