5-17, We are here taught the successive steps that must be taken if revival is to be granted to either Church or individual. (1) Unity. All Israel was gathered. The divisions and jealousies of preceding years were renounced, (2) Confession. The people poured out their hearts before the Lord. (3) The abandonment of false gods. ‘‘They put away the Baalim and Ashtaroth and served the Lord only.’’ (4) Intercessory prayer. The one condition of revival is to get back to prayer. ‘‘Cease not to ery unto the Lord our God for us.’’ (5) Full surrender, as set forth in Samuel’s burnt-offering. Yield thyself to God, and thy Philistine sins, stealing up the valleys, will fall ee discomfited, and thou shalt raise thine Eben-ezer.

So Israel proved. There was immediate evidence

that God had accepted them. Natural phenomena fought on their side. The very spot which had been the scene of defeat became the scene of glorious victory. Compare 4:1; 7:12. Here is great encouragement for us, for at certain spots in our life-experience we have been defeated; but just in these same spots, when the barriers which have intercepted God’s help are leveled, we shall become more than conquerors.