National Repentance (1 Samuel 7)

Is the party of Baal or the party of Astarte the answer to national woes or is national repentance the real answer? What happened when all Israel confessed their sins and repented? Are we willing to repent of worshipping false gods? Let’s look at 1 Samuel 7.

Did the people repent of worshipping false gods and return to the Lord?

So the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Lord’s chest. They brought it to Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Then they dedicated Eleazar, Abinadab’s son, to care for the Lord’s chest. Now a long time passed—a total of twenty years—after the chest came to stay in Kiriath-jearim, and the whole house of Israel yearned for the Lord. Then Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, “If you are turning to the Lord with all your heart, then get rid of all the foreign gods and the Astartes you have. Set your heart on the Lord! Worship him only! Then he will deliver you from the Philistines’ power.” So the Israelites got rid of the Baals and the Astartes and worshipped the Lord only. (1 Samuel 7:1-4 CEB)

Did Israel have an assembly, fast and confess their sins to the Lord?

Then Samuel said, “Tell everyone in Israel to meet together at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” The Israelites met together at Mizpah with Samuel as their leader. They drew water from the well and poured it out as an offering to the Lord. On that same day they went without eating to show their sorrow, and they confessed they had been unfaithful to the Lord. (1 Samuel 7:5-6 CEV)

Did God then defend Israel against an enemy attack by the Philistines?

Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. (1 Samuel 7:7-11 ESV)

Did Samuel set up a memorial stone and was there a time of national peace?

Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “The Lord has helped us to this point.” So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel’s territory again. The Lord’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life. The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. (1 Samuel 7:12-14 HCSB)

Did Samuel build an altar and become a circuit riding judge?

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went on a circuit each year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all those places. He would return to Ramah because his house was there, and judged Israel from there. He also built an altar to the Lord there. (1 Samuel 7:15-17 ISV)

What did the devil say to Jesus during His time in the wilderness? Do we worship the devil or God alone?

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:9-10 KJV)

Is the party of Baal or the party of Astarte the answer to national woes or is national repentance the real answer? What happened when all Israel confessed their sins and repented? Are we willing to repent of worshipping false gods? You decide!