Longing For The Presence of God

Longing for the presence of God.  As we read further in Samuel, we see that “Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken in Kiriath-jearim” (1 Samuel 7:2).  The ark of the covenant represented the presence of God.  It has been taken by the Philistines, but was recently returned when we read this portion of the account.  Twenty years has passed since the ark had come back to Kiriath-jearim.  Then we read, “Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord.  Samuel told them, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to the Lord and worship only Him” (1 Samuel 8:3).  It wasn’t a longing that the people had for God while the ark was in the hand of the Philistines.  It wasn’t a longing that the people had for God when the ark was first returned.  It was twenty years later, but now a longing for the presence of God is there.  Samuel instructs the people, if you are returning to the Lord, do so with all of your hearts and get rid of the idols.