When the ark of the Lord arrived, they consecrated a priest to tend to it. It remained here 20 years, “…and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.” (2b). Then Samuel gave a prophetic exhortation: “…’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.’” (3b). It was not sufficient to feel bad [sorrow] about what they did, there was a need for action. They needed to turn to God with all their heart. They needed to remove the idols that interfered with their devotion to God. They also needed to confess “…’We have sinned against the LORD,’ and Samuel judged sons of Israel at Mizpah.” (6b). To experience the restoration of God’s power in the church, we must experience sorrow [for our sins], turn back to Him with all our hearts, remove all obstacles to our devotion to Him, and confess our sins so we can receive from our spiritual leaders. Without true repentance, we will never know God’s power to stand against our enemies!