The men of Kirjath-jearim brought the ark into the house of Abinadab, and it remained ' in Kirjath-jearim for twenty years, but the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. When we are away from the Lord we are not happy, and we should desire to get back into His company. The first thing to be done is to confess all our wrong to God, and separate from everything that had taken His place in our hearts.
"If you do return unto the Lord with all your hearts." Let us weigh every word. He does not want us to be halfhearted for Him.
"Prepare your hearts to serve Him only." If you are a true believer in Him, it will be your delight to serve Him only. How can you serve Him only, and serve the world too?
Samuel said "Gather all Israel to Mizpeh; and I will pray for you." Samuel believed that God would hear prayer, and prayer was the only weapon Samuel ever used.
When Israel had fasted and confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord," then He delivered them out of the hand of the Philistine.