Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 7:8
And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
1Sa 7:8
And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us.
The cry for mediation
I. Mediation sought. The Israelites, unarmed, undefended, are in great dismay. They turn to Samuel and implore his continued intercession.
1. Times of humiliation for sin and of reformation from sin are times in which the foe is very busy–doing what he can to binder.
2. Times of humiliation and awakening produce a sense of need of an intercessor from personal unworthiness, from the gravity and danger of the occasion, from the difficulty of relation to the unseen. We want someone to act for us. The principle of mediation in the Gospel of Jesus Christ does fit in with our nature and condition.
II. Mediation exercised. Samuel prays and sacrifices.
1. Takes a young lamb.
2. Prays. The mediation of Jesus Christ is so divinely suitable and sufficient, as He is both priest and sacrifice. His offering and intercession may give us boldness and access with confidence.
III. Mediation accepted. The Lord heard him.
1. Interposition by means of the elements of the natural world.
2. The foe is completely routed. (H. Gammage.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 8. Cease not to cry unto the Lord] They had strong confidence in the intercession of Samuel, because they knew he was a holy man of God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We are ashamed and afraid to look God in the face, because of our great wickedness this day remembered and acknowledged; do thou therefore intercede for us, as Moses did for his generation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the children of Israel said to Samuel,…. To whom they applied, not as the general of their forces, but as the prophet of the Lord; believing his prayers for them would be of more avail to them than an army of men ever so numerous, or so well accoutred:
cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us: he had been praying for them that day, and they desired he would continue praying for them, well knowing that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much; they knew their salvation was of the Lord, and that he only could save them, and that he must be sought unto for it; and as Samuel had an interest in him, they beg he would continue to make use of it on their behalf; in which they expressed their trust in God, their regard to means, the duty of prayer, and the high esteem they had of the prophet of the Lord, whom they entreat to pray for them:
that he will save us out of the hands of the Philistines; who were now coming up against them, and who had for a long time tyrannised over them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us.The fear on the part of Israel was very natural Unarmedor, at least, very poorly armed and equippedthe assembled Israelites saw from the heights the advancing Philistine army. What hope was there for their ill-disciplined masses when they joined battle with that trained host of fighting men? But they remembered the days of old, and how, when Moses prayed, the Angel of His presence saved them. Had they not then with them there a seer equal to Moses, greater than Joshua, one with whom the Eternal of Hosts was wont to speak, as friend speaketh with friend? So in that supreme hour of danger they turned to Samuel the seer. We are just going, they said, all unarmed to meet that armed host; cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, And Samuel, we read in the brief and graphic account before us, hurriedlyfor the time was short, and the foe close at handand with rites somewhat different from those enjoined in the Lawfor the occasion was indeed a critical oneoffered up a sacrifice, and raised that weird piercing cry which many in Israel had heard before when Samuel the seer prayed; and while the prophet-statesman was sustaining that loud imploring cry, while the smoke of the slain lamb was still ascending, the first line of the Philistine army appeared on the topmost slope of Mizpeh. Once more, as in old days, the glorious Arm fought with no earthly weapons for the people; an awful thunderstorm burst over the combatant hosts, the storm probably beating in the faces of the advancing Philistines. The tribes welcomed it as the answer to their prophets prayer, and with a wild enthusiasm charged down and broke the serried ranks of their oppressors. Josephus tells us of an earthquake, which added fresh horrors to the scene of battle. Each crash of thunder, each wild and furious gust of hail and rain, the men of Israel welcomed as a fresh onslaught on the part of an unseen army fighting by their side. The dismayed Philistines fled, and the rout was complete; the defeated army hurried panic-stricken over the same ground in the neighbourhood of Aphek illustrious twenty years before for their signal victory. The scene of carnage now received the significant name of Eben-ezer, or The Stone of Help.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Cease not The marginal reading is more accurate, Be not silent from us from crying. They now feel that if deliverance comes at all, it must come from Jehovah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 288
SAMUELS SUCCESSFUL INTERCESSION
1Sa 7:8-9. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.
THERE is scarcely a more striking instance of reformation to be found in all the Holy Scriptures, than in the chapter before us. The people of Israel had long been in a state of awful departure from God. They had presumptuously confided in the ark at a former period, as though its very presence was sufficient to secure them the victory over the most powerful enemies [Note: 1Sa 4:3-5.]: but now, though it had been restored to their country twenty years, no one had shewn any just regard to it. We may well suppose, however, that Samuel had not been idle: indeed we apprehend that the general reformation which took place at this time, was the fruit of his labours. Availing himself of the deep impression which had been made on the minds of the whole nation, he proposed to meet all the elders of Israel at Mizpeh, with a view to keep a fast unto the Lord. This measure was adopted: but the Philistines, imagining that the collecting of so many persons at one place was with a view to combine for military purposes, took the alarm, and determined to make an assault on them, before they should be able to arrange their plans, and prepare themselves for the battle. The approach of the Philistines produced great consternation at Mizpeh, and necessitated the Israelites to stand on their defence. But, conscious of their incapacity to resist their foes, they besought Samuel to intercede with God for them. His intercession is the subject which we propose for our present consideration; and we shall notice it,
I.
As solicited by them
They had now learned by experience that God alone could help them
[They did not, as formerly, resort to the ark for aid: nor did they confide in an arm of flesh: Jehovah himself was now their hope: and they sought him in a manner that was truly becoming: they lamented after him, being grieved at their hearts that they had provoked him to depart from them: they drew water, and poured it out before him, expressing thereby the depth of their sorrow [Note: Psa 22:14.]: and they fasted, in order to beget in themselves a more penitent sense of all their transgressions. In this frame of mind they betook themselves to him, whose power had so often proved effectual for their support.]
