The Philistines had heard that the Israelites were gathered at Mizpah, so they decided to go up against Israel. When Israel heard this, they became afraid. They cried out to Samuel,
"Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines" (1 Samuel 7:8).
So, Samuel offered up a burnt offering to the LORD and cried out to Him on their behalf, and God delivered Israel from the attacking Philistines.
What a beautiful picture this is of what Christ did and does for us. Were it not for Christ, our Intercessor, we would be completely destroyed. In this case, our enemy was not the mighty Philistines, but God Himself. We all have sinned against Him and made ourselves enemies of Him.
But God, the One whom we made our enemy, gave us Jesus His only Son to be our intercessor. Christ, too, offered a burnt offering--Himself. He died on the cross in our place, the propitiation for our sins.
And further, His intercession of us is ongoing. Hebrews 7:25 says, "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." It is the equivalent of what we saw in our verse: "Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us". Christ's payment on the cross was once for all. All who trust in Him will be delivered from the wrath they deserve and given eternal life and peace.
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 6-10
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