Punishment: The Ark Taken
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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.” Practical
religion was taught in the days of Samuel, as taught by Christ when
He was on earth.
Repentance is the first step that must be taken by all who would
return to God. 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.
Samuel Becomes a Judge
A large assembly was gathered at Mizpeh. Here a solemn fast was
held. With deep humiliation the people confessed their sins, and they
invested Samuel with the authority of judge.
The Philistines interpreted this gathering to be a council of war and
set out to disperse the Israelites before their plans could be matured.
Tidings of their approach caused great terror in Israel. The people
entreated Samuel, “Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that
He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”
While Samuel was in the act of presenting a lamb as a burnt offer-
ing, the Philistines drew near for battle. Then the Mighty One who had
parted the Red Sea and made a way through Jordan for Israel, again
manifested His power. A terrible storm burst upon the advancing host,
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and the earth was strewn with the bodies of mighty warriors.
The Israelites had stood trembling with hope and fear. When
they beheld the slaughter of their enemies, they knew that God had
accepted their repentance. Though unprepared for battle, they seized
the weapons of the slaughtered Philistines and pursued the fleeing
host. This victory was gained upon the very field where, twenty years
before, Israel had been smitten before the Philistines, the priests slain,
and the ark of God taken. The Philistines were now so completely
subdued that they surrendered the strongholds which had been taken
from Israel and refrained from acts of hostility for many years. Other