Devotional
1 Samuel 7:1-17
by Andrés Chinchín
“If you desire to return to the Lord with all your heart, put away the foreign gods and the idols of Ashtoreth. Dedicate yourselves wholly to the Lord, and he will deliver you from the power of the Philistines” (Samuel 7:3).
In these verses, we see God’s mercy toward his people. The Israelites sinned and for that reason had been subjugated by the Philistines. However, they did not harden their hearts and listened to God’s voice, got rid of their idols, and God gave them victory over their enemies—the Philistines—in the Battle of Mizpah.
The same is true in our lives. God does not reject a contrite and humbled heart. He sees our sincere repentance—which leads us to take action to cast off sin—and grants us salvation from our enemies and from that which oppresses us.
To think:
Then Samuel took a stone, placed it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, “The Lord has not left us help” (Samuel 7:13).
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your mercy and compassion toward Your creatures. Thank You that despite our failings, You are ready to forgive us, free us from our sins, and give us a new beginning.
Do not allow our repentance to be trivial, but rather may it bear good fruit for eternal life
Amen.
