撒母耳走馬上任作以色列民領袖和士師後的第一件工作就是呼召以色列人悔改。以色列人再次犯拜偶像的罪，他們敬拜迦南地的神祉巴力和亞斯他錄（多產之女神）。上帝的審判也藉著非利士人的壓迫臨到以色列人身上。以色列人「哀求耶和華」（7：2，新國際標準版NIV聖經），耶和華就應允他們，興起強而有力的先知撒母耳作他們的領袖，幫助以色列人統一起來，並藉著撒母耳完成上帝拯救以色列人的計畫。以色列人要得救有幾個明確的要件：第一，他們要悔改，全心歸順上帝；第二，除掉他們中間的偶像；第三，預備他們的心專心歸向耶和華；第四，單單事奉耶和華（7：3）。

        撒母耳將以色列全會眾集在米斯巴（距耶路撒冷西北方約五公里處），當日全體禁食、悔改，並更新他們與上帝所立的約。這是一次屬靈的聚會，但在非利士人看來卻像軍事點召，是對他們的威脅，所以非利士人也集合起來要與以色列人作戰。這次，以色列人終於作了正確的行動；他們不再倚靠約櫃，而是呼求上帝，信任上帝的幫助（7：8）。這才是上帝所要的反應，因為祂是真正唯一救贖的根源。當我們呼求上帝救我們脫離我們的罪時，我們不僅得到祂的赦免，也得到祂的拯救。

        撒母耳為以色列代求，並獻上一隻全羊作燔祭，象徵對上帝完全奉獻。上帝奇蹟式的動工，在以色列人先前被敵人擊敗、喪失約櫃的同一地點（4：1，7：12），賜給他們一場「雷霆萬鈞」的勝利（7：10）。撒母耳就在那地立一個紀念石，稱為「以便以謝」，意思是「幫助之石」，提醒以色列人，因著上帝的幫助他們才得勝利。

        撒母耳是個很獨特的人，他有很多恩賜和才幹，以多重角色來事奉上帝和以色列人：他是一個巡迴士師、又是佈道家、改革家、律法師、先知、祭司、和軍事將領。在他成功的帶領下，非利士人再也不敢來進犯以色列（直到掃羅的時期）。以色列變得比非利士人更強大、更先進，並收回了許多從前被非利士人征服的城市。

        撒母耳一定是在示羅被毀後回到他的家鄉拉瑪定居，那是他出生、死亡、安葬的地方（1：19；7：17；25：1）。撒母耳是以色列的最後一位士師，士師時代也就在撒母耳記上第七章告終。撒母耳被認為是以色列歷史上繼摩西之後最偉大的人物之一。上帝揀選他有一個特殊的目的，他也成功的實現了上帝在他生命中的計畫。因為撒母耳尊重上帝，所以上帝也重看他。這個原則今天仍然相同。

        天父上帝，願我們「不住的向您呼求」。用您大能的手救我們脫離周圍的敵人。保守我們不向這個時代任何的偶像低頭。唯獨您配得我們的敬拜！奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Samuel's first task as he entered into his new role as leader and judge was to call the people of Israel to repentance. They had once again fallen into the sin of idolatry by worshipping Canaanite deities (the Baals), and the "Ashtoreths" (fertility goddesses), as we read of so often in the book of Judges. As a result, God's judgment was upon them with the oppression of the Philistines. Israel "lamented after the Lord" (7:2) and He answered. He raised up the prophet Samuel to be the strong leader they needed to unify the nation and accomplish His plan for their deliverance and salvation. The specific requirements before they would see deliverance from their enemies were: firstly, to wholeheartedly return to the Lord in humble repentance; secondly, to destroy any idols that were amongst them; thirdly, to prepare their hearts for the Lord; and fourthly, to serve Him only (7:3).

        Samuel summoned all Israel to Mizpah, about five miles northwest of Jerusalem, to publicly repent and fast for a day, and renew their covenant with God. Although this gathering was only for spiritual reasons, it appears the Philistines understood it to be a military rally and a threat against them, so they in turn gathered themselves together for battle. This time Israel did the right thing; rather than relying on the ark, they called upon God and put their trust in Him (7:8). This was the response the Lord desired, for He is truly the only source of deliverance. When we, as Israel did on this occasion, cry out to the Lord to save us from our sins, we not only receive His forgiveness, but also His deliverance.

        Samuel prayed the prayer of intercession and offered a whole lamb as a burnt offering, signifying complete consecration and dedication to God. He interceded on their behalf and God miraculously intervened, granting them a "thunderous" victory (7:10) in the very place where they had previously been defeated and lost the ark to the enemy (4:1; 7:12). It was there that Samuel set up a memorial stone, naming it "Ebenezer", meaning "stone of help", to remind Israel that it was with God's help that they were victorious.

        Samuel was a unique man of many gifts and talents. He served God and Israel in various capacities. He was a travelling circuit judge, evangelist, reformer, Levite/teacher, prophet, priest, and military leader. He had a very successful and peaceful judgeship during which the Philistines were no longer a threat to Israel (until the time of Saul; compare 9:16; 13:19-23). Rather, Israel became stronger and advanced upon the Philistines, regaining many Israelite cities that had been lost to them.

        It must have been after the destruction of Shiloh that Samuel took up residence in his hometown of Ramah, the city of his birth, death, and burial (1:19; 7:17; 25:1). He was the last of the judges in Israel, and with this chapter seven of 1 Samuel, the period of the judges comes to an end. Samuel was considered one of the greatest men, after Moses, in Israel's history. God had chosen him for a purpose and he successfully fulfilled God's plan for his life. Because Samuel honoured the Lord, the Lord honoured him. The same principle holds true today.

        Father God, may we "not cease to cry out" to you. Save us from the enemies around us by Your mighty hand. Keep us from giving worship to any so-called gods of this age. You alone are worthy!