Samuel’s Speech at Saul’s Coronation
December 5, 2020
Commentary
Samuel reminds the people of how God, through His chosen leaders, delivered them from Egypt (vv. 6-8). He did this to encourage them to trust God in their circumstances now. He then recounted their disobedience under the Judges (vv. 9-11). When he talks about them forgetting God, he does not mean that they merely forgot how He had delivered them but that they ceased to worship and serve Him. Next Samuel pointed out that the Ammonite menace had prompted them to request a human king, a request to which the Lord had graciously allowed (vv. 12-15). Samuel is telling it like it is. If the people will serve God, He will bless them. If they do not serve Him, judgment will come.
Finally Samuel appealed to the Lord to send a sign from heaven both to authenticate his own warnings of judgment and to cause the people to respect the God who had called them and who desired to bless and use them (vv. 16-18). The thunder and rain were God’s great seal on Samuel’s career as God’s spokesman. When the people witnessed the display of thunder and rain, a phenomenon unheard of in early summer, the time of wheat harvest (v. 17), they turned to Samuel in earnest penitence and asked the prophet to pray that God might forgive their hastiness in seeking a king (v. 19). Samuel related to the people that God would bless them in spite of their wrong choice if they would only be steadfast in their obedience from this point on. The past could not be undone but their future was untainted and could be devoted to the Lord (vv. 20-22).
The way the Israelites constantly turned from God, we might ask the question, “Why did God make Israel `His people’ (v.22)?” He did not choose them because they deserved it (Deut. 7:7-8) but so they might become His channel of blessing to all people through the Messiah (Gen. 12:1-3). Is failing to pray for others a sin? Samuel’s words (”…for be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you”) seem to indicate that it is (v. 23). Samuel disagreed with the Israelites’ demand for a king, but he assured them that he would continue to pray for them and teach them.
If the people would respond affirmatively, they could expect God’s continued blessing on their nation. But if they did not, they could expect the judgment of God on them (vv. 24-25). Again Samuel reminds the people to consider what great things God has done for them. It is so easy to be so future orientated that we forget all that God has already done for us.
Application
It would be good for me to sit down and list everything God has done for me and thank Him for it? It is so easy to have a bigger want list than a praise list.
1 Samuel 12:6– 25 (NET)
6 Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is the one who chose Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt. 7 Now take your positions, so I may confront you before the Lord regarding all the Lord’s just actions toward you and your ancestors. 8 When Jacob entered Egypt, your ancestors cried out to the Lord. The Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and they led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
9 “But they forgot the Lord their God, so he gave them into the hand of Sisera, the general in command of Hazor’s army, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 Then they cried out to the Lord and admitted, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies so that we may serve you.’ 11 So the Lord sent Jerub Baal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hands of the enemies all around you, and you were able to live securely.
12 “When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me, ‘No! A king will rule over us’—even though the Lord your God is your king. 13 Now look! Here is the king you have chosen—the one that you asked for! Look, the Lord has given you a king. 14 If you fear the Lord, serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the Lord your God, all will be well. 15 But if you don’t obey the Lord and rebel against what the Lord says, the hand of the Lord will be against both you and your king.
16 “So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the Lord is about to do in your sight. 17 Is this not the time of the wheat harvest? I will call on the Lord so that he makes it thunder and rain. Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves.”
18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the Lord and Samuel. 19 All the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God on behalf of us—your servants—so we won’t die, for we have added to all our sins by asking for a king.”
20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed sinned. However, don’t turn aside from the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver, since they are empty. 22 The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The Lord was pleased to make you his own people. 23 As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright. 24 However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you! 25 But if you continue to do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”