The house of Israel began to cry after the Lord. Samuel told the people to repent of their sins and become loyal to God. For Israel to be restored they had to repent and be devoted to God (see Deut 30:1-12 and Chron 7:13-14). Samuel wanted them to get rid of the foreign idols they had. "So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths and serve the Lord only." (1 Samuel 7:4 NKJV). He called the people to gather at Mizpah and then he would pray for them. Once they all gathered there, they had a ceremony and poured water from a well out before the Lord. "Israel drew water and poured it out before the Lord; signifying thier humiliation and sorrow for sin" (Matthew Henry). The people fasted for one day and acknowledged that they did indeed sin against the Lord.
When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they decided to attack. "When sinners begin to repent and reform, they must expect Satan will muster all his forces against them, and set his instruments at work to the uttermost, to oppose and discourage them" (Wesley's Notes). The Israelites pleaded with Samuel to keep praying for God to save them from the Philistines. Samuel offered a nursing lamb for a burnt offering and intereced for Israel and the Lord answered his prayer. The Lord caused the Philistines to be confused and they were deverted before Israel. The men of Israel attacked and struck the Philistines. The Philistines were defeated and dare not enter Israel's territory. For as long as Samuel lived the Lord was against the Philistines. All the cities were restored to Israel that the Philistines had taken. Israel and the Amorites had peace. It was at Mizpah that Samuel became judge over Israel all his life.
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