SATURDAY, AUGUST 20
Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:7-13

Israel under Eli was constantly under assault by the Philistines. The Philistines took whatever they wanted from Israel during the 40 year of Eli because of the crooked priesthood he allowed to exist. But God removed Eli and his sons and Samuel was made priest. The people were crying out when they were at war with the Philistines and Samuel prayed. When Samuel prayed, the result was that God sent thunder and they got the victory! Verse 13 says, “So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.” Look at the difference between the Eli priesthood and the Samuel priesthood. All the days of Samuel, the Hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. The Philistines were subdued under Samuel. Eli did not pass the integrity test. But Samuel chose to pass that test. He was a man of integrity and all his days he moved the Hand of God against the enemies. Where are we in that process? This is how the church is called to be and it is what the church is called to do. But is the church doing it? Do we see the Hand of God move against enemies of the church? It seems we have more priesthoods in America that resemble Eli than we do priesthoods that resemble Samuel. Do we want to resemble Eli or do we want to resemble Samuel? If we want to move God’s Hand against our enemies we had better take a long look at the character tests we see in the Word and ask ourselves if we can pass every one. Eli could not move God’s Hand, only Samuel could. If we want to have God’s ear and move His Hand, we need to walk like Samuel. Will we do it?