1. The Israelites turn back to the Lord (1-6)

After all these things the people wanted to return to the Lord. Samuel warned them that returning to the Lord meant rejecting the idols of the nations around them, which they were clinging to. Then he assembled them so that they could confess their sins. Samuel was a spiritual leader for the people. They could not return to the Lord just because they wanted to. They needed to be a consecrated people and repent their sin. They needed to worship the Lord.

2. Thus far has the Lord helped us (7-17)

Right during their worship service the Philistines attacked. Unlike before, this time the Lord routed their enemies and delivered his people Israel. Samuel commemorated God's victory. He put up the Ebenezer stone to remind them that the Lord had helped them this far. He is the helper of his people who belong to him.