Repentance is still an option
Daily Renewal
So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD. The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time - twenty years in all.
Then all the people of Israel turned back to the LORD. So Samuel said to all the Israelites, If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths and served the LORD only.
Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the LORD for you…”
On that day, they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.”
Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.
Then all the people of Israel turned back to the LORD. So Samuel said to all the Israelites, If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths and served the LORD only.
Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the LORD for you…”
On that day, they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.”
Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.
I Samuel 7:1-6.
What a difference the presence of a godly leader makes!
For years, Israel had turned her back on God. Eli, their former leader was ineffective and his children disrespected and corrupted the house of God. God brought judgment after repeated warnings which had all fallen on deaf ears. Eli and his two sons all died in one day. Eli’s daughter-in-law also died during childbirth on the same day and declared that “the glory had departed from Israel” because the ark of God had been captured by foreigners. But all through those dark days, God was preparing a new spiritual leader, Samuel, to lead His people.
Samuel’s first order of business was to call Israel to repentance. He did not mince words saying to the people, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods...commit yourselves to the LORD and serve Him only.”
The people responded. They fasted and confessed their sins before the LORD.The turn of events after the time of repentance shows that God heard their cry. A godly leader would always lead God’s people back to Him in genuine repentance. He would not gloss over sin.
No matter how far gone we may be from the statutes of God, He is always willing to accept and forgive when we return to Him in genuine repentance. God never closes the door on us if we admit our faults, rid ourselves of our sinful behaviors and return to Him with all our hearts. Like the father of the Prodigal son, God will receive us with open hands. God will always take us back when we turn back to Him.
God’s word to Israel in Malachi 3:7 is very comforting: “Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees...return to me and I will return to you.”
Repentance is always an option. Repent of whatever sins you may be indulging in and return to God today. He will receive you with open arms.
For years, Israel had turned her back on God. Eli, their former leader was ineffective and his children disrespected and corrupted the house of God. God brought judgment after repeated warnings which had all fallen on deaf ears. Eli and his two sons all died in one day. Eli’s daughter-in-law also died during childbirth on the same day and declared that “the glory had departed from Israel” because the ark of God had been captured by foreigners. But all through those dark days, God was preparing a new spiritual leader, Samuel, to lead His people.
Samuel’s first order of business was to call Israel to repentance. He did not mince words saying to the people, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods...commit yourselves to the LORD and serve Him only.”
The people responded. They fasted and confessed their sins before the LORD.The turn of events after the time of repentance shows that God heard their cry. A godly leader would always lead God’s people back to Him in genuine repentance. He would not gloss over sin.
No matter how far gone we may be from the statutes of God, He is always willing to accept and forgive when we return to Him in genuine repentance. God never closes the door on us if we admit our faults, rid ourselves of our sinful behaviors and return to Him with all our hearts. Like the father of the Prodigal son, God will receive us with open hands. God will always take us back when we turn back to Him.
God’s word to Israel in Malachi 3:7 is very comforting: “Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees...return to me and I will return to you.”
Repentance is always an option. Repent of whatever sins you may be indulging in and return to God today. He will receive you with open arms.