The Israelites were weeping because they feared having to surrender to the Ammonites who had besieged their city. King Saul heard about their situation. He came to fight against the Ammonites and won a great victory over them which freed the city.
The key to understanding this story is in the last 2 verses. The prophet Samuel takes the people to the city of Gilgal to ‘renew the kingdom’. We are then told that they offered sacrifices to the Lord and rejoiced. This is a reminder of the victory that Jesus has won for His people over the enemy called ‘sin’ …… the wrong things that we think, say and do. These things cause much trouble and suffering in our lives. Jesus won the victory over sin through the sacrifice of Himself on the cross as a substitute. Turning back to God and trusting in what Jesus has done for us removes our guilt , setting us free.
The Gospel in Canberra 