1. (slide 3) God Commands His People to Remember & Reflect
As we approach the end of the year—2025—as other times at the end of a year we are often filled with mixed emotions. At times we are grateful for the victories and joys we’ve experienced and want to always remember them, other times we have regrets, hurts and would want to forget or leave them all behind in 2025 never to be seen again. . The Bible encourages reflection. (slide ) In Lamentations 3:40 it says “ Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. “ . We are to examine our ways and test them so we may return to the Lord. This process is similar to taking inventory—a careful assessment of where we stand spiritually, emotionally, financially, family, work/purpose, Health/Rest, Church/community, Emotionally and in our relationship with God. Like some of you I have been fortunate over this 2025 Christmas season to have had some of my family visiting with us and in our gathering we have had times of remembering and reflection.
Just as businesses evaluate their accounts and stock at the year-end to determine profit or loss, so to we as Christians are encouraged in scripture to evaluate our work and walk. Have we used the treasures God has given us wisely? Have we spent our time wisely? Are we fulfilling the mission God has given to us? Brethren one of the greatest spiritual disciplines is remembering.
(slide) Deuteronomy 8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness…” God tells Israel to review the journey, not just celebrate the destination. Its easy to celebrate when we reach but we must review the journey.
(slide) Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed to thyself… lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen.” Forgetting God’s works leads to spiritual decline.
(slide) Psalm 90:12 so teach us to number our days so we may get a heart of wisdom . Taking stock produces wisdom not regret.
(slide) Psalm 103:2 - Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Click) “What we fail to reflect on, we are destined to repeat—or to forget.”
We live in a fast-moving world—always rushing forward—but God often calls His people to pause, look back, and reflect. Reflection is not nostalgia; you know that sentimental longing or affection for a period in the past no its not that, it is spiritual clarity. And God calls us to it.
When Israel was on the verge of new seasons, God repeatedly told them: “Remember what I did for you. Remember where you came from” Not only scripture but secular teaching says the same thing: the American philosopher and educational reformer John Dewey created the widely acclaimed phrase: (slide) "We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience."
Today let us reflect—on our lives and what has this year revealed about us? Lamentation 3:40 says “Let us search and examine our ways, and return to the Lord.”
On each occasion Before Israel moved forward, they stopped and reflected. And so today Before we cross into a new year, we must take stock. Its Stocktaking time . Brethen note
• Reflection is not regret; Reflection is spiritual honesty
• God often pauses us so He can realign us
Point to reinforce: You don’t close a year well by rushing past it.
2. (slide) MIZPAH BEFORE EBENEZER
In our key scripture today we note that Israel gathered at Mizpah before the victory. - Reflection preceded deliverance. Mizpah was a place of repentance, prayer, and covenant renewal. The name Mizpah is connected with several sites mentioned in the Bible and comes from the root meaning “to watch or watchtower” . In the Bible, Mizpah (watchtower) primarily represents a place of covenant, divine oversight, and remembrance.
The name Mizpah was first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 31:45–49. The place was located in a mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Jacob had fled from his scheming father-in-law, Laban, and was heading back to his father’s homeland (Genesis 31:3, 21). Jacob and his family had traveled for days finally, Laban caught up with them. Jacob had left secretly, taking Laban’s daughters and grandchildren without saying goodbye. Jacob did not know that his wife Rachel had stolen her father’s household gods. When they met up Laban confronted Jacob about it and it almost came to blows. However the men after talks and reflection on the past they arrived at an agreement. They heaped up a pile of rocks to mark the place where they made the covenant with each other . That place got its famous name Mizpah when Laban was about to leave he said to Jacob, “This heap is a witness between you and me today. . . . May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other” (Genesis 31:48–49). The Jews kept the name Mizpah (“Watchtower”) . So Mizpah was a reflection and reconciliation, clearing up the hurts of the past, identifying them forgiveness and commitment for the future. (Slide) Before we move into the new year we need to have a Mizpah .
The next time Mizpah is used is also an important reminder for us as we approach the end of the year. Its in Judges 11 there Jephthah was at war against the Ammonites. While at Mizpah, Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:30–31). It is important to note that the Lord did not ask Jephthah for any such vow. Because of fear he sought to bargain with God. This rash vow made by him at Mizpah is a warning to us, when we are faced with these tough situations and we are at our “Mizpah” be careful about making ill-considered vows to the Lord.