But, conscious of their own unworthiness, they sought with all earnestness the intercession of Samuel
[Very striking is their address to him; Cease not to pray unto God for us. They were persuaded that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man would avail much. Hence they entreated Samuel to intercede for them. But they remembered that the intercession of Moses against Amalek was no longer successful than whilst his hands were held up in prayer; and therefore they importuned Samuel not to suspend for a moment his cries to God in their behalf. Happy were they in having such an intercessor; and happy in having an heart to acknowledge his worth, and to seek his aid.]
Let us next attend to the intercession,
II.
As offered by him
He offered to the Lord a burnt-offering
[Though Samuel was not a priest, he officiated as a priest on this occasion, and was doubtless accepted of God in that service. The presenting of a sucking lamb upon the altar intimated that neither the people nor himself could approach unto God, or hope for any mercy at his hands, but through that great Sacrifice which should one day be offered, even that Lamb of God which should take away the sins of the whole world. At the same time, as a burnt-offering, it was intended to honour God, who had so often succoured them in the hour of need. This affords an important hint to us in all our addresses at the throne of grace: we must implore mercy solely through the sacrifice of Christ, and acknowledge Gods perfections as glorified, in all his dispensations, whether of mercy or of judgment, of providence or of grace ]
This sacrifice he accompanied with fervent prayer
[Samuel well knew, that as prayer without a sacrifice would be of no avail, so neither would a sacrifice without prayer. He therefore cried unto the Lord. O what is intimated in that expression! what humility, what fervour, what importunity! Such is the prayer that God requires; and such prayer, offered in dependence on our great Sacrifice, shall never go forth in vain [Note: Psa 50:15.].]
The efficacy of his intercession will be seen, if we notice it,
III.
As accepted of the Lord
Instantly did God vouchsafe to answer it
[Before the offering of the lamb was finished, Gods acceptance of the prayer was manifest. The Philistines approached to the battle; but were so intimidated and confounded by thunder and lightning, that they fell an easy prey to those whom they had expected utterly to destroy. Thus the intervention of God was seen in the clearest light. Had the victory been gained solely by the sword of Israel, they might have ascribed it to their own skill and prowess: but when it arose from causes that were entirely out of the reach of men, they could not but acknowledge that God himself had interposed in answer to the prayer of Samuel. Signal as this favour was, we are warranted to expect a similar acceptance of our prayers, if only we ask in humility and faith. Jehoshaphat obtained a similar answer under circumstances precisely similar [Note: 2Ch 20:21-22.]: and with equal speed was Daniel answered, when praying for himself [Note: Dan 9:19-23.]: and we also shall be heard in like manner, if we draw nigh to God, as it is both our privilege and our duty to do [Note: Isa 65:24.].]
He answered too to the utmost extent of the petitions offered
[Deliverance out of the hands of the Philistines was the mercy asked; and so entirely was this deliverance effected, that the Philistines never came again into the land of Israel as long as Samuel lived.
We too may expect that God will exceed our utmost requests. If we are straitened at all, it is not in him, but in ourselves. If we were more earnest, and more enlarged in prayer, our blessings would be proportionably multiplied [Note: 2Ki 13:19; Eph 3:20.].]
We may learn from hence,
1.
On what our safety as a nation rests
[We should imitate their repentancereformationfaithand zealand should unite, both ministers and people, in committing our cause to God ]
2.
How our safety as individuals is to be secured
[There is no other way for individuals than for nations: only in nations the mercies of God may be enjoyed by those who have been at no pains to seek them; whereas every individual must stand or fall according to his own exertions in the ways of penitence and faith.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 7:8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
Ver. 8. Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us. ] Samuel they knew to be a Pethuel, Joe 1:1 a God persuader, a man mighty in prayer, a favourite, and one that had the royalty of God’s ear; they beg of him therefore to exercise his faculty, and to improve his interest in God for them in this exigent, Ne destituas nos ope tua quam praestare potes clamando ad Dominum. a Help us, say they, now at a dead lift. So the people afterwards told David at Mahanaim, that he should not go into the field with them, but that he “should succour them,” viz., by his prayers, “out of the city.” 2Sa 18:3
a Vatab.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Cease: etc. Heb. Be not silent from us from crying, 1Sa 12:19-24, Isa 37:4, Isa 62:1, Isa 62:6, Isa 62:7, Jam 5:16
Reciprocal: Gen 20:7 – pray Jdg 4:3 – cried 1Ki 17:20 – he cried 1Ch 21:26 – and called Psa 44:7 – But Psa 106:44 – General Isa 37:15 – General Jer 27:18 – let them Jer 42:2 – and pray Eph 1:16 – Cease
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 7:8. Cease not to cry unto the Lord, &c. We are afraid to look God in the face, because of our great wickedness: do thou therefore intercede for us, as Moses did for his generation. They had reason to expect this, because he had promised to pray for them, had promised them deliverance from the Philistines, and they had been observant of him, in all that he had spoken to them from the Lord. Thus they who receive Christ as their lawgiver and judge, need not doubt of their interest in his intercession. O what a comfort it is to all believers, that he never ceaseth, is never silent, but always appears in the presence of God for us.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to {e} cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
(e) Signifying that in the prayers of the godly, there should be a vehement zeal.