1 Samuel 7:7-11: a reflection

7When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.” 9Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel. 11The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them until they came under Beth Kar.

The Philistines march against Israel gathered at Mizpah, and the people are afraid. But rather than despairing, they make an urgent plea to Samuel: do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the Philistines. They ask for intercession, for Samuel to keep pleading with God on their behalf. Samuel offers a sacrifice and cries out to the Lord for Israel, and, the text says simply, the Lord answered him.

What happens next is dramatic. As Samuel is still offering the sacrifice, the Philistines draw near for battle, but the Lord thunders against them with a great thunder, throwing them into confusion, so that they are routed before Israel. God answered the cry of his people, delivering them not by their own strength but by his direct intervention. Their part had been to cry out; God's part was to save. The victory came through intercession met by God's power.

There is a pattern here worth learning. When the people faced a threat too great for them, they did not first reach for their own strategies; they begged for prayer, for someone to keep crying out to God on their behalf. And God answered. When you face something overwhelming, follow their example: cry out to God, and ask others to keep crying out with you. Do not underestimate the power of persistent intercession. The God who thundered against the Philistines still answers the earnest cries of his people. Keep crying out, and trust him to save.

Lord, when your people faced a threat too great for them, they begged Samuel not to stop crying out to you, and you answered with deliverance. When I face something overwhelming, teach me to cry out to you and to ask others to pray with me. Do not let me underestimate the power of persistent intercession. You still answer the earnest cries of your people. I cry out to you; save me, and let my trust rest in you. Amen.