1 Samuel

Chapter Introduction

The words of Samuel to the people will serve to warn them to watch their steps and guard their hearts by remembering to fear the Lord, serve and obey Him, and do not rebel against His commandments.

Will we ever learn that obedience to God is the happiness of men?  Disobedience is not just the unhappiness but the ruin of man.  A king must hold these lessons to rule over God’s people effectively.

1 Samuel 12:1-5

Saul’s leadership had been proven in delivering a great victory over Nahash.  Samuel led all the tribes to Gilgal for the coronation ceremony of Saul.  Samuel defended his ministry and called Israel to repentance.  He presents Israel with the king they demanded.  Samuel’s life was committed to serving God and the people.  He stepped back, as Saul stepped forward. The people were to note that no charges could be brought against Samuel.  He ruled with integrity.  The people acknowledged this.  This presents a clean slate for the beginning of Saul’s reign as king.  

1 Samuel 12:6-12

Samuel reminded the people that God heard them and brought them out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  The fathers cried out to the Lord, who heard and sent Moses.  They were delivered to the Promised Land.  Then they forgot the Lord and all He’d done.  The Lord sold them into the hand of Sisera in the times of the judges (Judges 4:1-2), the Philistines (Judges 13:1), and the king of Moab (Judges 3:12).   They cried out to God, confessed they had served other gods but asked the Lord to deliver them.  The Lord repeatedly sent judges to rescue them and bring them back to the Lord.

However, when Nahash (the snake), king of the Ammonites, came against them, they cried out for a king instead of calling on God, who was king over them.  They demanded an earthly king like the other nations.

1 Samuel 12:13-16

The permissive will of God allowed them to have the king they cried out for. If they feared the Lord and didn’t rebel, things would go well. If they did rebel, the hand of the Lord would be against them, as it was with their fathers.   Two paths lay before them:  blessings if they were obedient and faithful, curses if they turned from the Lord.   

We might notice how similar this language and setting are to Moses transferring power to Joshua and the warnings of Deuteronomy to the children to remain faithful. 

1 Samuel 12:17-19

The people were called to stand and see the authentication of the message he brought that day.  This would be God’s acknowledgment of Samuel’s message.  Samuel called to the Lord for rain during harvest to show that it was an evil thing when they asked for a king.  Rain during this time was unheard of (May-June) and would be seen as supernatural.  A storm in this dry season could damage their crops.  It was an expression of the Lord’s displeasure with their request for a king.

The people likely scoffed at Samuel. After all, everything was working out well for them. How could this be bad? They could not see that their wickedness was great, so a sign was given. This was to reveal that their motivation was wrong and it wasn’t God’s timing. 

The people saw the sign of the thunder and rain and greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.  They saw their sin, but it was too late to avoid the consequences.  We might find ourselves in this place from time to time.  What can we do?  All we can do is learn our lessons well, trust in the Lord, and ensure we don’t repeat the failure.  The key is to follow and trust the Lord and not turn away. 

1 Samuel 12:20-25

The people wanted a king to be like the other nations.  They wanted a man to stand strong as a leader and be united under him.  And the Lord had a man on the way to fill this role in His time.  When we run ahead of God’s plan or seek our own plans, we end up chasing empty things, things that offer no profit, can’t deliver, and are nothing. 

Samuel told them not to turn from the Lord. There is nothing to be gained by turning away. Regardless of their sin, no other god or idol could help them. Samuel acknowledged his role in continuing to pray and teach the good and right way. God’s grace was on them because they were His people. They must daily trust in God.  Consideration of the great things the Lord had done should have led them to a fierce and consistent loyalty.  If they failed, they would be swept away.

We must trust Him regardless of what we see and feel and how we compare to the rest of the world. He will not forsake His children. 

Big Idea

Great is Thy faithfulness.  When we consider the great things He’s done, we ought to be people of utter commitment and aware of our accountability.  The more we recognize his grace, the more we are inspired to walk in obedience and repentance.

©2004 Doug Ford; Further Study and Revision 2015, 2024