Woe to the enemy when he confronts a people who are wholly cast upon their God! Praying Jehoshaphat, surrounded by women and children, secured a victory over the Moabites and their confederates (2 Chron. 20:13) that was greater far than his one-time million of armed men would have gained by ordinary military methods (2 Chron 17:1219). Hezekiah was more dangerous to the Assyrians clothed in sackcloth than if he had been clad in a coat of mail. An overwhelming disaster ensued for the insolent invader (Isa. 37). In like manner, Israel's very real dependence upon God at Mizpeh brought them a divine deliverance as remarkable as they had ever known. Let us not forget, beloved brethren, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort (or encouragement) of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).
Samuel now became the mediator between the Lord and His people. He “took a sucking lamb and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him” (1 Sam. 7:9). The outpoured water had already testified to their sense of utter weakness; the fast was the expression of their self-abasement; the sucking lamb spoke to the Lord of the Christ who was to come in and through whom alone men are delivered and blessed. This is the only express mention of a sucking lamb being offered to the Lord in sacrifice, and its moral suitability at this juncture is very apparent. It typified Christ as the one who was obedient and devoted to God from His youth, offering Himself as a sweet savor on behalf of men who had nothing but wilfulness and disobedience to show.