Audio Download

1 Samuel 7:1–17 Samuel Judges Israel

[Study Aired February 16, 2026]

Introduction

Our focus today will be centered on the ark of the covenant coming to Kirath-Jearim, Samuel judging Israel during this period, the gathering of the Lord’s people at Mizpeh and finally, the battle with the Philistines.

The Ark Comes to Kirath-Jearim

1Sa 7:1  And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 

In the word of the Lord, a city represents the church of the firstborn or Jerusalem above or the church system of this world or Babylon, depending on the context. 

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 

Rev 17:18  And the woman [the church system of this world] which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. 

The name Kirath Jearim means city of forest. As shown in Isaiah 29:17, the fruitful field is regarded as a forest and therefore the city of forest (Kirathjearim) denotes the church of the Lord’s elect.

Isa 29:17  Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

The name Abinadab means ‘father of generosity.’ The ark being possessed by the men of Kirathjearim and bringing it to the house of Abinadab signifies our transition from Babylon to the church of the Lord’s elect where Christ comes with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to possess the hearts and minds of His elect, whose father is known for His generosity in favoring us.

If we are to have the Lord in our hearts and minds, then our hearts and minds need to be sanctified as shown by the sanctification of Eleazer, with the purpose of keeping the ark in verse 1. It is instructive to note that the name Eleazer means ‘helper.’ We know that the helper is the Holy spirit whom the Lord is sending to His elect for their sanctification.

1Pe 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

In Exodus 19:14, being sanctified means washing our clothes which means becoming righteous through the washing or cleansing by the word of the Lord. This washing by the word is the Lord’s judgment or the fire of the Lord’s words which causes us to learn righteousness.

Exo 19:14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

1Sa 7:2  And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Some versions of the Bible make verse 2 much clearer. Examples of these versions are as follows:

1Sa 7:2  And the ark was in Kiriath-jearim for a long time, as much as twenty years: and all Israel was searching after the Lord with weeping. (BBE)

1Sa 7:2  A long time passed after the ark came to stay at Kiriath Jearim. For 20 years the entire nation of Israel mournfully sought the LORD. (GW)

It is when we come into the church of the firstborn or the Lord’s elect (Kirathjearim) that we mournfully seek after the Lord. We mourn because we are being judged in this age. We are just like the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11, who are clothed in sackcloth.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

The ark abiding in Kirjathjearim for twenty years signifies the time during which the Lord enrolls us in His army as we war against our flesh.

Num 1:3  From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 

Num 1:26  Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Samuel Judges Israel

1Sa 7:3  And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 
1Sa 7:4  Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 

Samuel in this case represents our Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 3, Samuel admonishing the house of Israel is the Lord speaking to His people, His elect. If we are to progress in our spiritual relationship with Christ, then we must do away with the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among us. These strange gods and Ashtaroth signify the idols of our hearts or the false doctrines which we hold dear in our hearts. When we come to the church of the firstborn from the church system of this world or Babylon, signified by the Lord dragging us just as the ark is brought to Kirathjearim, we come with a lot of idols of our heart which must be done away with. These idols of our hearts are the stumbling block of our iniquity.

Eze 14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. 
Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 
Eze 14:5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

In verse 3, we are told that if the Israelites do away with their strange idols and Ashtaroth, the Lord will deliver them out of the hand of the Philistines. This implies that our false doctrines empowers our flesh and that by doing away with these idols of our hearts, we are set free from the clutches of our flesh, denoted by the Philistines.

The children of Israel putting away Baalim and Ashtaroth and serving the Lord only is the Lord’s elect being given to know the truth of the Lord’s word which destroys the idols of our hearts. As we imbibe the truth of the Lord’s words, these false doctrines are done away. The truth of the Lord’s words is the hail that sweeps away the refuge of lies in our hearts and minds.

Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 

The Gathering of the Lord’s People

1Sa 7:5  And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. 

