1 Samuel 7

1 Samuel 7

Guzik - The Hebrew word is shalom, which is more than the cessation of hostility - it is God’s word for wholeness and goodness and total satisfaction in life. This is the abundant life Jesus promised! (John 10:10)… shalom… is the gift of precious well-being… it is the establishment of a lasting, righteous, good. (Commentary on Nu 6:24-26) (Commentary) Kenneth Hemphill notes that shalom "means much more than the cessation of violence and hostility. There is a considerable difference between peace and a truce. It is glorious good news that Jehovah is peace… The idea behind the word shalom is wholeness and harmony in relationship with God. Peace is the deepest desire and need of the human heart. When you find yourself wondering where is the blessing of God's presence in your life, you need to remember that He is Jehovah Shalom. He desires to bring peace if you will simply return to Him. (Borrow this excellent little book and read it devotionally and it will rock your world beloved - The Names of God- Ken Hemphill - highly recommended) Shalom in 1 Samuel - 2 Chronicles - 1 Sam. 1:17; 1 Sam. 7:14; 1 Sam. 10:4; 1 Sam. 16:4; 1 Sam. 16:5; 1 Sam. 17:18; 1 Sam. 17:22; 1 Sam. 20:7; 1 Sam. 20:13; 1 Sam. 20:21; 1 Sam. 20:42; 1 Sam. 25:5; 1 Sam. 25:6; 1 Sam. 25:35; 1 Sam. 29:7; 1 Sam. 30:21; 2 Sam. 3:21; 2 Sam. 3:22; 2 Sam. 3:23; 2 Sam. 8:10; 2 Sam. 11:7; 2 Sam. 15:9; 2 Sam. 15:27; 2 Sam. 17:3; 2 Sam. 18:28; 2 Sam. 18:29; 2 Sam. 18:32; 2 Sam. 19:24; 2 Sam. 19:30; 2 Sam. 20:9; 1 Ki. 2:5; 1 Ki. 2:6; 1 Ki. 2:13; 1 Ki. 2:33; 1 Ki. 4:24; 1 Ki. 5:12; 1 Ki. 20:18; 1 Ki. 22:17; 1 Ki. 22:27; 1 Ki. 22:28; 2 Ki. 4:23; 2 Ki. 4:26; 2 Ki. 5:19; 2 Ki. 5:21; 2 Ki. 5:22; 2 Ki. 9:11; 2 Ki. 9:17; 2 Ki. 9:18; 2 Ki. 9:19; 2 Ki. 9:22; 2 Ki. 9:31; 2 Ki. 10:13; 2 Ki. 20:19; 2 Ki. 22:20; 1 Chr. 12:17; 1 Chr. 12:18; 1 Chr. 18:10; 1 Chr. 22:9; 2 Chr. 15:5; 2 Chr. 18:16; 2 Chr. 18:26; 2 Chr. 18:27; 2 Chr. 19:1; 2 Chr. 34:28; 1 Samuel 7:15 Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. judged: 1Sa 7:6 12:1 25:1 Jdg 2:16 3:10,11 Ac 13:20,21 1 Samuel 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAMUEL THE PROPHET AND ALSO THE JUDGE Now Samuel judged (shaphat) Israel all the days of his life. His function was twofold—civil and military. As civil judge, he did what Moses did—judged “between one and another,” and made them “know the statutes of God, and his laws” (Ex 18:16). As military judge, he did what Othniel, Ehud, Barak, and Gideon had done before him—organized and marshaled the people for effective resistance to their oppressors and led them to victory. Samuel had a ministry as prophet and judge, traveling from city to city to minister to the people and settle their disputes. He was the last of the judges and the first of the national prophets. (Moses’ prophetic office was of a different nature.) It is sad to see that Samuel’s sons did not follow in their father’s godly walk (8:5). Perhaps he was too busy with the affairs of the nation to train them. Eli had made a similar mistake. THOUGHT - These events show us the importance of a godly home. The nation fell into sin and defeat because Eli had neglected his home; but God saved the nation because of the prayers of a godly mother (Hannah) and her God-given son. As go the homes, so goes the nation. But unfortunately a godly home is not a guarantee that the children will make godly choices (cp godly Manoah & his wife & incorrigible Samson Jdg 13-16). John Woodhouse adds that "Samuel’s “judging” was presumably like the judging we have seen in this chapter: calling Israel to wholehearted devotion to the Lord alone and to put away pagan ways, interceding for them, offering sacrifices for their sins, as well as a more general administration of justice. In other words, with the enemy defeated, Samuel’s job was to lead Israel in righteousness....First Samuel 7 has brought us to a climactic moment in the story that this book has to tell. It is a high point in the history of Israel, when Israel became again what Israel was meant to be....Israel’s great need was a leader who would bring them back to God. They needed a leader who would lead them in righteousness. They needed a Samuel. And God gave them Samuel! (Preaching the Word: 1 Samuel—Looking for a Leader) 1 Samuel 7:16 He used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. On circuit: Heb. and he circuited, Jdg 5:10 10:4 12:14 Ps 75:2 82:3,4 1 Samuel 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Bethel Gilgal SAMUEL'S ANNUAL CIRCUIT JUDGING ISRAEL He used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged (shaphat) Israel in all these places - See map of Samuel's circuit. Bethel, the “House of God,” was where Jacob had his famous dream (Ge 28:10-22). Gilgal was where the Israelites had first camped after crossing the Jordan River to conquer Canaan (Jos 4:19, 20) and was about one mile from Jericho. When he was at Bethel, the tribe of Ephraim (See this map for boundary of Ephraim) and all the northern parts of the country could attend him; when at Gilgal, the tribe of Benjamin and those beyond Jordan could have easy access to him; and when at Mizpah (see Mizpeh map above - toward the south), he was within the reach of Judah, Simeon, and Gad. Norman Geisler - 1 SAMUEL 7:15—Did Samuel judge Israel all his days, or only until Saul was anointed king? PROBLEM: In this verse, we are informed that “Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.” However, Samuel lived after Saul was anointed king (1 Sam. 8:5; 12:1; 25:1). SOLUTION: Samuel only gave up his civil authority to Saul, not his spiritual authority. Under Israel’s monarch there was a separation of power. Kings were forbidden to perform spiritual functions (cf. 2 Chron. 26:16–23), and the prophets no longer had political authority. Even so, the prophets, with their direct revelations from God, were a continual moral check on those in political power. 1 Samuel 7:17 Then his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to the LORD. his return: 1Sa 1:1,19 8:4 19:18-23 he built: 1Sa 11:15 Ge 12:7,8 33:20 35:7 Jdg 21:5 1Ki 18:30-36 1 Samuel 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Location of Ramah SAMUEL RETURNS TO RESIDE AT RAMAH AS JUDGE John