Jephthah went to war and the Lord gave him the victory, but, when he returned to his home in Mizpah, the first to come out the door of his house was his only child, a daughter who was dancing and rejoicing over her father’s triumph (Judges 11:34–35). So Mizpah was the scene of a tragic story. Judges 11:40 says that each year after that young Israelite women commemorated the daughter of Jephthah .
It is important to stop and reflect at Mizpah but in this end of year reflection period we must:
• (Slide) Be careful not to make rash promises to God and then fail to keep them . The bible strongly advises caution with vows, it says it's better not to vow than to vow and not pay, rash promises lead to sin, according to Ecclesiastes 5:2-5, Deuteronomy 23:21-23, and Numbers 30:2. Jesus went further into saying its not just a vow in Matthew 5, he emphasized truthfulness over oaths, urging let your "yes" be yes and your no "no" . When you reflect this end of year and you make resolutions as a Christian its before God so keep them. If you vow, keep it failing to do so is sin.
• In our reflection before making any solemn promise we must consider if it's truly God's will and if you can fulfill it.
• If after reflection we note that we have failed in our past promises maybe to pray, to read the bible to witness, to assist with humanity efforts then repent, seek forgiveness and learn from the mistake, rather than trying to dismiss it as meaningless.
Another time we see Mizpah in scripture its in our key scripture today. In 1 Samuel 7 Mizpah is the place where Samuel leads the nation to remember who they are and what they had done, it was there that he led the nation into corporate repentance and worship. It was after that , while worshiping the Lord, the Philistines came up to attack the Israelites God intervened with loud thunder threw the Philistines into a panic and they were slaughtered by the Israelites. Mizpah was a scene of great victory over the Philistines (verse 11). It was after that Samuel erected the Ebenezer stone . The reflection, repentance and worship at Mizpah led to victory.
3: (slide) Reflection Requires Honest Self-Examination, Not Surface Gratitude
1 Samuel 7:6“ says that at Mizpah the Israelites …fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD.”
Israel didn’t just say first, “God helped us.” they said, “We have sinned.”. This is crucial. Reflection is not:
• Listing only blessings or Thanking God while avoiding truth
• Ending the year with noise instead of honesty
(Click) Dr. Roger Greenaway an expert in reflective leaning techniques says reflective leaning must have what he calls The "Four Fs of Learning" : Facts, Feelings, Findings, and Future, We must take time to objectively review and describe what happened (Facts), What were the feelings about the event (Feelings), identify key lessons (Findings), and then plan future actions (Future).asks: As Christians True reflection must ask :
• What worked well, what needs work?
• Why did it work or not work
• Where did we drift or compromise?
• Where did we rely on habits, voices of others instead of Gods word
• Where did we grow cold, distracted, or prayerless?
(slide) Point to reinforce: Gratitude without examination produces pride; gratitude with examination produces repentance.
We each need at our Mizpah to engage in Quiet conviction, Personal inventory, and as a church Corporate humility and reflection.
4: (slide) Reflection Must Lead to Surrender Before It Leads to Celebration
(click) 1 Samuel 7:6 says “They drew water, and poured it out before the LORD…” This act symbolized: Emptiness, Dependence, Total surrender. Once poured out, the water could not be gathered back.
Israel was saying, “We are empty without You.” “We cannot carry last year’s patterns into the next season.” “We release control.”
Reflection that does not lead to surrender becomes nostalgia.
(Click) Point to reinforce: Before God fills a new year, He asks us to pour out the old one.
CONCLUSION
Church, Mizpah is uncomfortable— but it is necessary.
God is not just rushing us from one year into a next year. He is inviting us to stand still long enough to be honest.
On Wednesday old years night, we will celebrate. we will declare. But today, we need to pause, we need to stop at Mizpah : and Examine. Pour out. Wait.
What God is preparing to do next is directly connected to how honestly we stand before Him now.
Closing Prayer
Search us, O God. Show us what needs to be laid down before we step forward. We wait before you. Holy Spirit you are the revealer of all truth, shine your light on us and may we see ourselves. We want to learn and grow from the things and experiences you allowed our way in 2025.
Prepare us for what You will reveal in the days ahead.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
