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Revival, May 19
1 Samuel 7
We have sinned against the Lord.... Cry unto the Lord our God for us.
1
Samuel 7:6, 8
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Samuel visited the cities and villages throughout the land, seeking to turn the
hearts of the people to the God of their fathers; and his efforts were not without
good results. After suffering the oppression of their enemies for twenty years,
the Israelites “mourned after the Lord.” Samuel counseled them, “If ye 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.”
Here we see that practical piety, heart religion, was taught in the days of Samuel
as taught by Christ when He was upon the earth. Without the grace of Christ the
outward forms of religion were valueless to ancient Israel. They are the same to
modern Israel.
There is need today of such a revival of true heart religion as was experienced
by ancient Israel. Repentance is the first step that must be taken by all who
would return to God. No one can do this work for another. We must individually
humble our souls before God and put away our idols. When we have done all
that we can do, the Lord will manifest to us His salvation....
A large assembly was gathered at Mizpeh. Here a solemn fast was held.
With deep humiliation the people confessed their sins; and as an evidence of
their determination to obey the instructions they had heard, they invested Samuel
with the authority of judge....
While Samuel was in the act of presenting a lamb as a burnt offering, the
Philistines drew near for battle.... A terrible storm burst upon the advancing host,
and the earth was strewn with the dead bodies of mighty warriors. The Israelites
had stood in silent awe, trembling with hope and fear. When they beheld the
slaughter of their enemies, they knew that God had accepted their repentance....
For nations as well as for individuals, the path of obedience to God is the
path of safety and happiness, while that of transgression leads only to disaster
and defeat
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Patriarchs and Prophets, 590, 591
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