1 Samuel 7:3: Returning to the Lord

"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.'" 1 Samuel 7:3

Have you ever felt like you have strayed from the Lord? Perhaps your relationship with him was going strong, but over time it took a gradual turn in the wrong direction. Or perhaps you were on fire for the Lord, but then a difficult circumstance happened that caused you to instantly turn from him. The question we find ourselves asking in those circumstances is the same question we look at today: how do we return to the Lord once we have gone astray? 1 Samuel 7:3 gives us the answer.

1 Samuel 7 is a chapter that finds itself in the middle of the narrative of 1 Samuel. The Israelites have just received their ark back from the Phillistines after they had taken it from them for a period of time (see yesterday's devotional). However, instead of praising God for the return of the ark, they quickly fall back into sin. 1 Samuel 7:2 even tells us that the Israelites strayed from the Lord for twenty whole years. But after these twenty years, God offers them a chance to repent of their actions through the words of Samuel, which we will examine today.

Let us divide Samuel words in 1 Samuel 7:3 up into three sections this morning: the condition of repentance, the call of repentance, and the victory of repentance. Firstly, let us define repentance. Repentance is simply life choice to turn from idols to God. Repentance is not a one-time decision, but rather a continual way of life, and Samuel helps us see that. He first gives us the condition of our repentance: "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart." Notice here that Samuel doesn't say "when you are returning to the Lord," but rather "if you are returning." We see here that repentance is not a guarantee. Repentance is conditional upon a heart that truly wants to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. We then see Samuel's call of repentance. He gives us three statements that help paint a picture of what repentance really is: putting away idols, directing our hearts to God, and serving God only. These are three great statements that summarize all calls of repentance. In order to truly repent, we must give up all idols that take our attention and devotion away from God, direct our hearts to worship God only, and serve him with all of our heart. Finally, we see the victory of repentance. Although we will not triumph over any Phillistine army as the Israelites did, we will certainly gain victory if we repent. In the New Testament, we see that repentance brings us victory over eternal death in the eternal life of Christ Jesus, amen!

So, perhaps you are the one who has strayed from the Lord today. Perhaps you need to return to him because you are far from him. Let me encourage you: take heart! For it is never too late to return to the Lord. Also, let us realize that it is what God wants us to do. Read the story of the prodigal son and see that God wants nothing more than his children to return to him. It's not too late, for it is never to late on this side of eternity. However, after you have passed from this life it will be too late, and you never know when that day is coming. So, dear friend, repent! Turn to the Lord now, and live. Amen.