The public ceremony has barely begun when Israel’s new devotion to the Lord is put to the test. A regiment of Philistines is approaching, men from a nearby garrison. They have heard about Israel's gathering and they do not want it to be the beginning of another rebellion. From the top of Mizpah, the Israelites can see the soldiers from afar and they know they are in big trouble. They do not have weapons, they have not gathered their armies; they are not ready for a fight. If the Lord does not help them, they will perish.
In his grace, the Lord intervenes. He promised to fight for his people when they put their trust in him, and he is faithful to that promise. Acting in a Baal-like manner, he sends thunder and lightning upon the Philistines. A powerful storm to emphasize that he, the Lord, is in control of nature and not Baal or Ashtaroth. His people are right to be put their trust in him. With the Philistines routed and killed, a memorial stone is set up to remember the battle victory—a memorial stone that testifies to God’s faithfulness. The Lord has promised to help his people when they worship him and submit to the terms of the old covenant. Covenant obedience will result in covenant blessing. Essentially the stone proclaims: We can trust the Lord to help us when we are obedient to his commands.
Blessing in response to obedience were part of the terms of the old covenant, the covenant made with Moses at Mount Sinai. If Israel obeyed the Lord, they could expect battle victory, good heath, peace, and prosperity in the land of Canaan (see Exodus 23:22–27). Covenant promises had been made, but they were not mechanical in nature. That is to say, the old covenant was not a relationship where God could be manipulated or forced to give a promised blessing. Yes, there was a works or obedience principle which governed life in the land, but the old covenant as a whole was still an administration of the one covenant of grace. Or to put it differently, even under the old covenant, covenant blessings have more to do with God’s undeserved favour than the merits of human obedience.
For example, we have already seen that it was the Lord who worked repentance in the hearts of his people. The fact that the Israelites mourned their sin and sought the Lord was due to a gracious work in their hearts by God’s Spirit and not because they of themselves decided to turn a new page. Likewise when it comes to help against the Philistines, the Israelites implore Samuel to cry out to God on their behalf (1 Samuel 7:8). There is a recognition among the people that they are dependent upon God’s mercy for deliverance. Judgment and death is what they deserve for their idolatry. Their obedience has not been perfect. The Lord is not obligated to act on their behalf.
The memorial stone then, as well as being a testimony to God’s faithfulness, is ultimately a testimony to his grace. His gracious decision to set his love upon Israel. His gracious decision to care for a people who deserve nothing but wrath. His gracious decision to rescue through an anointed prophet, a faithful priest, and a godly king. Those are the roles that Samuel takes on in 1 Samuel 7:1–17. He is the prophet who proclaimed God’s truth (1 Samuel 7:2–4). He is the priest who intercedes and brings sacrifices (1 Samuel 7:8–10). He is the king or the judge who rules (1 Samuel 7:6, 1 Samuel 15:1 – 16:23).
In all this Samuel is, of course, a picture of the Chief Prophet, the Great High Priest, and the eternal King who would come many years later to deal with the problem of sin once and for all. Jesus Christ our Lord is the fullest and clearest declaration of God’s love and faithfulness toward his people. He did not bring a lamb as an offering of devotion to atone for sin. No, he himself was the lamb, the lamb that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And with his death, when he offered himself to the Father, he bore the burden of God’s wrath against the sin of all God’s people. He suffered the defeat that Israel deserved at Mizpah. He paid the penalty for our idolatry.
But that is not all, because with his life of perfect righteousness, he also won the blessings that covenant obedience deserve. The blessing of life in God’s presence. The blessing of eternal comfort and peace. The blessing of the new creation. Blessings which you and I will enjoy, if we have been united to Christ through faith. If we belong to him, then the Father sees the righteousness of the Son when he looks upon us. He sees a righteousness which deserves blessing. A righteousness which is perfect.
1 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the LORD.