GOD HAS DELIVERED ME
1 Sam 6:1-12
GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS
V:1. \” So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord.
They took it to Abinadab\’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his
son to guard the ark of the Lord.
2 It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath
Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord . 3
And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, \”If you are returning to the
Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the
Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and
he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.\”
A. When we divorce ourselves from God by our disobedience, the blessings
Of freedom, security, and family unity stop flowing into our lives.
1. Israel lost control of the Ark of the Covenant 100 years earlier in the
battle of Aphek (1104BC). Bible Knowledge Commentary
2. It was 20 years into Samuels\’s leadership before he encouraged the
people to repent and get rid of their idol gods.
3. God allows His people to go through hardships as a result of their
disobedience.
B. Israel has lost control of the Ark of the covenant because they worshipped
idol gods.
1. After being tired of the dominance of the Philistines, they went to
Samuel to intercede for them with Lord.
2. Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father as our intercessor.
3. God is waiting on us to get right before Him before He acts on
our behalf.
C. If you want to serve God, you have to get rid of that which
distracts you from Him.
1. When you are having fun being disobedient, others are
influence by you.
2. When you don’t take God seriously, others want either.
3. The God we serve shows us His tolerance
by not destroying us when we sin.
4. God allowed Israel to sin for 100 years before He sent Samuel
to remind them of their sins and the need to repent.
JESUS IS MY INTERCESSOR
V:4. So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the
Lord only.
5 Then Samuel said, \”Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede
with the Lord for you.\” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew
water and poured it out before the Lord . On that day they fasted and there
they confessed, \”We have sinned against the Lord .\” And Samuel was
leader of Israel at Mizpah.
A. People do what they want to do.
1. When the fun being disobedient to God went away,
Israel called on the Lord.
2. Drawing water and pouring it out before Jehovah was a symbolical act,
which has been thus correctly explained by the Chaldee, on the whole:
\”They poured out their heart like water in penitence before the Lord.\”
This is evident from the figurative expressions, \”poured out like water,\”
in Ps 22:15 , and \”pour out thy heart like water,\” in Lam 2:19, which
are used to denote inward dissolution through pain, misery, and distress
(see 2 Sam 14:14). (from Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old
Testament:
3. Confessing their sins before the Lord is the key to forgiveness.
4. The God we serve, hears our prayers and responds in His
time.
PRAY FIRST, CRY LATER
V:7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the
rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites
heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to
Samuel, \”Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he
may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.\”
A. Those who try to control you, become afraid when you stand up for
yourself.
1. When you plan to stand for what is right, someone will inform
your enemy.
2. Be careful who you associate with, they may be the enemy.
3. This may be the way God brings your enemy to you.
4. When you gather as a crowd, you become a threat to your enemy.
B. When you gather as a crowd, be sure you have been in prayer
with the Father.
The Israelites fasted, confessed their sins and asked Samuel
to intercede for them.
1. God gave us Pastors whom He puts in charge, as the ones we
should rely on for an inspirational Word from Him.
2. God may make known to the Pastor His plans and give us
directions.
BRING AN OFFERING TO THE LORD
V:9. Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt
offering to the Lord . He cried out to the Lord on Israel\’s behalf, and
the Lord answered him.
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew
near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with
loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic
that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed
out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the
way to a point below Beth Car.
A. Seeing the enemy in force should cause us to go in prayer and offer
sacrifices to the Lord.
1. We should pray without ceasing.
2. To see the glory of the Lord, we must be willing to stand on His
promises in the face of the enemy.
3. It takes courage to stand and wash God bring us victory.
B. With thunder, God troubled the minds of the Philistines.
1. God can cause men to turn and run away from you.
2. For 20 long years, the Philistines had their way with the
Israelites.
3. But one day with God on their side, The Israelites over took
the frighten Philistines and destroyed them.
COMMEMORATE GOD’S VICTORIES
V:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He
named it Ebenezer, saying, \”Thus far has the Lord helped us.\”
A. We should commemorate the victories God gives us.
1. When we commit to memory the victories God has won for
us, we will be ready for the next battle with confidence.
2. Write down ten victories God has won for you and
give each a name to commemorate them in your mind.
B. How many of you can say “Thus far the Lord helped me”.
1. How many of you can say “Thus far the Pastor and First Lady
has helped me”.
THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED ME
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041
For more lessons, visit facebook and my blogs;
revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
