The ark of the covenant has been captured and then returned to Israel. Under Samuel’s judgeship, the people promised to serve the Lord and him only. Once again, the Lord heard their promise, giving them a great victory over the Philistines: “And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, ‘Till now the Lord has helped us’” (7:11-12). “The Lord has helped us.” Oh my, to be able to say that! Following this episode, the people voice their dissatisfaction with Samuel and demand to have a human king like all the other nations. Imagine! They thought that a human king would be better for them than THE KING who had been so gracious to them and had delivered them time and time again! Rather, they should have said, “The Lord has helped us and, surely, he will help us, again.” Well, they got their king, Saul. An old proverb seems appropriate here: “Be careful what you wish for.” Rather, we should sing:
God is my strength! I bless his name;
the same his pow’r, his grace the same;
the tokens of his friendly care
open and close and crown the year.
Thus far his arm has led me on,
thus far I make his mercy known,
and while I tread this desert land,
new mercies shall new songs demand. --Philip Doddridge (18th century)