1 Samuel 7 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Samuel 7 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Samuel was born in approximately 1100 B.C.

• Samuel lived until approximately 1012 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Samuel – He grew up in Shiloh under the care of Eli. He judged Israel until his death.  

• The Philistines – The long-time enemies of Israel. They lived in the cities near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (Gaza, Ekron, Ashkelon, etc.).

WHERE:

• In 1 Samuel 7, the Philistines attacked the Israelites at Mizpah.

• Samuel’s home was in Ramah.

• Samuel judged the Israelites in Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah (7:16).

OUTLINE:

• THE ARK IS BROUGHT TO KIRIATH-JEARIM (7:1-2):

  • The men of Kiriath-jearim went to Beth-shemesh and took the Ark of the Covenant at their request.

  • They brought the Ark to the house of man named Abinadab and “consecrated” his son, Eleazar, to care for it.

  • It remained in his house for the next 20 years.

• ISRAEL TURNS BACK TO THE LORD (7:3-6):

  • After suffering under the oppression of the Philistines, the Israelites lamented their state (7:2) and decided to repent of their disobedience to God.

  • Samuel told them to put away their false gods, which they did.

  • All the people gathered at Mizpah and Samuel prayed for them.

• THE PHILISTINES ATTACK AT MIZPAH (7:7-17):

  • When the Philistines learned the Israelites were gathering at Mizpah, they sent an army to attack.

  • Samuel offered a lamb as a sacrifice to God and cried out to the Lord to help them against the Philistines.

  • The Lord answered by thundering with “a mighty sound” and He caused the Philistines to become confused.

  • Recognizing God’s aid, the Israelites attacked the Philistines and defeated them.

  • Samuel set up a stone as a memorial and named it “Ebenezar,” saying, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”

  • God did not allow the Philistines to oppress Israel anymore during the days of Samuel.

  • Samuel judged Israel for the rest of his life.

  • He went on a circuit through Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and judged the people in each city.

APPLICATION:

• A life in the service of the Lord can be lived in well in a small area of the world.

• In the New Testament, we read about people like Paul who traversed multiple countries to spread the gospel, but that isn’t the only way to be faithful to God.

• Samuel spent his entire life judging Israel in cities that weren’t much more than 50 miles apart.

• Community work and international work are different in nature but equal in value.