Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 7, 8, 9; Luke 9:21-41.
“So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel” – 1 Samuel 7:13 (KJV).
The last days of Eli, the priest, were not good. Though he had been a good priest of the Lord, he ended badly because of his disobedient children. Towards his last days as stated in 1 Samuel 4:18, the bible recorded that Eli, upon hearing that the Philistines had captured the Ark of God, fell off his seat, broke his neck and died. It is worth noting that the disobedience of his children led to the defeat of the Israelites and eventual capture of the Ark of God.
So the Israelites remained under the yoke of the Philistines and the symbol of their strength, the Ark of God had been captured by the same Philistines. However, upon assumption of the Priesthood by Samuel, God restored all the losses of Israel and subdued their enemy, the Philistines under them! This is succinctly stated in the bible as follows: “So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel” – 1 Samuel 7:13 (KJVS). So recovering the lost ground will start with pleasing God by restoring yourself to obedience of His words.
Samuel was able to wrestle Israel from the yoke of the Philistines by his obedience to the word of God. This is the beginning of restoration. What areas are you having issues with God? You need to go back to Him, ask for mercy and promise not to go back to such sins anymore and God will set your restoration process in motion. God said, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” –Proverbs 28:13 (KJVS). So God is ready to give you a new beginning as long as you are also repentant and ready to forsake the source of the transgression. In addition, your subsequent obedience to the words of God will guarantee you your recovery as stated in Obadiah 1:17 (KJVS), “But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions”. You will recover all that you had lost, beginning from this day in Jesus name.
Prayer: Father, by your mercy, let me recover all the good things I had lost in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero