1 Samuel 7:6 (NRSV)
Read 1 Samuel 7:6 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and said, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
Devotion
This text from I Samuel describes a public ritual or national liturgy for all of Israel “to return to the Lord with all your heart from serving other gods.” In this Lenten season which is liturgically seen as a time for confession and repentance, might we do well to reflect on and confess our personal and national idolatries with other gods? Like Israel of old, can we confess our sins of greed, abuse of power, arrogance, neglect of those in poverty, and worship of possessions? Can we assemble, confess and return to the Lord with all our heart?
Prayer
O God, help us to confess our personal and national sin and return to you with a whole heart. Amen.