1 Samuel 12:1-25 | Part 19
1 Samuel 12:1-25 CSB
Samuel’s Final Public Speech
12 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you. 2 Now you can see that the king is leading you.
Saul is finally acting like a king.
As for me, I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now. 3 Here I am. Bring charges against me before the LORD and his anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Who have I wronged or mistreated? Who gave me a bribe to overlook something?[a] I will return it to you.”
4 “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded.
5 He said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and his anointed [Saul] is a witness today that you haven’t found anything in my hand.”
“He is a witness,” they said.
Samuel is defending his track record as leader of Israel…
This is a weighty, significant moment in Israel’s history
The period of the Judges is ending.
The period of the kings is beginning.
6 Then Samuel said to the people, “The LORD, who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness.[b] 7 Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before the LORD about all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors.
Israel declares Samuel to be innocent.
The LORD Yahweh has always provided leadership.
8 “When Jacob went to Egypt,[c] your ancestors cried out to the LORD, and he sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
Samuel reminds them of the period from the Exodus to the Promised Land.
9 But they forgot the LORD their God, so he handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them.
Now Samuel begins to recount the period of the Judges
10 Then they [Israel] cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned the LORD and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
11 So the LORD sent Jerubbaal [Gideon], Barak,[d] Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely.
Remember…Samuel is confronting them.
Judgment
Prosecution
Offense
12 But when you [Israel] saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king reign over us’—even though the LORD your God is your king. 13 “Now here is the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Look, this is the king the LORD has placed over you.
Saul is the king that the people have chosen.
Yahweh has been & will always be their king.
God provides leadership for His people even as He is their true king.
14 If you fear the LORD, worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against the LORD’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God. 15 However, if you disobey the LORD and rebel against his command, the LORD’s hand will be against you as it was against your ancestors [LXX against you and against your king].
[14 If you fear the LORD and worship [serve] and obey him…and if you don’t rebel against the LORD’s command…and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God. Good! Great! Awesome!]
Hebrew word for ‘Good!’ is not actually present.
“It will be well.”
This is a common interpretation in many translations.
15 However, if you disobey the LORD and rebel against his command, the LORD’s hand will be against you as it was against your ancestors [LXX against you and against your king].
What does it mean that “…the LORD’s hand will be against you?”
16 “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in the LORD’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.” 18 Samuel called on the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
Rain at harvest time was not a good thing.
ALSO confirming that Samuel is Yahweh’s prophet.
This is the LORD’s way of saying, “Listen to my servant, Samuel.”
19 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”
They are afraid.
They are sorry.
They are repentant.
20 Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the LORD. Instead, worship the LORD with all your heart. 21 Don’t turn away to follow worthless [empty] things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless.
Do you hear the grace?
Do you hear the gentleness?
This entire chapter is a “covenant renewal ceremony”
What worthless things are you currently pursuing?
What worthless things is God calling you to turn away from today?
22 The LORD will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.
1. BECAUSE – “…of His great name.”
His name is His identity.
It’s just who He is.
2. BECAUSE – He was determined to make them His own people.
God will NEVER abandon His people
And it has NOTHING to do with us!
23 “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way. 24 Above all, fear the LORD and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you. 25 However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
Samuel isn’t retiring.
Samuel gives them this final instruction:
ABOVE ALL…
What is the good & right way?
1. Fear the LORD
2. Worship Him faithfully with all of your heart
3. Consider the great things He has done for you.
What does it mean to “fear the LORD?”
All 3 of these are closely connected.
Then Samuel closes out the ceremony speech with yet another warning:
25 However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
This is foreshadowing of what’s coming in chapter 13.
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