As indicated, Samuel in this study represents the Lord. Mizpeh means ‘watch tower.’ This implies that the Lord is requiring us to become His watchmen.  

Isa 21:6  For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

Isa 52:8  Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

Isa 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

Eze 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

As shown in these verses, the role of a watchman is to hear the word of the Lord and to declare what the Lord is showing us. Samuel telling the people of Israel to gather at Mizpeh so that he prays for them means the Lord interceding on our behalf to make us His watchmen.

Heb 7:24  But this man [Jesus], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 

1Sa 7:6  And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. 

As the Lord’s watchmen, we are to draw water and pour it out before the Lord. To draw water means to be given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. To pour the water out before the Lord means to be judged by the Lord, as shown in the following verses:

Psa 22:14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 

Job 30:16  And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. 
Job 30:17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest. 

As we are aware, the spiritual significance of fasting is to loose the bonds of wickedness or to break the yoke of the flesh which comes about through the Lord’s judgment of our flesh. The Israelites fasting at Mizpeh therefore implies that we learn righteousness as we are judged by the Lord. All of this comes at the back of the fact that we know we have sinned against the Lord and therefore deserve His judgment.

Isa 58:6  “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Isa 58:7  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 
Isa 58:8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

Samuel judging the people of Israel at Mizpah symbolizes the Lord governing or ruling and executing judgment over His people to make us His watchmen. It is therefore, we, His elect, whom the Lord is governing and executing His judgment for the purpose of destroying our flesh.

It is important to note that here at Mizpeh, all the Israelites were gathered together for the purpose of Samuel praying for them as they turn back to the Lord. This oneness is the unity that is required in our gathering as the Lord’s elect for Him to command His blessings.

Psa 133:1  A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 
Psa 133:2  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 
Psa 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. 

The Battle with the Philistines

1Sa 7:7  And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 
1Sa 7:8  And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 

Our engagement against our flesh is typified by the lords of the Philistines coming up against Israel. It is when we are making progress in our relationship with Christ, as the Lord makes us His watchmen (significance of Mizpeh), that this struggle against our flesh becomes intense. The children of Israel being afraid of the Philistines means that we are all afraid of our flesh because in our natural state, we have been defeated several times by our flesh, and we think we cannot make war against our flesh. In our desperation, we come to the Lord asking Him to save us from our own flesh. This is symbolized by the Israelites appealing to Samuel to pray to the Lord to save them out of the hand of the Philistines.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

It is important to note that as our High Priest, the Lord is always interceding on our behalf in accordance with the oath He swore to our father Abraham that we shall be delivered from our enemies (flesh and the devil) so that we pass the rest of our lives in rest and quietness. 

Luk 1:70  As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 
Luk 1:71  That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
Luk 1:72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
Luk 1:73  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 
Luk 1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
Luk 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

1Sa 7:9  And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. 

Our Lord Jesus had been offered for a burnt offering to God for our sake and is praying for us His elect, and God the Father has heard Him because of His reverence.

Heb 5:6  as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 
Heb 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

1Sa 7:10  And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 

Through the mercies of the Lord, it is while we are offering ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord that the pull of the flesh, signified by the Philistines drawing near to battle the Israelites, becomes intense. 

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

In the Bible, the phrase “the Lord thundered” implies the Lord’s judgment as shown in the following verse:

Psa 18:13  The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

The hail stones and the coals of fire in Psalm 18:13 above, are all part of the Lord’s instruments of judgment. Therefore, the thundering with a great thunder upon the Philistines indicates our victory over the flesh through the Lord’s judgment of our flesh (Philistines). Are you struggling with sin? Continue to cry to the Lord as the Israelites did, and He will come with His judgment to destroy the flesh so we can have victory over it. As we can see in verse 11 of the study, the Israelites had victory over the Philistines. This implies that the Lord who has started this work of destroying the enemy within us, will deliver victory to us.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

1Sa 7:11  And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.

