1 Samuel 7
I may be seeing parts of this very simple and other parts a bit cryptic. Sometimes I am more clear than other times, but that is what is making this interesting. Whether it makes sense to anyone else, it speaks to me this way at this particular day...
So the men (awareness) of Kiriath-Jearim - city (consciousness) of thickets (memory) came and took the ark (divine presence) into the house of Abinadab (noble) on the hill (ascended) and consecrated (relationship with God) his son Eleazar (God has helped) to have charge of the ark. Would this be another way of realizing that what is in your memory has been turned over (or ascended) to God and that the presence of God is with you? A feeling of freedom.
Samuel Judges Israel
Samuel (God's inner voice developing) said to the house of Israel that the way a heart could be open to God is to direct away from false gods and unclean acts. Only then will you not suffer from the hands (power) of Philistines (self-centeredness). A decision was made to do just that.
So fear hits strong and Samuel took a nursing lamb (innocence) as a whole burnt offering (sacrifice) to the Lord and the Lord accepted it. An honest plea to God for help.
When the Philistines drew near to attack, the Lord thundered (Godly voice) with a mighty sound against the Philistines causing confusion. Men of Israel pursued the Philistines out of Mizpah (watchtower) and struck them as far as below Beth-car (sheep-house). I think this illustration is when we trust God to direct our thinking we can overcome our fears, because God gives us all we need to face these fears which may lead to poor choices without God. The result is a feeling of security and care, because our Lord is watching over us.
Samuel then took a stone (truth) and set it up between Mizpah (watchtower) and Shen (change) and called it Ebenezer (help).
This symbolizes that truth is received from our God watching over us, changing us. I think in this case, the help that God provided is attached to this truth. Influencing our character.
From that point on in the days of Samuel, the Philistines were subdued, for the hand of the Lord was against them. Cities restored to Israel and territories from the Philistines. There was peace between Israel (wrestling God) and Amorites (highlanders). This could all mean a clear consciousness or the feeling of resolution.
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went on a circuit (sun around earth), year by year to Bethel (House of God), Gilgal (Acts to purify), and Mizpah (watchtower). He then returned to Ramah (Home), where he judged Israel and built there an altar to the Lord.
I really believe that this is an effort to continue to grow in spirituality. It mentions areas that show continuous work. Right acts (judge), Communion (Bethel), Surrender (Gilgal), and trusting God, knowing He is always in our presence forever. Eventually, building an altar composed of the materials like stone (truth), earth (man of church), metal (natural good), brick (work)) to the Lord. This alter represents our character we continually develop to experience God.
How this speaks to me...
I can remember when there was so little I know about God. How important everything wasn't well understood. I went through very painful moments in my life that controlled my thoughts and feelings (Philistines). I was directed by others to turn it over to God. In blind faith, I started turning things over. Things started to change and though I was seeing more, I still battled at times. Within me, a cry out to God was made and He answered my call. In this particular case, I feel completely healed. The only way that I could compare it to an altar is by looking at it in a singular way, that this difficulty, or character flaw, unclean act will no longer block me from the light of God.
