V.2 Twenty years have passed by, and the people of Israel now lament “after the Lord.” This is good. It is not only the ark, but the Lord Himself. But what a long time to waste. We need not remain away from the Lord. If we have failed, He waits with forgiving love to welcome us back.
V.3 But now after 20 years of silence, we hear the voice of Samuel.
V.5 The center now of the whole administration of Israel.
V.3-9 The children of Israel had taken heathen gods. People always want something to worship. They must first repent of this, and get rid of their false gods. Samuel pours water on the ground to show how weak and helpless they were. There is no shouting or boasting here just confession and prayer. If we are facing problems we should do the same thing. The Lord knew all about those idols.
V.10 The result of their complete trust in the Lord, and their confession of their own weakness. The Lord brings about a mighty victory, against the very enemy that had so badly defeated them 20 years before. If there is a confession of sin and a crying to the Lord, He will hear and answer! (1 John 1:99That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9)).