Bethcar means ‘the house of the lamb’ which is Christ. Therefore, Bethcar is the church of the Lord’s elect or Jerusalem above which is free. The men of Israel pursuing and smiting them until they came to Bethcar means that our struggle with our flesh is completed in the house of the Lord. This is through what every joint supplies.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  

1Sa 7:12  Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. 
1Sa 7:13  So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 

Samuel taking a stone and calling the name of the place between Mizpeh and Shen, Ebenezer, is to let us know that the destruction of our flesh is done in stages and that at every stage of our walk with the Lord, we must acknowledge that it is the Lord who has helped us this far.

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Here in 2 Corinthians 3:18, the Lord changing us into His image from glory to glory means that we are being changed from one stage to another, which is consistent with what Samuel said at Ebenezer as he laid a stone to symbolize how far the Lord had helped the people of Israel.

The defeated Philistines not able to come to the coasts of Israel anymore in verse 13 implies that as we journey with the Lord, we come to see certain areas of our lives in which the Lord has wrought complete victory for us over our flesh. In such cases, the flesh has been completely defeated and therefore cannot rise again. However, there are still areas of our lives which we are yet to overcome.

It is interesting to note that the Lord was against the Philistines as long as Samuel lived. This is to assure us that as long as the Lord is with us, He will fight our battles for us as He will continue to destroy our flesh through His judgment.

Isa 42:13  The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

1Sa 7:14  And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

The restoration of the cities which the Philistines had taken is the Lord making us aware that our labor in the Lord shall not be in vain and that whatever we have lost in Him because we yielded to our flesh, shall be restored to us. Indeed, the Lord is the restorer of the broken down walls of our lives. He will not relent until He has brought us to our desired haven.

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. 
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

These verses in Psalm 107 above describe how the Lord comes to us with His judgment to destroy our flesh with the purpose of bringing us to our desired destination of becoming His children abounding in His resources to complete the race marked out for us.

Joe 2:23  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 
Joe 2:24  And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
Joe 2:25  And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 
Joe 2:26  And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Joe 2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

It is important to note that at the end of verse 14, it is mentioned that there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. The Amorites also represent our flesh, just as the Philistines do. This statement that Israel was at peace with the Amorites is to make us aware that the destruction of our flesh is in phases. As we know from the word of the Lord, in the early part of Israel’s journey to occupy the land of Canaan, the Amorites were confronted and destroyed. That is why the Israelites were at peace with the Amorites. The flesh will always be with us but it is being rendered powerless by the Lord through His judgment. 

Jos 10:6  And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
Jos 10:7  So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
Jos 10:8  And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
Jos 10:9  Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
Jos 10:10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.

1Sa 7:15  And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
1Sa 7:16  And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 
1Sa 7:17  And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD. 

As indicated earlier, Samuel judging Israel all the days of his life is the Lord ruling, governing and judging us throughout our lives as His elect. The moving of Samuel from Bethel to Gilgal, to Mizpeh and finally to Ramah every year shows us our spiritual progression in Christ. Bethel means ‘the house of God.’ We must leave Babylon and enter the house of God or the church of the first born as the Lord’s elect. Gilgal means ‘circle’ or ‘rolling.’ One of the significant events which happened to Israel in their walk with Christ is the mass circumcision of the men of Israel at Gilgal. This implies that through the Lord’s judgment, we overcome the flesh as we roll away our reproach when we lived like the people of the world.

Jos 5:2  At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
Jos 5:3  And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 
Jos 5:4  And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. 

Jos 5:8  And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. 
Jos 5:9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

It is as the Lord judges us that we become His watchmen at Mizpeh which means ‘a watch tower.’ That is when we press for the heights of our calling or the high calling of God, symbolized by Samuel coming to Ramah, which means ‘heights.’

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

May we continue to grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ even as we press for the high calling of the Lord. Amen!!