2 From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim , the time was long , for it was twenty years ; and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord .
3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel , saying , " If you return to the Lord with all your heart , remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone ; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines ." 4 So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the Lord alone . 5 Then Samuel said , "Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the Lord for you." 6 They gathered to Mizpah , and drew water and poured it out before the Lord , and fasted on that day and said there , " We have sinned against the Lord ." And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 7:2-6
Commentary on 1 Samuel 7:1-4
(Read 1 Samuel 7:1-4)
God will find a resting-place for his ark; if some thrust it from them, the hearts of others shall be inclined to receive it. It is no new thing for God's ark to be in a private house. Christ and his apostles preached from house to house, when they could not have public places. Twenty years passed before the house of Israel cared for the want of the ark. During this time the prophet Samuel laboured to revive true religion. The few words used are very expressive; and this was one of the most effectual revivals of religion which ever took place in Israel.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 7:5-6
(Read 1 Samuel 7:5-6)
Israel drew water and poured it out before the Lord; signifying their humiliation and sorrow for sin. They pour out their hearts in repentance before the Lord. They were free and full in their confession, and fixed in their resolution to cast away from them all their wrong doings. They made a public confession, We have sinned against the Lord; thus giving glory to God, and taking shame to themselves. And if we thus confess our sins, we shall find our God faithful and just to forgive us our sins.