“I will pray for you unto The Lord.”
(I Samuel 7: 5b)
Avinu Malkenu – Our Father Our King
By
Dr. and Mrs. Elias E. Hidalgo
These words were most consoling to the house of Israel, and also a glorious promise given to them by The Prophet Samuel at a time when they really needed The Lord God on their side.
The Prophet Samuel had the marvelous privilege to be chosen, as a man of God, to pray and instruct the people of Israel to return and serve, The One True God of Heaven and Earth. He did so, as he faithfully brought CHALLENGES, as well as COMFORTS to them according to The Word of The Lord.
In order for Israel to experience God’s power and protection, they, first had to respond to the COMMAND that Samuel gave to them, and that was, to get right with God, as we read in verse 3 of I Samuel 7, …”return unto The Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only”.
The Jewish people, in obedience, did as Samuel asked. They put away Baalim, and Ashtaroth and served The LORD only. And, Samuel kept his word that he gave to Israel, and that is, to CALL (pray) unto The LORD for them.
And so, all Israel gathered at Mizpeh and there they confessed, and were judged by The Prophet Samuel, for Israel had returned unto God.
After they repented, THE TEST CAME. The Philistines were coming to battle against them, and Israel heard, and THEY WERE AFRAID. But, THEY PASSED THE TEST with flying colors, for they did not go back to the strange gods, but THEY WENT directly to The Prophet Samuel who represented God. They cried unto him, saying, … “Cease not to cry UNTO THE LORD our God for us, that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.” (verse 8).
Wish to The Almighty God that we would receive such a request from the Jewish communities, to pray for them, that they would be saved. But, on the other hand, I guess then, Jewish Evangelism would be too easy, and where would be our faith and the testing of our faith, if that were the case.
As we continue this “Year”, the year of 2018, the best always for all of God’s children, including you and I, is to continue walking by faith and not by sight. Amen.
How did God save Israel? The Almighty God heard Samuel’s prayers that he lifted up on behalf of Israel, while at the same time we need to remember that Israel responded properly as they returned unto God.
While the offering of the sacrifice was being made, and the prayers were being said unto The LORD, it was then, that the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel and God drew near unto Israel. Yes, He saved them by hearing Samuel’s prayer and thus, The Almighty God drew near unto Israel. The LORD God THUNDERED with a GREAT THUNDER that day upon the Philistines, and He DISCOMFITED them; and they were smitten before Israel. (verse 10).
B’aruch Ha-Shem! To God be the glory!
Once the Jewish people returned to The LORD God with all of their hearts, the battle with the enemy was no longer their battle, but God’s. And, who can stand before The LORD once He is angry?
It is our hope that ‘modern day’ Israel will turn with all of their hearts to The LORD God, then, we will begin to see miracle after miracle in the Holy Land amongst the Jewish people and Land grant that God gave unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Genesis 12).
So, also, as we draw near unto The LORD, He will, in turn, draw near unto us and magnify and glorify Himself before our very eyes.
Great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33: 3) are ours to experience from the very presence of The LORD, as we totally trust in Him in any given situation. We will always have the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord! “Christ is the Victory that over comes the world.” Thank you LORD.
We thank The LORD for our wonderful and faithful Staff that continues to do a real good and Godly work for the Kingdom of God through Shalom Scripture Studies, Inc.
We look forward in serving together with our Associate Members that faithfully support and maintain our ministry, in honor of our Messiah Y’shua in this ‘Year’ of 2018.
As we keep turning unto The Lord, and serving Him only, He will always be our Defense and grant us His tender mercies, along with many wonderful blessings that He has in store for us, His children, who wait, in hope of receiving the promise of eternal life. ‘Even so, come Lord Jesus’.
“O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” (Psalm 5: 3)
The Lord keeps reminding us of the importance of prayer, and that we have such a wonderful and marvelous privilege, to be able to speak unto Him in prayer and to know that He, as a caring God, does hear and will answer our petitions in the best and perfect way. (Romans 8: 28-30).
Thank The Lord that we can lift up our prayers unto Him, as we remember our ministry, for each other, and for those whom He brings into our lives.