Restoration                    < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

1 Samuel 7:1-17

The children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel lost heavily in a battle they suppose to have won. They lost all that they were living for–the presence of God, the ark of the Lord. The Philistines fought, defeated the Israelites, and took away the ark of the Lord.

Samuel intervened because he knew the source of the heavy defeat. 1 Samuel 7:3, ÒThen Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, ÔIf you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.Ó The children of Israel lost when they turned away from God. Is there any ground that your enemy has been covering? When you no longer operate where you want to or how you want to, it is because you have given your enemy an upper hand by turning away from God. Samuel went before God on behalf of the children of Israel and made a burnt offering. When the Philistines drew near again for battle, they were confused and subdued. 1 Samuel 7:14, ÒThen the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.Ó When you return to God, you will not only restore what the enemy has taken but you will have peace. Return and get your restoration.