Leading Through Our Interceding

By Pastor Dan Hickling

“Then Samuel said, ‘Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.’”—1 Samuel 7:5 (NIV)

A great visual aid in understanding the Book of 1 Samuel is to view its structure as a three-linked chain with each link representing a main character. These three links represent the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David. They’re separate but distinct, and yet they’re also interlinked in the greater narrative chain God gives us in this book.

At this particular stage here in chapter 7, we’re really just getting into the first link that focuses on Samuel’s life. And in this particular passage, we see a quality in Samuel that truly defines his character . . . he was an intercessor!

In context, the Nation of Israel is coming off of a spiritually dark and defeated time. They had drifted from the Lord and had even lost the one object that represented the uniqueness of their relationship with Him (the ark) to their nemesis, the Philistines! But the ark is miraculously restored to them, and this initiates an avalanche of repentance as they turn from their false idols and towards God with broken hearts.

This is the point where we pick up in the verse above, as Samuel spiritually leads Israel back to where they belong with the Lord. Notice how intercession, which is to pray on the behalf of someone else in need, is what’s emphasized by this leader. Why? Because intercession is an incontestable aspect of spiritual leadership. Those who lead others in spiritual things will, themselves, be led into the presence of God, seeking His benefits and blessings on their behalf.

Think of the great spiritual leaders in the Bible and you’ll also see a commitment to present and plead the cause of those they lead before the Lord. Moses interceded for the children of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness, Daniel interceded for his people as they languished in captivity, and Paul interceded for the churches he had helped to establish. Of course, these examples pale in comparison to the greatest Intercessor of all, Jesus, who constantly prayed for His followers throughout His earthly ministry and who continues to do so as our heavenly High Priest (Hebrews 7:25)!

Samuel’s intercession for his repentant people here fulfills a reliable pattern we see throughout God’s Word: leading through our interceding.

“That’s fine for Samuel,” you might think. But if you’re a follower of Christ, then you’re also called to be a leader. Our specific callings will differ, but the universal calling on every Christian’s life is to lead others into a deepening relationship with Him. Paul put it perfectly when he said to the Corinthian church, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV).

That’s really how it works with all of us. Our lives are to serve as “spiritual on-ramps” for others to know Jesus as we do. So, in Christ, we’re all spiritual leaders to this extent, which also means intercession should also be operative in our lives. Leaders will intercede, because their hearts are so invested with those they lead they can’t help but talk to the Father about them!

Love those you’ve been privileged to lead. Let this love lead you to the throne of grace on their behalf. The One who sits on that throne hears and is always overjoyed whenever He sees us leading through our interceding.

Pause: What important characteristic of Samuel is highlighted for us in this passage?

Practice: Consider how your life is being used to lead others in spiritual things and what role intercession plays in this.

Pray: Father, thank You for the privilege of prayer and for especially the privilege of praying for others! We’re truly transformed as we pray, particularly when we turn our hearts to pray for others. We become more like You when we interceded, literally! May we grow in appropriating this great gift You’ve given to us—make us more and more mighty in our intercession for others in Jesus’ name. Amen!