And Samuel spoke unto all the House of Israel, saying, If you do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only: and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines (I Sam. 7:3). Now commences the spiritual leadership of the Prophet Samuel, actually the first man to fill that office, even though there were Prophets before him. Consequently, this Chapter is like a beam of sunshine upon a dark and cloudy day. It records a great revival. This revival was doubtless the result of Samuel’s faithful preaching. His preaching, doctrinally, was reconciliation to God by the Death of His Son (I Sam. 7:9; Rom. 5:10), and, ethically, a turning to God from all idols to serve the Living and the True God. In fact, Israel had not ceased to worship Jehovah, but she had associated other gods with Him. This has ever been Satan’s object as an angel of light; and, accordingly, multitudes presently worship Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, actually giving her a higher form of worship even than Him. But God will not accept such worship, nor the association of other gods with Himself, for He said (Ex. 20:3): “You shall have no other gods together with Me.” God’s true Servants always preach as Samuel preached. They arouse people to a consciousness of their sinful condition before God; they set forth the Lamb of God evidently crucified among them (Gal. 3:1), as the Divine Way of pardon and Righteousness; and they denounce all compromise with evil. The Holy Spirit through the Prophet demanded four things of Israel. In fact, the Lord demands no less presently. These four things are: 1. Altercation: “Return unto the LORD with all your hearts.” 2. Separation: “Then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you.” 3. Preparation: “Prepare your hearts unto the LORD.” 4. Designation: “Serve the LORD only.” On that basis, which looks to the Cross, we will emphasize in tomorrow’s devotion, the Lord has promised to deliver. If there is no deliverance, this means we are failing in that which the Lord has said to do.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 13:51:05 +0000
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