Day1
Week12
1Samuel 7
“So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went annually in a circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all those places. But his return was to Ramah, for his house was there and there he judged Israel. And there he built an altar to the Lord.”
1 Samuel 7:15-17 MEV
Cross references
1Samuel 7:6;
Judges 2:16;
1Samuel 1:19; 1:1
Return
The Hebrew word for return is shuva and teshuva is the word for repentance.
You may have noticed the similarity between the words “shuva,” returning, and “teshuva,” repentance.
Indeed, these two words share the same Hebrew root, and if you think about it, the link between them makes sense. Returning and repentance are intrinsically linked to one another.
Our passage today says “But his return(shuva) was to Ramah for his house was there.”
His return or we could say his home was to Ramah. That’s were he lived. That’s were he went for refreshment, renewal, and rest.
Repentance isn’t simply confessing our sins.
That is important, but teshuva, repentance is returning home.
God knew us before sin. He knew us before He formed us in our mothers womb. Before we were corrupted by sin. And He knew everything we would do and get caught up in.
Jeremiah 29:11;
Jeremiah 1:5
Just like Samuel returned(shuva) home for refreshment and rest, we must turn away from the cares of this world (teshuva) repent and return home(the original us, the created us)the new man, the new person in Christ .
This shuva(return or homecoming) is how we receive refreshments and ultimately rest for our weary soul.
Turn, take off the old coat, the sinful nature, the natural desire toward sin, the natural desire to worry and carry the concerns about our future, our families, the natural desires to be in control and shuva ( return) home. Put on the new coat of righteousness. The real you, the way God created you.
Jesus is calling, teshuva(repent) and (shuva) return, come home where He will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me all you who are weary and heavily burdened and I will give you rest. Take up My yoke and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and My burden light.”
His yoke is the new coat.
It is easy and light and filled with refreshments for your soul.
Action Step
What cares or concerns are you holding onto?
Confess them and teshuva( repent) let it go and run, return (shuva) home to the arms of Jesus and receive His refreshments. Rest.
Comments