1 Samuel 7:1-6: a reflection

1The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took the LORD’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the LORD’s ark. 2From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long—for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 3Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “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 hearts to the LORD, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 5Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6They gathered together to 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.” Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

After twenty years of lamenting after the LORD, the people of Israel are ready to return to him; and Samuel tells them what a true return requires. If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, he says, then put away the foreign gods from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only. A wholehearted return to God meant putting away the idols that had rivaled him, the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth, and directing the heart to God alone, serving him only. And the people did it, removing their idols and serving the LORD only. True return was not mere feeling, but the putting away of rivals and the turning of the whole heart to God.

Notice what a wholehearted return required: putting away the idols and serving God only. It was not enough to lament, to feel drawn back to God; a true return meant putting away the foreign gods that had rivaled him, directing the whole heart to God, serving him alone. The idols had to go; the divided heart had to become wholehearted. Samuel would not let the people return to God while keeping their idols; a true return meant removing the rivals and serving God only. The people's return was proved by their putting away the Baals and the Ashtaroth and serving the LORD only; the wholehearted turning to God was inseparable from the removing of what had rivaled him.

That is worth taking to heart, for a true return to God means putting away whatever rivals him and turning the whole heart to him. We can want to return to God, feel drawn back to him, while still keeping the idols of our hearts, the rivals for our devotion; but a wholehearted return, as Samuel told the people, means putting away those rivals and directing the whole heart to God, serving him only. The idols must go; the divided heart must become wholehearted. Do not try to return to God while keeping the idols that rival him; a true return means putting them away and turning your whole heart to him. Return to God with your whole heart, putting away whatever has rivaled him and serving him only, as Samuel called the people to remove their idols and direct their hearts to the LORD; for a true return to God is not mere feeling but the putting away of rivals and the turning of the whole heart to serve him alone.

Lord, after twenty years of lamenting after you, the people of Israel are ready to return to you; and Samuel tells them what a true return requires. If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, he says, then put away the foreign gods from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only. A wholehearted return to you meant putting away the idols that had rivaled you, and directing the heart to you alone. And the people did it, removing their idols and serving you only. Show me what a wholehearted return required: putting away the idols and serving you only. It was not enough to lament, to feel drawn back to you; a true return meant putting away the foreign gods that had rivaled you, directing the whole heart to you, serving you alone. The idols had to go; the divided heart had to become wholehearted. Samuel would not let the people return to you while keeping their idols. The people's return was proved by their putting away the Baals and serving you only. Take that to my heart, for a true return to you means putting away whatever rivals you and turning my whole heart to you. I can want to return to you, feel drawn back to you, while still keeping the idols of my heart, the rivals for my devotion; but a wholehearted return means putting those rivals away and directing the whole heart to you. Keep me from trying to return to you while keeping the idols that rival you; a true return means putting them away, Lord. Help me return to you with my whole heart, putting away whatever has rivaled you and serving you only, as Samuel called the people to remove their idols and direct their hearts to you.