At a 1999 conference in Houston, speaker Marti Ensign, a missionary to Africa, told of bringing some African pastors to the United States for a big meeting. During their free time, these Africans wanted to go shopping. Even though they were in a small town, Marti knew there was a chance someone might have difficulty or get lost. So she gave them her phone number for such an emergency. In less than an hour the phone rang and the African said, "I am lost."
Marti said, "Lay the phone down, go to the street corner, find out the names of the two streets at the corner, come back and tell me, and I will come and get you." In a few minutes he returned to the phone and reported, "I am at the corner of 'Walk' and 'Don't Walk.'"
Sometimes that is how life can feel doesn’t it? We’re lost at the corner of walk and don’t walk. We’re stuck in a rut but don’t know how to get out. The corner of walk and don’t walk is one that many of us have been lost at in our own spiritual journeys also. We feel like we can’t keep going the way we’ve always gone, but we don’t know how we can stop either. It is as if we are on a treadmill and the best thing we can do is just keep running without thinking about the insane reality that we aren’t getting anywhere.
We’re on our second week of a series called “The Life of Samuel” and we are taking a quick look at the life one of the greatest characters in the Old Testament. Last week we looked at Samuel as a boy, and discovered his habit of always telling God’s truth. But this week we are looking at Samuel in the prime of his life, we are looking at him as he serves his role as judge and leader over the nation of Israel.
If you remember from last week, we talked about how the story of the nation of Israel’s history through the time of the judges was one of sinning against God, God allowing them to become oppressed, the people crying out to God, and then God delivering them. It’s easy for us to look at this cycle and be critical. We wonder what their problem was that they kept repeating the same frustrating pattern. “Why didn’t they get it the after the first or second time?” we wonder, but all we have to do is look at our own spiritual lives to see that the story of Israel is really, very often, our story also.
It is very hard to maintain a steady upward trajectory with regard to ones spiritual growth. It seems that all of us are capable of slipping into a routine that is quite empty of any spiritual vitality and if we stay there long enough we soon realize that our spiritual life is really quite bland. And dare we take a more scrutinizing gaze we would likely find that we have let slip some holy habits, let drop pious principles, and let slide some saintly standards. You know what I’m talking about don’t you? Were not in open rebellion, we’re just stuck in a rut, we feel as if we are oppressed by mediocrity in our own spiritual growth. We are lost at the corner of walk and don’t walk. We don’t feel God’s blessing and yet we have hardly any emotional energy to care. Haven’t you been there in your spiritual life? Some of you are there now aren’t you?
And so we find ourselves in the same cycle as Israel. We are caught in that stage of being oppressed, caught in the goop of acceptable sins, not the hideous, outrageous bold sins that we look down on, just the invisible ones that no one sees but God. It’s not so much that we are deliberately backsliding it’s more that we’ve just stopped caring as much and while we’re not happy with how things are, we don’t know how to make things change. It is as if the radiance of God’s glory is gone and we’re walking not so much in darkness but shadows, grey, bland, shadowy, redundant routines.
This was the situation that Samuel was dealing with, a whole nation of people who were oppressed. Don’t you wish that Samuel was alive, and could stand before you now and that he could give you his council for how to get out from under the oppressive state you are in and get back on track with God? Well, although Samuel isn’t here to tell you, what I believe he would advise has been recorded fore us.
Before we read the text I want to give quick background to what has happened. In chapter 4 Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, have captured the Ark of the Covenant. It is during this battle that God fulfills his word spoken to Samuel in the previous chapter which told that Eli the priest’s sons would be killed. And when Eli hears that his sons are killed and the Ark taken he falls over and dies also. The Ark was a sign of God’s favour, His blessing and His glory and it is as if God was showing that His glory had left Israel.
But to the horror of the Philistines, they find that it has become a source of cursing upon them. Their people are plagued with tumours and dying. So after consulting with their pagan priests they determine how they can send this cursed object back to Israel. Israel now has the ark returned but the people are still oppressed by the Philistines. This is where I want to pick up the story in chapter 7:2. (Read text 1 Samuel 7:2 – 17)
Friends, I’d like to suggest that in this text a path is laid out, a way in which people can make their way back to God. Now let me qualify that statement before I go on. When I suggest that we make our way back to God, I do not want to give the impression that we somehow earn our way to God by what we do, but what I am saying is that just as with every relationship effort must be made to keep it healthy, and in this story we find a 6 step process to making our way back to a vital relationship with God.
