1 Samuel 7
Lutheran reading notes
In 1 Samuel chapter 7, the account continues the story of the transition of Israel from judges to monarchy. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
1 Samuel 7:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
1 Samuel 7:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, {then} put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
1 Samuel 7:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
1 Samuel 7:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
1 Samuel 7:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured {it} out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
1 Samuel 7:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard {it}, they were afraid of the Philistines.
1 Samuel 7:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. {Cease...: Heb. Be not silent from us from crying}
1 Samuel 7:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered {it for} a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. {heard: or, answered}
1 Samuel 7:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
1 Samuel 7:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until {they came} under Bethcar.
1 Samuel 7:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Then Samuel took a stone, and set {it} between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. {Ebenezer: that is, The stone of help}
1 Samuel 7:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
1 Samuel 7:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
1 Samuel 7:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
1 Samuel 7:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. {in circuit: Heb. and he circuited}
1 Samuel 7:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
And his return {was} to Ramah; for there {was} his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
1 Samuel 7:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.