1 Samuel 7:5-6 We Have Sinned Against the Lord

 ”Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.“ 1 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

a. Gather all Israel to Mizpah: This is where Jacob separated from Laban (Genesis 31:49) and was the gathering place for a repentant Israel in Judges 20:1. This was a place remembered for separation and repentance.

b. I will pray to the LORD for you: Samuel had already called the nation to repentance, and they made a start at it. Samuel knew God’s work in them could only be completed through prayer.

c. So they gathered together at Mizpah: This showed the spiritual need Israel felt at the time. They expressed their repentance both by putting away the bad and by pursuing the good.

i. The experience of conviction of sin proves nothing. It is our response to conviction that demonstrates repentance.

d. Drew water, and poured it out before the LORD: In this context, a ceremonial pouring of water demonstrated the soul poured out before the LORD. It was an expression of emptiness and need.

i. The Chaldean translation of this passage gives this sense well: “They poured out their hearts like water in penance before the Lord.” “They seemed to say in effect, We could wish to shed as many tears for our sins as there are drops of water in this bucket; but because we cannot do this, behold, we do what we can.” (Trapp)

ii. They expressed the same heart as Lamentations 2:19: Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.

e. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” Israel also expressed their sorrow over their sin by fasting (a message that nothing else really mattered except getting right with God) and by confession (a straightforward claim of guilt and responsibility).

i. 1 John 1:5-10 makes it clear that confession is vital to maintain a relationship with God. As God convicts us of sin or sins that hinder fellowship with Him, we must confess them and receive forgiveness and cleansing for our relationship with God to continue without hindrance.

ii. If it is meant from the heart, it is hard to make a better statement of confession than “We have sinned against the LORD.” This is almost exactly what David said when he was confronted with his sin in 2 Samuel 12:13.

f. And Samuel judged the children of Israel: Samuel was the last judge and he was a judge over Israel as were the leaders in the days of the book of Judges. But his leadership was more spiritual than military. (Guzik)

Some Christians view the Old Testament as irrelevant and boring, but I say it gives us examples on how sinful the prophets were and it points us to Christ. We can’t be sinless but we can repent and try to sin less. The whole point of these verses are repentance, 

“We have sinned against the LORD.”

When we come to the Lord on our knees and admit our sin and ask for forgiveness, it cleanses our relationship with God to continue without hindrance.

And frankly, that’s all He wants.

I partake in our churches prayer sheet emails and many people seem to be dying unexpectedly of cancer. Life is short and we need to make ourselves right with God.

Please don’t wait until tomorrow, it may be too late.

Blessings