Step 1: Make a Determination
At the end of verse 2 we see the first step, “Then all the people of Israel turned back to the LORD.” They made a determination. They decided that they were going to return to God. I’ve done some marriage counselling from time to time and often the couples who come are at their wits end. The first question I ask them is simply this, “Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to restore your relationship?” Because unless there is a commitment of the will, regardless of the feelings, until there is a determination, it is very unlikely that the relationship will grow to the place of health and satisfaction that the couple long for. Step one in getting out of the rut, and getting back into a vital relationship with God is to make a determination.
So let me ask you the question, if you find yourself in that stuck spiritual condition, will you make a determination to get things back on track. Will you make a commitment of your will regardless of your feelings? Because, you need to know that doing the right thing will not always feel right at the time and without having determined that this is what you want most, you will not take the next steps.
Step 2: Make a Break
Well verses 3 and 4 say, “So Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, “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.”
The second step that the Israelites make is to make a break with all that they knew was feeding their sin. You see friends, what Samuel was making very clear to them, was that it takes more than desire to get back on track. There are things we need to do. Ashtorah and Baal were foreign gods, to get rid of their Ashtoreths and Baals was to get rid of the images the idols that were used to simulate their worship to them.
Friends, you need to make a break with those things which you have that stimulates you to sin against God. If your commitment is real, get rid of the stuff that pulls you towards sin. If you struggle with excessive drinking get rid of the booze, if you struggle with porn, get rid of the sources. If you struggle with gluttony, throw out the junk food. If you’re convicted of a habit or vice stop buying more and get rid of what you have. If God’s convicting you of watching too much T.V. unplug it, cancel the cable, or turn it into a flat screen aquarium. Make a complete break with those things which are pulling you away from God.
Friends, what is it that keeps you from doing that? Here are some of the lies that you’ll like hear whispered in your ear by Satan:
• If I get rid of this I’ll be wasting money, I’ll wait until I’ve used my last one. Friends you wasted the money when you bought it to begin with. No value comes from using it – Make the break.
• I’ll just keep one, but I’ll not use, I’ll keep in just in case. In case of what? This is the whole reason you get rid of it, so that you cannot access it when you feel weak in your resolve – make the break.
• I’ll feel stupid and others will think it’s weird I’ll leave everything the same, but I’ll just try harder. Harder than when? The last time you said you would stop? Where will this supernatural infusion of willpower come from? You? Than you can boast that you did it. God? Then you need to do what’s he’s asking you to – Make the break.
Make a determination and then make a break. The third step is found in verses 5 – 6, “Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the LORD for you.” When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.”
Step 3: Make an Investment
We find Israel doing three things. We are told at Mizpah they “…drew water and poured it out before the LORD.” While the exact meaning of this practise is not completely understood, it is considered to be an act of humility, a statement of their utter weakness and unworthiness. But this enacted statement of humility was down at Mizpah which literally means “the lookout” is was a very public location. This was not a private humbling it was a public declaration.
The second thing we find them doing is fasting. This fast would have been a daytime self-denial of food and possibly water. And while not being physically harmful or dangerous, it would have been physically costly.
The third thing we find them doing is they confessed their sin. Confession means that they were agreeing with God’s assessment of their wrong doing and admitting it. Confession is not merely the admission of doing what God said is wrong, it is also an agreement with God’s assessment. Have you ever been in an argument with someone and they want you to apologise but you don’t think you’ve done anything that requires you to apologize, and so you end up saying something like, “I’m sorry that I did such and such because you think it’s wrong.” That is not a confession; a confession is not an apology to God for doing what he things is wrong; it is an agreement with, admission to and apology for our wrong doing.
All three of these acts were part of the third step which is to make an investment into their relationship with God. There was a social cost when they publicly poured out the water, there was a physical cost in fasting, and there was an emotional cost to their pride in their confession. Friends, make an investment in your own spiritual relationship with God. Tell your co-workers and friends about your relationship and commitment to God. Let there be a social investment. Give something tangible and material. It may be food for fasting, money for donating, or energy and time for volunteering but invest something substantial into your relationship with God. And invest yourself emotionally, swallow your pride, give or your tears but allow your heart to be touched in some meaningful way. Make an investment.
Step 4: Make a Stand
The text continues to in verses 7 – 9 to give the next step: “When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 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.” Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel’s behalf, and the LORD answered him.”
