The Tabernacle

We can never experience victory and peace in life without God’s help. But God won’t share his glory with idols or tolerate our half-hearted worship either. As judge and prophet, Samuel spends 20 years preaching a sermon of repentance to God’s people.The call is for them to return to the Lord with all their hearts, put away idols, direct their hearts to God and serve him only. The emphasis on the heart is striking. Presumedly, this sermon is a regular part of Samuel’s circuit and it culminates in Israel's response, gathering to repent at Mizpah. The Philistines see the gathering as a threat and prepare to attack. Fearful Israel begs Samuel to intercede in prayer for them and he does so, after sacrificing a lamb to atone for their sins. God responds, thundering with a mighty sound and throwing the Philistines into confusion, allowing Israel to pursue and defeat them. The victory produces peace and restoration of lost territory. We see foreshadows of Jesus and the Gospel in Samuel's