1 Samuel 7

The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up and guard the ark of the LORD. It shows that they honored and worshiped the LORD. For twenty years, the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. However, still some of the Israel still worshiped the foreign gods, and it was referred as the "Baals" and the "Ashtoreths" in the passage. "Baals" can refer to any god and even to human officials, and "Ashtoreths" can refer to good soil, sexuality, and war. (wikipedia)

Does it sound familiar to us? A lot of us became Christian many years ago. We trusted it Him because He had shown His faithfulness in our life, just like how the Israel trusted in the LORD. But there is still so many gods in our heart that restrict us from God. Other gods not only refer to an object, but also can refer be our mentality or attitude towards life.

Samuel said: "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." (vers 3)

Samuel was talking to those whom worshiped the LORD, the creator, but at the same time whom struggled with worshiping the created objects. Samuel said you can either worship and serve God ONLY, and truly rid yourselves from the created things which come from your heart, then you will be free from the hand of the "Philistines", or refer to the ruler of the worldly values and worldly mentality.

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Luke 16:13)

Don't be an lukewarm, because if you thought you belongs to God, but actually maybe you are not.

"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16)

And here is what the Israel responded to God. They fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." (vers 6). They examined their life and admit their sin and confessed in front of God. They felt ashamed and because of that they fasted. Fasting doesn't make them save, but because they returned to the LORD with all their heart. Same with the burnt offering.

The Israel must have gone through a lot of struggle and suffering in their life, but they got it, they repent and God gave them a new beginning.

Repent doesn't make your life easier, in fact, the Philistines came up to attack them after their confession. (vers 7) But don't stop crying out to the LORD, because He will rescue us from the hand of the "Philistines".

This is what I have learnt from 1 Samuel 7. Examine the "Baals" and the "Ashtoreths" in your life. Truly repent and confess your sin to God. And remember He will rescue us from the ruler of the world, because He is the ultimate ruler after all.