once more throughout the land the Invisible and Eternal One was acknowledged as the

one true God. Samuel's faithfulness and tireless enthusiasm had at last been rewarded by

the Lord. He had succeeded in opening the eyes of the people, unstopping their ears and

softening the hardness of their hearts, so that they saw at last the real cause of their

sufferings. He had made them as a nation hunger for the lost Presence of Jehovah.

Samuel now assumed the role of judge in Israel, and some rank him as their greatest

leader, with the exception of Moses. Mizpeh was a city in the plain of Judah, some eight

miles west of Jerusalem. Representatives from every tribe came at Samuel's command

and water was poured out before the Lord. On this day of national mourning they fasted

and confessed the sins of the nation against Jehovah. The pouring out of the water

symbolized the pouring away of their old manner of life, the emptying of their hearts and

minds of their former evil way of living, and neglect of the One True God. In humble

repentance they acknowledged the God of their fathers, and recognizing the faithfulness

of Samuel publicly acknowledged his leadership over the nation.

The sudden destruction of the Phoenician shrines throughout Israel, and the assembly

of the people of Israel at Mizpeh immediately aroused the war-like Philistines. They

promptly gathered a powerful force and marched to the plain of Judah. The men of Israel

would be no match against this powerful foe, for they were poorly armed and ill equipped

for battle. To their credit the people's new resolution held firm, and they remembered

how Jehovah's power was given to Moses and Joshua in days of old. So in the supreme

hour of testing and danger they turned to Samuel. Their cry was not `what hope have we

got, look what you have done for us now'. They did not turn to murmuring against

Samuel as their fathers had done against Moses and Aaron during the wilderness journey;

instead we read:

Israel's repentance was now most surely being put to the test. Their new-found

profession of faith was being proved and tried by the Lord. Was it sincere and complete?

Would it crack when there was danger, and mortal fear held them in its grip? Samuel had

evidently done his work well. The army was willing to go and meet the foe, unprepared

as they were for battle; providing their leader continued to intercede for their deliverance

to Jehovah. Let him not be silent, but instant in prayer on their behalf. This was real

faith at last; complete trust in the power of the Lord.