1 Samuel 7:17

"... there he built an altar unto the Lord." 1 Samuel 7:17 .

What has Samuel been doing all the time but this very work? How delightful to think of a whole life being consecrated to altar-building and altar-service! Where did Samuel build this altar? He built it at "Ramah." But what made Ramah more conspicuous than other places? " there was his house" is the answer. Where his house was his altar was. Blessed is that house that gathers itself around the altar, making the altar the centre and the principal force in the entire building. Not only was the house of Samuel at Ramah, at Ramah Samuel "judged Israel." He did his official work in that city, and where he did official work he built his altar. The man could not do without the altar; the judge could not do without the altar; the altar is essential to the entire development of life. Have an altar in your house; have an altar in your business; have an altar in the very centre of your life. When you return to your Ramah, forget not your religious duties; let them have the first and foremost place in your thought. Samuel was now a great man "he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places." But though his mind was thus occupied with intricate questions or vexatious details, as certainly as he returned to his house he returned to his altar, and when at the very centre of his administration he ascended the seat of judgment, he passed to that judgment seat from the altar of God. Blessed is the country whose judges worship the true and living God. Blessed still more is the country whose houses are churches, whose homes are consecrated to the service of the Most High. Peeps of this kind into the private life of great men enable us to estimate somewhat the secret of their influence. He who prays well judges well. He who honours God in his house shall be honoured of God, by his house becoming a pavilion, a resting-place, a sanctuary of the divine presence.