Friends, let me be quite plain in this matter, when you begin to return to God your enemy will try to entice you away from him – make a stand. In this case the tactic being used is fear, but is not the only way that Satan will try to keep you from trusting God. He may entice you with desires. Satan has an insidious habit of making available old enticements which we have offered over to God and made a break from. The person who stops doing drugs will find all kinds of free invitation to do drugs. The person who makes a break from an unhealthy relationship which they knew was not pleasing to God, will suddenly find all kinds of fine looking people who do not share their commitment to God asking for a relationship. You will give up on your unhealthy obsession with sports because God has convicted you, and that will be the year that the Leafs make the playoffs. You know what I mean don’t you? As soon as you have set a course towards God you will be challenged and you will need to make a stand.
He will try to entice you, or threaten you, he will cause you to slip, but the slip itself won’t be the undoing it will be the rationalization that he brings when he says, look you’ve failed, you couldn’t do it, you may as well quit trying. You’ve slipped up once you may as well go all the way back. Friends, I’m telling you now, you will be challenged – Make a stand!
Step 5: Make a Memory
Make a determination, make a break, make an investment, make a stand and then in verses 10-12 we read, “While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. 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. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.” Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
After the Israelites had made a stand; trusting in God and placing their hope in him and after they witnessed His faithfulness to deliver them, then they made a memory. The memory they made was a stone pillar which they named Ebenezer which means “stone of help”. We still do this kind of thing today:
• (NOTE: I showed images of the following Canadian memorials, but any significant memorial will do)
1. The Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge
2. Terry Foxx memorial in Thunderbay
• (NOTE: I ask the congregation what emotions these memorials evoke, what words come to mind and how they make them feel)
But creating memories does not necessarily require a large edifice. Wedding rings are memorials of that serve to remind the person wearing them of the commitment they made on the day they said their vows. A memorial is something that reminds us to celebrate, and honour an event or a person.
When Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday, Christians chose to gather and worship on Sundays as a way to celebrate and honour the resurrection of Jesus. Friends, the tendency of our finite, human minds is to forget. And even though at the time of a great event we may say “I’ll never forget this” guess what? You will. And so when Jesus answers a prayer that you thought could never be answered, but you had put your hope in God anyways and once he has answered, create a memory. When you obey out of sheer gut obedience, fighting every urge to do your own thing, but you do it because you know it’s right and then later, it could be hours or it could be years, you realize what tragedy or mess in your life you avoided by obeying, make a memory.
Some people make memories by writing journals or taking pictures. When I’ve been on a trip or vacation and found that God has spoken to me at that time, I’ll sometimes ask Him for something to remember that time by and I’ll often come home with a rock or piece of driftwood, or some tangible reminder to me of the significance of that time with God.
Because the reality is friends, you will be tested again. You will find your trust in God and obedience to His Word, being tried once more and that is when you can look upon the signs and memories of God’s faithfulness to you and draw strength for more obedience still.
Step 6: Make a Habit
Well the last step to be made is found in verses 13 – 17, “So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD.”
We read that Samuel would go on this regular circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah every year. He provided a routine for the people of Israel to maintain their spiritual growth. But we also find that Samuel also made a routine for himself also, by always returning to his home.
Remember earlier I talked about how we sometimes allow “holy habits” to slip. We need to redevelop and reprioritize holy habits to ensure that you don’t slip again. Was it your habit to not go to sleep until you and your spouse prayed? Has it slipped? You need to re-establish it. Was it your habit not to eat breakfast until eating from God’s word? Have you stopped? Reprioritise your holy habit. Have you won some victory over sin, but now you don’t feel the same need for boundaries and restrictions? That’s fine I can understand that, but what habits can you create to keep you from cross the line?
So let me give an example, let’s say someone struggles with watching too much T.V. They are convicted because they know they are wasting more time than they should and they are becoming lazy and it has kept them from doing things they know God wants them to do. And so initially they decide to fast from TV for a month, they unplug the TV and unhook the cable and they put a table cloth over the television to make it a big pain to watch the television, and they also invite a close friend to ask them daily how much TV they watched and make a deal to pay $5 for every time they turned on the TV. The month ends and they feel less compelled by television, they feel they no longer need to have such strict measures to help them and that they are now capable of moderation with regard to their television habits. That’s great, but what habits will they establish to ensure that they don’t slide back? Perhaps they will have a weekly accountability with their friend, not to pay money but just to keep them honest. Habits help to ingrain lessons learned and prevent us from returning to unhealthy patterns. Make habits that help you to maintain your spiritual vitality.
Friends, here is the formula for success that Samuel used to return the nation to God; six steps that helped them get back on track and maintain their devotion to God throughout his lifetime:
Make a determination, make a break, make an investment, make a stand, make a memory and make a habit.
Friends, what is stopping you from following these same steps in your own spiritual life?
Let’s pray.
