Title "Mizpah's Fasting Prayer (1 Samuel 7:5-11)
Contents
Samuel is a judge (1 Samuel 7:6, 15-17), a prophet (1 Samuel 3:20), and a priest, appearing in the transition period from the period of the judges to the monarchy. person. Samuel's period was a dark one in every way. First, it was a period of political anarchy. Second, it was a period of religious darkness. Third, it was a period of severe economic famine and suffering from the oppression of the Philistines. However, in this very situation, Samuel fulfills the historical mission of national revival. Today's text introduces what was first started to accomplish this remarkable historical cause. That is why the leaders and people of all nations gathered at Mizpah and held the “Fasting Prayer of Mizpah”.
What are the characteristics of Mizpah fasting and prayer?
1. It was a fasting prayer where all Israel gathered together at Mizpah.
1) Verse 5 says, “Samuel said, Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” Samuel ordered all the people to “gather at Mizpah” to defeat the Philistines, the enemy who had been tormenting all Israel for 20 years. “Mizpah” means “watch tower” and means “observation deck”. This is because it is the best place for the scattered Israelites to gather together to fast and pray. He didn't want to train an army or produce weapons to defeat the enemy, but he wanted to gather first to fast and pray to God.
2) There is a right way in everything. There is a formula that solves the problem. Water flows from high to low. Air moves from cold to hot. All problems in life must be solved from the spiritual one. You have to release the spiritual things right away. Samuel realized that the way to restore the broken 20 years of history and rebuild the kingdom of God's glory is not to build an army, weapons, or fortress, but to return to God spiritually.
3) The reason we gathered at Mizpah was to pray. Here at Mizpah, I realized that the way to fundamentally solve all the problems is first, to throw away vain idols, second, to return to Jehovah with all my heart and serve only the Lord, and third, to pray to God. Prayer is a spiritual conversation with God. Prayer is the secret to allowing God to come into our lives and work. Therefore, there is nothing greater in the life of faith than prayer. One person's prayer is important, but the prayer of God's people gathered in one place to pray is a great work.
2. It was a fasting and prayer of repentance.
1) Verse 6 says, “They gathered at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it on the LORD, and fasted that day, and there they said, “We have sinned against the LORD.” A true fasting prayer is a fasting prayer of repentance. They prayed for repentance in some unusual ways. First, he drew water and poured it on the Lord and prayed. There are three deep meanings here. It was a way of repentance, realizing one's worthlessness. Water spilled on the ground cannot be collected again. It means that life is useless like water poured out before God (2 Samuel 14:14, Psalm 22:14).
2) Second, they honestly admitted their sins and confessed them before God. The Apostle John said, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” John 1:8-9). Those who honestly admit and confess their sins are sincere and honest. He is a humble and kind person. A person who will be forgiven, comforted, and blessed.
3) Finally, they completely removed all idols, cut off all idols, turned around, fasted and prayed for repentance. In this way, true repentance is not only realizing sin in the heart and repenting of it, but also cutting off and removing it from our lives and turning away from it. This is the door to heaven. It is a shortcut to receiving the Holy Spirit as a gift. It is the right way to restore the joy and blessings of true salvation. Therefore, we should not compare ourselves with others and boast of little righteousness, but we should look back on ourselves before God and become truly repentant saints.
3. It was a fasting prayer that offered the whole burnt offering.
1) In verses 9-10, it says, “Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered a whole burnt offering to the Lord.” When the Israelites heard that the Philistines were coming, they were terrified. He came to Samuel and asked, “Pray for us, that we may be saved from the hand of the Philistines.” At this time, Samuel first took a suckling lamb and offered a whole burnt offering to God first, and then began to pray. There is a deep meaning here. A whole burnt offering is the Hebrew word for “whole sacrificing,” which means “a whole sacrifice.”
2) There is a deep lesson in praying after offering the perfect sacrifice first. First, it means the sacrifice of Christ's atonement and sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12-14). The only mediator between God and life is Jesus Christ. Second, it means total commitment. It is not to satisfy my will, stubbornness, and greed, but only to fully devote myself to accomplishing God's will. Third, it means total obedience. In order to please God, above all else, we must pray with a heart to obey God completely.
3) When Samuel offered the perfect sacrifice, God's answer began. Verse 10 says, “On that day the Lord sent out a great thunder to the Philistines…” A great thunder sounded and disturbed the Philistines. Israel could not be invaded again, and all the cities that had been taken were restored, and there was peace with the surrounding peoples. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that this 40-day fasting and prayer meeting will become a Mizpah fasting and prayer meeting to restore our relationship with God and receive abundant answers.