“Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the LORD with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the LORD and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”” (1 Samuel 7:3, NLT)
Over and over throughout the books of Judges and Samuel and Kings in the Old Testament, there were stories of how Israel fell away from the Lord. Sometimes, they were lured to worship other gods. At other moments, they did not listen to the prophets or judges. Each time that Israel fell away, it was due to sin. There were sins of pride, idolatry, murder, adultery, you name it! Reading the pages of the Old Testament makes you feel as if Israel never could quite remain completely faithful to God Almighty for even a couple of generations!
In the days of Samuel, things were no different. Though Samuel was faithful, Israel was not. Again, the people of Israel were seduced by the worship of “foreign gods” and idols such as “images of Ashtoreth” (1 Samuel 7:3). Because of their sinful idolatry and apostasy, God ceased to protect Israel. The Philistines attacked Israel over and over. Israel could not even protect the Holy Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments (1 Samuel 6). They lost the Ark in battle as a consequence of their sin. The Ark of the Covenant had empowered their nation, increased their success in battle, and stood as a reminder of God’s covenant. Even that holy and precious relic of God could not inspire faith in Israel.
At a pivotal moment, Samuel the prophet implored the people of Israel to come back to full faith in God. In our scripture for today, Samuel gave the terms of what was required to be put back in the graces of God. If Israel was going to survive, the people needed to “return to the Lord with all their hearts” (1 Samuel 7:3). They also were required to stop their worship of foreign gods and get rid of their idols dedicated to Ashtoreth. In doing so, they needed to “turn their hearts to the Lord and obey Him alone” (1 Samuel 7:3c). Only then would God “rescue” the people from the Philistine threat.
Based on the pivotal words from Samuel, God would not step in and rescue Israel unless they were willing to:
1)return to the Lord with ALL their hearts (repent)
2)get rid of the worship of other gods and idols and worldly things (commitment)
3)turn to the Lord and obey HIM ALONE (true obedience)
If you read closely the scripture for today, God was not going to step in and rescue Israel from the powerful Philistines unless Israel was willing to change its ways. God wasn’t going to rescue the nation without seeing faithfulness on their part FIRST! The people of Israel had sinned so often that God was not going to send any protection or offer any assistance until they showed true repentance, obedience, and commitment!
If you find yourself mired in messes because of sinful attitudes, actions, or the loss of obedience, God may set up the same conditions for you. God may not watch over you, protect you, or bless you UNTIL you are willing to take faithful steps. In the same way that repentance, a rejection of other gods and idols, and obedience were required of Israel for God to bring help, the same will be required of you. God will not respond to your sin with forgiveness and grace and blessing until you show your commitment, faithfulness, obedience. In essence, until God can see your true return to faithfulness, God isn’t going to pay you any attention.
So often, Christians get the notion that one simple act of repentance or obedience will “get God’s attention”. One small act of religiosity will cover all past sins. While a few prayers and a contrite heart will go a long way to getting God’s attention, your faithfulness, obedience, repentance, and total commitment to God are what is required. God doesn’t want to see a half-hearted effort on your part toward Him. God wants to see deep commitment, real honest-to-goodness changes in your life, an obedience that doesn’t quit, and a return to a focus on God alone.
After an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, as the group gathered around some refreshments, one in the group complained, “I’ve been a churchgoer all my life. Now, when I need God’s help to overcome my addiction, I just don’t feel it. When I feel the urge to go to alcohol to solve my problems or decrease my anxiety, I pray to God, and nothing happens. I get no answers. I’m trying. I can go for a few weeks without taking a drink. I’m doing OK. I just wish God would help more!”
The complaint made everyone uncomfortable. The church member said it in front of a pastor. After a few awkward moments of silence, one old guy at the back of the group responded, “Maybe if you quit your half-hearted commitment to stop drinking and decided to go “all in” with God, and quit complaining about the process, you might find God much more present in your situation.” Everyone was shocked that the old guy had been so blunt. What everyone but the pastor didn’t realize was that these words were exactly what the man needed. He needed to be completely obedient to God in the process of overcoming addiction. The “old guy” was right. The church member couldn’t “half-heart it” with his commitment to quit drinking just like he couldn’t half-heart it” in his commitments to God! The blunt comment put the man back firmly on the road to recovery.
