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1. Samuelova 7

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1 Tada dođoše ljudi iz Kirijat-Jarima: i uzeše kovčeg Gospodnji, i odnesoše ga u kuću Avinadavovu na brdu, a Eleazara, sina njegovog, posvetiše da čuva kovčeg Gospodnji.

2 A kad kovčeg osta u Kirijat-Jarimu, prođe mnogo vremena, dvadeset godina, i plakaše sav dom Izrailjev za Gospodom.

3 A Samuilo reče svemu domu Izrailjevom govoreći: Ako se svim srcem svojim obraćate ka Gospodu, povrzite tuđe bogove između sebe i Astarote, i spremite srce svoje za Gospoda, Njemu jedinom služite, pa će vas izbaviti iz ruku filistejskih.

4 I povrgoše sinovi Izrailjevi Vale i Astarote, i služiše Gospodu jedinom.

5 Potom reče Samuilo: Skupite svega Izrailja u Mispu, da se pomolim Gospodu za vas.

6 I skupiše se u Mispu, i crpući vodu prolivaše pred Gospodom, i postiše onaj dan, i onde rekoše: Sagrešismo Gospodu. I Samuilo suđaše sinovima Izrailjevim u Mispi.

7 A Filisteji kad čuše da su se sinovi Izrailjevi skupili u Mispu, iziđoše knezovi filistejski na Izrailja. A kad to čuše sinovi Izrailjevi, uplašiše se od Filisteja.

8 I rekoše sinovi Izrailjevi Samuilu: Ne prestaj vapiti za nas ka Gospodu Bogu našem, eda bi nas izbavio iz ruku filistejskih.

9 Tada Samuilo uze jedno jagnje odojče, i prinese ga svega Gospodu na žrtvu paljenicu; i vapi Samuilo ka Gospodu za Izrailja, i usliši ga Gospod.

10 I kad Samuilo prinošaše žrtvu paljenicu, približiše se Filisteji da udare na Izrailja; ali zagrme Gospod grmljavinom velikom u onaj dan na Filisteje i smete ih, i biše pobijeni pred Izrailjem.

11 A Izrailjci iziđoše iz Mispe, i poteraše Filisteje, i biše ih do pod Vet-Har.

12 Tada uze Samuilo kamen, i metnu ga između Mispe i Sena, i nazva ga Even-Ezer, jer reče: Dovde nam Gospod pomože.

13 Tako biše pokoreni Filisteji, i više ne dolaziše na među Izrailjevu. I ruka Gospodnja beše protiv Filisteja svega veka Samuilovog.

14 I povratiše se Izrailju gradovi, koje behu uzeli Filisteji Izrailju, od Akarona do Gata, i međe njihove izbavi Izrailj iz ruku filistejskih; i bi mir među Izrailjem i Amorejima.

15 A Samuilo suđaše Izrailju svega veka svog.

16 I idući svake godine obilažaše Vetilj i Galgal i Mispu, i suđaše Izrailju u svim tim mestima.

17 Potom se vraćaše u Ramu, jer onde beše kuća njegova, i suđaše onde Izrailju, i onde načini oltar Gospodu.

   

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Exploring the Meaning of 1 Samuel 7

Napsal(a) Garry Walsh

Here we find a broad-brush description of the life of Samuel, the last Judge of Israel, and the Israelitish world he presided over. After the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant, it was taken to the city of Kirjath Jearim but the Israelites continued worshiping other gods, like Baal, the male god of fertility and Ashtoreth, the female equivalent. Samuel commanded the people of Israel to get rid of their idols, stop worshiping foreign gods, and return to worshiping the Lord.

But the Children of Israel, like the nations around them, were polytheists at that time. They needed to be regularly convinced that Jehovah, the Lord, was the chief and most powerful God. A belief in only One God, who we now know as the Lord God Jesus Christ, was beyond them at that time. (See Arcana Coelestia 8301[4].)

Samuel called the people of Israel at Mizpah, where he judged them. The Philistines learned of this gathering and once again set out to make war with them again. The Israelites were afraid and made an offering to the Lord to help them. The Lord answered their cry and the Israelites pushed the Philistines back and reclaimed cities that the Philistines had taken in previous conflicts.

Throughout Samuel’s life there was an ongoing struggle between the Children of Israel and the surrounding peoples. This represents the struggle we all have between good and evil -- between the truths of the one God, Jehovah, and the Ten Commandments, and the false, but popular, loves of self and the world.

Swedenborgian teachings describe how, in the earliest times of spiritual awareness in humanity, people knew that there was only one God, who was their Divine Creator and Redeemer. However, as people fell away from true faith, their worship degenerated and gradually became the worship of idolatry and multiple gods. (See Arcana Coelestia 6003).