For this study read 1 Samuel 4 - 1 Samuel 7.
1 Samuel 4:1-2 "Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle…"
Israel thought they could defeat their powerful enemy the Philistines. Nevertheless, the Philistines slew about four thousand men of Israel's army.
In the deadness of my heart I thought myself capable of conquering all enemies of righteousness—never knowing that I, myself, was my own worst enemy. Time and time again I went out to battle. I wielded the sword against my lusts in an attempt to "do the right thing". Each time I found absolute holiness to be unconquerable by the weak army of my flesh. I was a self-promoted general, boasting of my ability to defend against the power of the prince of the air while in every battle he slew me in the field.
1 Samuel 4:3-11 "Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that , when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies."
So then the children of Israel tried a new tactic in order to defeat their enemy—the works of their own hands. They thought that by their act of bringing the ark to the forefront of the battle that the ark, itself, would save them from their enemy. They looked to themselves for bringing the ark to the battle; they looked to the ark and not to the God of glory whom the ark represented. This time there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken…
In the deadness of my heart I, too, decided upon a new tactic to conquer the enemies of righteousness—religion. My new weapons of war were my duties—I read my bible from cover to cover, I made it my goal to help the church reach an all new attendance record, I even went so far as to let the god that I imagined do something for me. Yet for all my new strategy there remained no peace from the enemy. Like the children of Israel, I was looking to the ark and to myself, and not to the one true God of salvation.
1 Samuel 5:1-12 "When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
The Philistines took the ark into their land. They were religious. They had priests, knew something of atonement, and were very zealous. They ignorantly worshipped the idol god Dagon. When they brought the ark of God into their camp they set it up beside their statue-god. Upon seeing their statue-god fallen down and broken before the ark of God they were offended and sent the ark of God away to another Philistine city. Every city of the Philistines to which the ark of God went was smitten with disease and with mice. At last the Philistines sent the ark of God back to Israel.
In the deadness of my heart, when God was set forth to me I set Him up beside the way I thought God to be and the Sovereign God of glory made a mockery of my helpless god. "Unfair!" I shouted. According to the holy God all my self-ascribed righteousness' were nothing more than diseases. When compared to the righteousness required by the righteous God all my works were so fragile that a pest so small as a mouse could render them useless. I would not have this God reign over me. But thanks to the longsuffering God of all grace, who does as He pleases in His own time, He did not leave me to myself.
1 Samuel 7:2-4 "And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord."
The ark of God, the glory of God, returns to Israel. At last, after so long a time, after so many sore defeats, by God's grace Israel realizes their inability. The enemy is too great. Finally they cry out after the Lord. By the grace of God, they see the vanity of all their idol worship. They put away the false gods and serve the Lord only.
In the day of His power, in His appointed season, God made me see my utter helplessness. Perfect righteousness—I could never be as holy as God is holy. Justification—I could never stand under the mighty stroke of God's justice in paying the sin-debt I owed. Yet for all my inability, Christ Jesus the Lord finished the work of salvation given to Him by God the Father. By God's grace He revealed to me my nothingness and Christ became everything. He caused me to cry out for mercy. He caused me to forsake the idols that I imagined to be gods. God brought me to trust Christ Jesus alone for all my salvation. Christ Jesus became my Lord and my Master.
1 Samuel 7:5,6"And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh and I will pray for you there…"
So Israel began gathering to God's ordained place, Mizpeh—the look-out. God's ordained messenger—Samuel, taught them. They worshiped in the consistent way all God's assemblies worship—they poured out water before the Lord, they fasted, and they said, "We have sinned against the Lord."
This sinner saved by God's grace is thankful for a look-out where the message of God's free and sovereign grace affords me a view of my Saviour so clearly and so close upon the treetops. My heart rejoices that God has appointed his messenger to boldly declare the word of God faithfully and truthfully. With each meeting I am reminded that I am as water poured out upon the ground—worthless apart from Christ. My spiritual meat is not of my own hands but solely provided by my Lord Christ Jesus, it is of His will that I drink of the water of life freely. My sustenance is in Him alone. It is my prayer that by His grace all my days this side of glory will be filled with repentance and sorrow knowing that my sins are against God and God alone. In my weakness He affords me great strength to worship Him.
1 Samuel 7:7-12 "And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel…"
Israel was worshipping God when the enemy prepared to conquer them one more time. Yet this time Israel did not look to their hands for the victory. This time the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. Samuel carried out his office of priest and offered the spotless lamb for a burnt offering on behalf of Israel, pleading the sacrifice in prayer and God heard him. The enemy is discomfited and retreats. Samuel and all Israel set up the stone Ebenezer saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
The longer I sit under the message of the King of kings the more I am brought to depend upon Him. My prayer to Christ is the same as Israel's prayer to Samuel, "Cease not to cry unto the Lord my God for me that He will save me out of the hand of my enemy." I have a high priest who is passed into the heavens who lives forever to make intercession for me. Christ pleads His sacrifice, His shed blood on my behalf. My enemy is discomfited for he is conquered forever. And like Samuel I declare to all, "Tis not I but to God be the glory!"
1 Samuel 7:13-15 "…and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath;…And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites."
For the sake of Samuel's sacrifice, God delivered Israel from all their enemies all the days of Samuel. And not only did the Lord conquer the Philistines but the Philistines also restored to Israel the cities that they had taken from them in previous battles. What relief to Israel! God for the sake of Samuel's sacrifice wrought peace between Israel and all their enemies.
This sinner saved by grace rejoices to know that Christ gave Himself that I might have perfect righteousness and justification. And not only this, but God has cast my sins behind His back to remember them no more. I have been restored as the cities of Israel as if sin had never won a battle nor ever even warred against me. By Christ's perfect atonement I am in a better state than Adam ever was for because of Christ glory I can never be lost. He shall save His people and none will be lost. What peace! This is my story, to God be the glory, I'm only a sinner saved by grace.