This sacrifice he accompanied with fervent prayer —
[Samuel well knew, that as prayer without a sacrifice would be of no avail, so neither would a sacrifice without prayer. He therefore " cried unto the Lord." O what is intimated in that expression ! what humility, what fervour, what importunity ! Such is the prayer that God requires; and such prayer, offered in dependence on our great Sacrifice, shall never go forth in vain^.]
The efficacy of his intercession will be seen, if we notice it,
<: Ps. 1. 15.
III. As accepted of the Lord —
Instantly did God vouchsafe to answer it —
[Before the offering of the lamb was finished, God's accept- ance of the prayer was manifest. The Philistines approached to the battle ; but were so intimidated and confounded by thunder and lightning, that they fell an easy prey to those whom they had expected utterly to destroy. Thus the inter- vention of God was seen in the clearest light. Had the victory been gained solely by the sword of Israel, they might have ascribed it to their own skill and prowess : but when it arose from causes that were entirely out of the reach of men, they could not but acknowledge that God himself had interposed in answer to the prayer of Samuel. Signal as this favour was, we are warranted to expect a similar acceptance of our prayers, if only we ask in humility and faith. Jehoshaphat obtamed a similar answer under circumstances precisely similar*^: and with equal speed was Daniel answered, when praying for himself'^: and we also shall be heard in like manner, if we draw nigh to God, as it is both our privilege and our duty to do^.j
He answered too to the utmost extent of the pe- titions offered —
[Deliverance out of the hands of the Philistines was the mercy asked ; and so entirely was this deliverance effected, that the Philistines never came again into the land of Israel as long as Samuel lived.
We too may expect that God will exceed our utmost requests. If we are straitened at all, it is not in him, but in ourselves. If we were more earnest, and more enlarged in prayer, our blessings woidd be proportionably multiplied s.]
We may learn from hence,
1. On what our safety as a nation rests —
[We should imitate their repentance — reformation — faith — and zeal — and should vinite, both ministers and people, in com- mitting our cause to God ]
2. How our safety as individuals is to be secured —
[There is no other way for individuals than for nations: only in nations the mercies of God may be enjoyed by those who have been at no pains to seek them ; whereas every indi- vidual must stand or fall according to his own exertions in the ways of penitence and faith.]
<J 2Chron. xx. 21, 22. ^ Dan. ix. 19—23.
f Isai. Ixv. 24. g 2 Khigs xiii. 19. Eph. iii. 20.
289.1 MEMORIALS OF GOD's GOODNESS. 115