1 Samuel 4-8

Sometimes when I read God’s Words a verse or phrase will stand out to me. When that happens I am cautioned to not make is say something it does not. So I stop and consider what the Bible says about the subject in other places. God will not “say” something that contradicts the entirety of His Word.

Today, the phrase that stood out to me was from something the Israelites said to Samuel when the Philistines had gathered for war against them. The terrified Jews went to Samuel and said, “Don’t stop crying out to the Lord our God for us.” (7:8)

The context is God’s people – believers – were facing the enemy. They recognized their dependence on Yahweh and wanted Samuel to be their mediator. The context is about a physical war between people. I get that.

But when I read those words this morning, I thought of the members of my family who have rejected God, deconstructed their faith, fashioned gods of their liking and serve the god of self. And I hear God say… “Don’t stop praying for them.”

I will admit the situation seems pretty hopeless.. Each one of these loved ones has a strong personality, most are successful, confident people. But they are heading straight to hell, and some of them are taking their children with them.

Even the Philistines recognized the power of Yahweh. They asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?”

No one.

Not without the blood of Jesus.

In a sense, I hear their God-created souls crying out to me, “Don’t stop praying for us.” They might deny it, but their longing for peace and love and acceptance and hope comes from the God who loves them and gave Himself for them, God who doesn’t want any one of them to perish, but that all of them have eternal life, the gift of God through Jesus.

I can’t stop now. I won’t stop crying out to the Lord my God until all of them give their hearts to Jesus, and accept His work on the cross for themselves God says nothing is impossible for Him. I’m counting on that. Because, like I said it seems pretty hopeless for some of them.

I don’t think I’m off base making the connection between my unsaved loved ones and the cry of the Israelites here in 1 Samuel. If the context is different, the heart of the matter is the same. The heart of the matter is prayer. And I can’t stop praying.