Scripture Union Discovery January 8, 2018
Topic: One Man and His God
OPENING PRAYER
God, please bless me in all of my relationships and make me a blessing to those among whom I live.
Read 1 SAMUEL 7:2–17 (New International Version (NIV)
2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all. Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah. Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord.
3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “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 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.
7 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.
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 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.
10 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.
11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
12 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.”
13 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.
14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life.
16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places.
17 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.
Read Previous Scripture Union Discovery
Reflect: WHO HAS BEEN THE BEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE: A RELATIVE, A TEACHER OR A CLOSE FRIEND?
Rather than the Ark (2), it is a person, Samuel, who stands for the presence of God among the Israelites. He is already a prophet, but now he becomes a judge (16)—and he even fulfills the functions of a priest (5,9,17b).
The greatest gift in a community is someone who knows God and makes God known. Samuel explains to the Israelites why they have been defeated and that worshipping idols undermines their relationship with the living God (3). He gathers the people for worship and leads them in repentance (5,6). He interprets the ways of God to them and puts down a marker of progress and thanksgiving (12). With repentance and a renewed relationship with God comes victory (10,11) and peace (14).
APPLY
What gift is the Holy Spirit giving you in his Church (Eph. 4:11), so that together we can guide, bless, heal and serve?
CLOSING PRAYER
Who are the people who shape the character of your community—and country? Pray for them today.
