A single tall rough standing stone on a bare ridge in the hills at dawn after a night of storm, wet rock gleaming, the hills falling away in layers and the last storm clouds clearing far off to the west, under a calm, washed sky.

The Book of

1 Samuel 7

Twenty years of mourning, a day of thunder, and a stone named Help.

17 verses≈ 4 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–7SamuelA boy who listenedChapter 7
8–15SaulA king like the nations
16–20David risesThe LORD looks at the heart
21–27David huntedThe anointed one waits
28–31Saul fallsEndor and Gilboa

Samuel Subdues the Philistines

Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.

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And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.

Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only

1 Samuel 7:3

So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

Morning on Mizpah's bare hilltop: a great crowd of men, women and children in plain wool sits with heads bowed, while at the front men pour water from clay jars onto the stony ground and Samuel stands before them, seen from behind.

When they had gathered 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 judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

Reflect

“With all your hearts”

Samuel’s call had three parts: “put away the foreign gods,” “prepare your hearts for the LORD,” and “serve Him only.” Returning to God is more than feeling sorry. Write down one thing to put away, and one way to prepare your heart for Him this week.

When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

Mizpah's hilltop: Samuel, seen from behind, lifts his hands beside a rough stone altar with a column of smoke, while far off to the west a towering dark storm with lightning breaks over a valley where tiny figures of an army scatter, under a calm, dark overcast sky.

Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

0:24

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.

Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.

1 Samuel 7:12

Question

Quick question

After the LORD thundered and the Philistines fled, Samuel set up a stone on the ridge and gave it a name.

What did Samuel name the stone he set up?

So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Samuel’s circuit

“Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.” Then he came home to Ramah, where he built an altar. Gilgal is probably the one near Jericho, though its site is uncertain; Mizpah is probably Tell en-Nasbeh.

Pray

Thus far

Samuel named the stone Ebenezer: “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” Thank God for each place He has helped you so far, and trust Him for the road ahead. Pray for a heart that seeks Him only, and for leaders who pray for the people in their care.

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1 Samuel 7

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A verse to carry with you

Thus far the LORD has helped us.

1 Samuel 7:12

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