Title: And There Was Peace
Text: I Samuel 7: 7-15
Date: May 23, 2010
Place: WHGC; Teleford, PA
I Samuel 7: 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.”
I. WHY WAS ISRAEL AFRAID?
God had revealed something to Israel. They had tried to battle the Philistines themselves (I Sam. 4: 1,2)--4000 slain. We tried to battle the enemy ourselves once…
· Didn’t need God
· Didn’t seek God
· THE ENEMY PREVAILED
Then Israel tried bringing the ark of God to the forefront…(I Sam. 4: 3, 4, 10, 11.) That time 30,000 slain. THEY LOOKED TO THE ARK AND NOT TO GOD WHOM THE ARK REPRESENTED. We tried carnal religion: went to church, cleaned up our act, learned some doctrine and so on.
Two things Israel had been taught by the time these Philistines came up to battle: of themselves they had no hope…enemy too powerful! All their hope rested in Samuel, the mediator, the prophet, the judge, the servant of God. Samuel is a type of Christ to whom you and I--needy, sinners must flee for mercy.
I Samuel 7: 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.
Application: There are two vital things the Holy Spirit reveals to all whom He brings to faith in Christ Jesus: First, He will reveal our NEED OF CHRIST! Secondly, God reveals that CHRIST IS ALL WE NEED! “In him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily, and ye are COMPLETE in Him.”
II. CHRIST IS THE BELIEVER'S BURNT OFFERING.
1 Samuel 7: 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.”
The burnt offering was lamb without blemish—“Through the eternal Spirit [Christ] offered himself without spot to God..
The burnt offering was a voluntary offering—Christ voluntarily offered himself. “When he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me: Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me), to do thy will O God." “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again, No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself…I have power to lay it down and power to take it again."
The burnt offering must be offered according to God’s order--Every minute detail of Christ’s death was foreordained in eternity. From his birth to the parting of his raiment to his burial in the rich man’s tomb all fulfilled as ordained by God.
I Peter 1: 18, 19: Ye were not redeemed with with corruptible thins, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ AS OF A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT.
III. CHRIST IS OUR MEDIATOR WITH THE FATHER
Samuel interceded for the children of Israel, even as Christ is the believers Mediator with the Father. Christ Jesus is the believer's advocate with the Father. He everliveth to make intercession on behalf of his people.
John 17: Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me:…
And the Lord heard him…THE LORD HEARS CHRIST FOR HIS PEOPLE.
1 Samuel 7: 10: And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel
LET'S GET A PICTURE OF THIS IN OUR MINDS: Israel on one side—afraid, defenseless, totally dependant upon Samuel. The Philistines on the other side—roaring up that mountain, confident, proud. In the middle—Mizpeh-lookout point—the high hill—Samuel is offering the sacrifice, the smoke rising up, all eyes on Samuel and the sacrifice. Philistines roaring up that mountain must have said, “That fool Samuel.” Gave away his position. Philistines sure they had the victory.
IV. CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED FOR ALL TO SEE---HIGH AND LIFTED UP.
Like the Philistines are sure they have the victory, The religious host who reveled in His death were sure they had the victory. Like that host who hated the PRINCE OF LIFE that smoke was a stench to Philistines. But to God the smoke was a sweet smelling savor
Eph 5: 2: Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
“a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.”
1 Samuel 7: 10:…but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
As Christ bore the wrath of God in place of his elect, his spiritual Israel.
· “there was darkness over all the land…THE LORD THUNDERED!
· "Jesus, when he had yet cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost"—THE LORD THUNDERED.
· "And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom;"--THE LORD THUNDERED!
· "and the rocks did quake, and the rocks rent" --THE LORD THUNDERED!
· Christ crushed the serpents head, just as THE PHILISTINES WERE SMITTEN BEFORE ISRAEL
V. BY THE GIFT OF FAITH THE BELIEVER LAYS HOLD ON THE VICTORY, GIVING GOD ALL THE GLORY!
1 Samuel 7: 11: And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
Faith is active. When Israel saw what God had done they took off after the enemy. They believed God, they trusted God. We are Philistines, by nature: the flesh must be mortified-put to death, we must stay on Christ, we must follow him, wholly trusting him.
Seeing then we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Heb. 4: 14
Samuel set forth the gospel of the victorious Lord of glory, giving God all the glory!
1 Samuel 7: 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.
God chose me, Christ redeemed me, Spirit of God gave me spiritual life. God keeps me “He’ll not forsake his people for his great name’s sake.” This is the believer's banner:
Tears unavailing, No merit had I
Mercy had saved me, Or else I must die
Sin had alarmed me, Fearing God’s face
But now I’m a sinner saved by grace
This is my story, To God be the glory,
I’m only a sinner saved by grace.
I Samuel 7: 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.
Romans 8: Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It's God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It's Christ that died yea rather is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
As the sea can only go as far as God permits, so He has hedged up our enemies to protect those he bought with his own blood.
VI. ETERNAL RESTORATION, PEACE AND LIFE WITH CHRIST
I Samuel 7: 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 of the hands of the Philistines.
THIS IS THE BEST PART OF ALL. All that we lost in Adam was restored in Christ, but so much more, we can never again be lost. Believer, Christ justified us of all sin. Sin put away as far as east is from west. God promises, "Sin and iniquity I will remember no more." The believer has been made the righteousness of God in Christ, unblameable, unreprovable, holy as God is Holy. Christ’s redeemed HAVE A better standing than Adam. Those for whom Christ died can’t be lost. This life is eternal. This redemption is eternal. Our joy is an eternal joy.
1 Samuel 7: 14: And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
Meditate on that thought--PEACE WITH GOD. (Rom 5: 1, 2). Holy Law—satisfied. Christ's Righteousness—imputed to us. Born of the Spirit of God made a partaker of the divine nature. Sin—no more dominion over us. Satan—defeated. Hell—no claim on Christ’s redeemed. Death—the believer is passed from death unto life by Christ--PEACE.
What about Samuel who typifies Christ?
1 Samuel 7: 15: And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
Christ is passed into the heavens to sit at the right hand of God. He reigns over heaven and earth, over his church, and in the hearts of every true believer. And he shall be our great keeper of righteousness all the days of his life--eternally. For Christ must reign, till he hath made all enemies to be his footstool.
To Jesus our atoning priest,
To Jesus our Superior King,
Who saved this sinner who is chief
His glory I'll forever sing.
AND THERE WAS PEACE!