1 Samuel – Chapter 7

1 Samuel 7 Daily DEVO And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:7b-8 – Finally, the people of God turned to God in their moment of need. We’ve seen far to often in scripture people following God, then when things get rough leaning on something other than Him to get them through. Yet here in the moment when the enemy is at their doorstep they choose to turn to God for their rescue. While possibly you’ve ran to other things when times got rough in the past, know it’s fine to change things up and run to God now instead. It can be easy to lose heart and lose faith when your enemy attacks, yet like in our story, maybe you’ve ran to other things up till now but now you can make the choice to trust God instead with your need. Whether it’s a first time or a returning time, allow God to show you He’s the better one to run to. I guarantee you will not be disappointed by putting your trust in Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 407

And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:3 – If. That part is key to the message Samuel had for Israel. “If” you are returning, then… That if they truly were turning back to follow after God then some things were going to have to change. No longer could they serve and worship false gods if they were going to follow the Lord. For us, the questions is the same. If we truly are committing to this thing of being a follower of Jesus then some things in our story can’t be in our story anymore. Some things are going to have to change. So today if you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the things that God wants out of your story. Let’s be fully for Him with an undivided heart. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1632

So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 1 Samuel 7:9 – The nation of Israel was finally having a repentant heart, turning away from their idols, and seeking after the Lord. This would be the first time this took place in such a holy way in possibly centuries! Yet, in that heart change of the people, the enemy shows up seeking to strike fear and end this pursuit of the Lord. What does Samuel do in response to the enemy’s presence? He takes an innocent lamb, kills it, and sacrifices to the Lord. Now why would he do such a mean thing like this? What did the lamb do to deserve this? Nothing, but Samuel knew that while the outward change of the people was holy and good, in order to be right with God and to hear from the Lord, a sacrifice had to be made. Such is our story with Jesus. John 1:29b tells us this, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus was as innocent as the nursing lamb was that Samuel offered but was still killed and sacrificed on our behalf. While it is sad to see a little lamb sacrificed, and its heartbreaking to think of our Savior on the cross, let us be thankful that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, it no longer is us that has to be the ones facing death. Our sin has been covered by the blood of Jesus, and because of Jesus we can cry out to the Lord and hear the Lord answer us. Praise the Lord that our Savior was willing to take our place and die our death so that we could have His life. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2884