5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. 7 Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the people of Israel said 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.” 9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. (I Samuel 5)
It was them again. The Philistines. The Big Bad Philistines. Over and over again the people of Israel had tried to drive them out, but they just kept coming back. And, once again, Israel was shaken with fear. But this time, they went to Samuel and said: "Pray for us." They were willing to ask for help from God and from Samuel. And God answered. It was not the last time they would struggle and fear the Philistines, but it was a turning point - one that would head the other direction under David. Who are your Philistines? What is your recurring fear? Bring it here, to Him. And get some prayer support too. It will be a pleasant surprise what God can and will do.
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