If you find yourself lost in a sea of trials or obstacles, maybe the problem isn’t God. Maybe you’ve been slacking in repentance or obedience or commitment. Maybe you are idolizing a few worldly pleasures or thoughts. It might just be that God wants to see a true heart and real commitment from you. It may be that your obedience and a correcting of the wrongs in your life will not only change things for the better, but it will also show God your willingness to be a true servant of Jesus Christ!
In the days of Samuel, things were no different. Though Samuel was faithful, Israel was not. Again, the people of Israel were seduced by the worship of “foreign gods” and idols such as “images of Ashtoreth” (1 Samuel 7:3). Because of their sinful idolatry and apostasy, God ceased to protect Israel. The Philistines attacked Israel over and over. Israel could not even protect the Holy Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments (1 Samuel 6). They lost the Ark in battle as a consequence of their sin. The Ark of the Covenant had empowered their nation, increased their success in battle, and stood as a reminder of God’s covenant. Even that holy and precious relic of God could not inspire faith in Israel.
At a pivotal moment, Samuel the prophet implored the people of Israel to come back to full faith in God. In our scripture for today, Samuel gave the terms of what was required to be put back in the graces of God. If Israel was going to survive, the people needed to “return to the Lord with all their hearts” (1 Samuel 7:3). They also were required to stop their worship of foreign gods and get rid of their idols dedicated to Ashtoreth. In doing so, they needed to “turn their hearts to the Lord and obey Him alone” (1 Samuel 7:3c). Only then would God “rescue” the people from the Philistine threat.
Based on the pivotal words from Samuel, God would not step in and rescue Israel unless they were willing to:
1)return to the Lord with ALL their hearts (repent)
2)get rid of the worship of other gods and idols and worldly things (commitment)
3)turn to the Lord and obey HIM ALONE (true obedience)
If you read closely the scripture for today, God was not going to step in and rescue Israel from the powerful Philistines unless Israel was willing to change its ways. God wasn’t going to rescue the nation without seeing faithfulness on their part FIRST! The people of Israel had sinned so often that God was not going to send any protection or offer any assistance until they showed true repentance, obedience, and commitment!
If you find yourself mired in messes because of sinful attitudes, actions, or the loss of obedience, God may set up the same conditions for you. God may not watch over you, protect you, or bless you UNTIL you are willing to take faithful steps. In the same way that repentance, a rejection of other gods and idols, and obedience were required of Israel for God to bring help, the same will be required of you. God will not respond to your sin with forgiveness and grace and blessing until you show your commitment, faithfulness, obedience. In essence, until God can see your true return to faithfulness, God isn’t going to pay you any attention.
So often, Christians get the notion that one simple act of repentance or obedience will “get God’s attention”. One small act of religiosity will cover all past sins. While a few prayers and a contrite heart will go a long way to getting God’s attention, your faithfulness, obedience, repentance, and total commitment to God are what is required. God doesn’t want to see a half-hearted effort on your part toward Him. God wants to see deep commitment, real honest-to-goodness changes in your life, an obedience that doesn’t quit, and a return to a focus on God alone.
After an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, as the group gathered around some refreshments, one in the group complained, “I’ve been a churchgoer all my life. Now, when I need God’s help to overcome my addiction, I just don’t feel it. When I feel the urge to go to alcohol to solve my problems or decrease my anxiety, I pray to God, and nothing happens. I get no answers. I’m trying. I can go for a few weeks without taking a drink. I’m doing OK. I just wish God would help more!”
The complaint made everyone uncomfortable. The church member said it in front of a pastor. After a few awkward moments of silence, one old guy at the back of the group responded, “Maybe if you quit your half-hearted commitment to stop drinking and decided to go “all in” with God, and quit complaining about the process, you might find God much more present in your situation.” Everyone was shocked that the old guy had been so blunt. What everyone but the pastor didn’t realize was that these words were exactly what the man needed. He needed to be completely obedient to God in the process of overcoming addiction. The “old guy” was right. The church member couldn’t “half-heart it” with his commitment to quit drinking just like he couldn’t half-heart it” in his commitments to God! The blunt comment put the man back firmly on the road to recovery.
If you find yourself lost in a sea of trials or obstacles, maybe the problem isn’t God. Maybe you’ve been slacking in repentance or obedience or commitment. Maybe you are idolizing a few worldly pleasures or thoughts. It might just be that God wants to see a true heart and real commitment from you. It may be that your obedience and a correcting of the wrongs in your life will not only change things for the better, but it will also show God your willingness to be a true servant of Jesus Christ!