day 44: 1 Samuel 7- Leadership that renews and revives

And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the Lord. 2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
Samuel Judges Israel3 And 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 Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.
5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah 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 people of Israel at Mizpah. 7 Now 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. 8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord.

​Meditation
Recently I asked a successful leader what the secret was to turning around a large company, renewing a dysfunctional system. He responded with, “Keep it simple- Make your goal clear in one sentence, make the steps clear in how to accomplish the goal, and make sure you have the right people who have what they need to get the job done.”
 
Samuel’s leadership of Israel, a very dysfunctional people following the leadership of Eli and his sons, parallels the above advice. As a people longing to lead for renewal we would be wise to listen to this pattern of grace:
 
A- Clear and simple goal: Return to the Lord. (3)
B- Steps to accomplish the goal (3b):

1. Put away your false gods,
2. Return to the Lord with your whole heart, and
3. Serve the Lord alone.

C- The right people and resources to get the job done: All the people of God are fueled by the grace and mercy of God!
 
The resolve of Israel’s renewed commitment in returning to the Lord was immediately tested when their enemy gathered against them (4-5). Would they return to their old gods? Not in renewal- The people of God responded to the grace of God by trusting the sovereignty of God in the face of their enemies (6-9) and the Lord fought for them (10-11).
 
Samuel erected an Ebenezer, a monument of remembrance- The Lord helps His people! (12-14). There is peace in renewal, when God’s people return to the Lord. 
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you want to lead in renewal? Begin with yourself. Where do you need to return to the Lord by turning from other things you look to for security, strength, status and significance?
 
-Jesus makes returning to the Lord possible. Jesus lived the perfect life, never turning from the Lord, and died the death we deserve for turning from the Lord. How does this grace fuel our faithfulness as God’s people?
 
-Your day will put this renewed commitment to the test. Think ahead and consider what it will look like to trust the Lord when the enemy attacks. What will it look like to keep your faith in Him? Only He can give you victory in peace. The Lord will help you!
 
Key Verse
3 And 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 Ashtaroth from among you.