Post by Woody Williams on Aug 22, 2005 8:22:17 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- I Samuel 7:3-12
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Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, 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, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the LORD only.
Then Samuel said, Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you. So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted that day, and said, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines. The people of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines. So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt-offering to the LORD; Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. As Samuel was offering up the
burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the LORD thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, Thus far the LORD has helped us.
Devotional
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There are many stones in Palestine that have special significance. Stones were set up by Israelites to mark occasions when God acted in a special way. Samuel set up a stone to mark the mighty act of God in defeating the Philistines. The stone was called, "thus far the Lord has helped us." What do you do to help you remember the mighty acts of God in your life or in your families life. Our hope for the future is built on remembering God's help in the past.
Prayer
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Enliven my remembrance of your acts of power and mercy in my life, Lord. Amen
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Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, 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, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the LORD only.
Then Samuel said, Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you. So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted that day, and said, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines. The people of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines. So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt-offering to the LORD; Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. As Samuel was offering up the
burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the LORD thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, Thus far the LORD has helped us.
Devotional
----------
There are many stones in Palestine that have special significance. Stones were set up by Israelites to mark occasions when God acted in a special way. Samuel set up a stone to mark the mighty act of God in defeating the Philistines. The stone was called, "thus far the Lord has helped us." What do you do to help you remember the mighty acts of God in your life or in your families life. Our hope for the future is built on remembering God's help in the past.
Prayer
--------------
Enliven my remembrance of your acts of power and mercy in my life, Lord. Amen
