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Samuel, September 9
And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his
words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba
knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.
1
Samuel 3:19, 20
.
During the years since the Lord first manifested Himself to the son of
Hannah, Samuel’s call to the prophetic office had come to be acknowledged
by the whole nation. By faithfully delivering the divine warning to the house
of Eli, painful and trying as the duty had been, Samuel had given proof of his
fidelity as Jehovah’s messenger; “and the Lord was with him, and did let none
of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba
knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.”
The Israelites as a nation still continued in a state of irreligion and idolatry,
and as a punishment they remained in subjection to the Philistines. During
this time 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” (
1 Samuel 7:3
).
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 experi-
enced 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 indi-
vidually 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.—
Patriarchs
and Prophets, 589, 590
.
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