1 Samuel 7

Comment:

I am not going to copy the entire chapter here. It is a central part of the story of Samuel, the last and greatest of the judges who periodically arose to basically save the Israelites from themselves. It was a familiar rhythm—and it's familiar to us today, as well. After being saved from a crisis by returning to their commitment to the one Lord of their ancestors, the people lived comfortably for a while but slowly began falling back into negative choices—adopting the gods of neighboring tribes, shifting their faith from spiritual matters to temporal pleasures. Because choices have consequences, the result is that they again find themselves in trouble, threatened by the greater power of others (in this case, the Philistines). In this chapter, the Ark of the Covenant—their most important and powerful symbol—had been captured by the Philistines but later returned because their enemy feared its power. Samuel warns them that only a wholehearted embrace of their spiritual identity and spiritual priorities will keep them safe. "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only" (1 Sam. 7:3).

It's a message that speaks to us as well. We 'serve the Lord' when we keep our focus on, and faith in, our spiritual purpose. We create problems when we allow other things to distract us. We are free to enjoy this human experience—indeed, we can't accomplish our spiritual purpose otherwise—but only when we maintain our spiritual priority. 

Blessings!

Rev. Ed