I Samuel 12 Commentary: Samuel's Challenge and Warning to Israel
And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.
And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your fathers.
When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
And when they forgat the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God was your king.
Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.
If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God:
But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.
Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.
So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;
And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
I Samuel 12 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, a transition from the era of judges to that of kings. Samuel, the last of the judges and the first of the national prophets, delivers a powerful speech to the assembled Israelites and their newly crowned king, Saul. This chapter, often titled "Samuel's Farewell Address," isn't a retirement speech, but rather a declaration of Samuel's shift from political leader to primarily a spiritual guide, continuing to serve as the Lord's prophet (I Samuel 12:23). This transition sets the stage for the subsequent chapters (I Samuel 13-15), which will focus on Saul's early reign and his decisions as king.
Samuel's Unblemished Record (I Samuel 12:1-5)
Samuel begins his address by affirming God's sovereignty over Israel. He acknowledges the people's desire for a king, a request that he initially viewed as a rejection of God's kingship. Before stepping down from his role as judge, Samuel invites the people to examine his past conduct. After decades of dedicated service, he challenges anyone to accuse him of corruption, oppression, or bribery. He stands before them, confident that his integrity is beyond reproach.
“Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you.” (I Samuel 12:3)
The people's unanimous affirmation of Samuel's honesty underscores his commitment to justice and righteousness, not only in their eyes but also before the Lord. This serves as a powerful example for all leaders, spiritual or otherwise, to live lives "above reproach" (1 Timothy 3:2).
A History of God's Faithfulness and Israel's Unfaithfulness (I Samuel 12:6-15)
Samuel shifts his focus to recounting God's unwavering faithfulness to Israel throughout their history. He reminds them of their deliverance from Egyptian slavery through Moses and Aaron (I Samuel 12:6-8). He then reviews the history of the Lord’s dealings with Israel, from the exodus from Egypt to their arrival in the promised land, a place where Israel forgot the Lord (I Samuel 12:8-9). He reminds them how, after settling in the Promised Land, they repeatedly turned away from God, leading to oppression by various enemies like the Philistines, Sisera, and the king of Moab (Judges 2:11-23). In their distress, they would cry out to the Lord, who, in His mercy, would raise up deliverers like Jerubbaal (Gideon), Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel himself (I Samuel 12:9-11).
Despite God's consistent provision and deliverance, Israel persisted in their pattern of disobedience. The recent request for a king, prompted by the threat of Nahash and the Ammonites (I Samuel 8; 11), was seen by Samuel as the latest manifestation of their rejection of God as their true King (I Samuel 8:7-9).
Samuel then offers a conditional covenant: If both the king and the people fear the Lord, serve Him, and obey His commands, they will prosper. However, if they disobey and rebel, God's hand will be against them (I Samuel 12:12-15). This message serves as a crucial reminder that God’s blessings are contingent upon obedience, while disobedience leads to judgment, a pattern repeatedly demonstrated throughout Israel’s history.
A Supernatural Sign and a Call to Repentance (I Samuel 12:16-25)
To underscore the seriousness of their sin and the importance of repentance, Samuel calls upon the Lord to send a powerful thunderstorm during the wheat harvest, a time when rain was exceedingly rare (I Samuel 12:17). This miraculous sign terrifies the Israelites, prompting them to acknowledge their sin and plead for Samuel's intercession (I Samuel 12:19).
Samuel reassures them, urging them to remain faithful and to serve God with all their hearts, forsaking idolatry. He reminds them that God will not abandon His people because of His covenant and His desire to make Israel His own (I Samuel 12:20-22). Samuel also vows his own faithfulness to continue to pray for them (I Samuel 12:23).
Samuel concludes his speech by reiterating the importance of fearing the Lord and serving Him faithfully. He reminds them of God's great deeds on their behalf and warns them that if they continue in wickedness, they and their king will be swept away (I Samuel 12:24-25). This serves as a final appeal for obedience and a stark warning against the consequences of disobedience.
And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.
And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your fathers.
When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
And when they forgat the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God was your king.
Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.
If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God:
But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.
Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.
So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;
And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
I Samuel 12 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, a transition from the era of judges to that of kings. Samuel, the last of the judges and the first of the national prophets, delivers a powerful speech to the assembled Israelites and their newly crowned king, Saul. This chapter, often titled "Samuel's Farewell Address," isn't a retirement speech, but rather a declaration of Samuel's shift from political leader to primarily a spiritual guide, continuing to serve as the Lord's prophet (I Samuel 12:23). This transition sets the stage for the subsequent chapters (I Samuel 13-15), which will focus on Saul's early reign and his decisions as king.
Samuel's Unblemished Record (I Samuel 12:1-5)
Samuel begins his address by affirming God's sovereignty over Israel. He acknowledges the people's desire for a king, a request that he initially viewed as a rejection of God's kingship. Before stepping down from his role as judge, Samuel invites the people to examine his past conduct. After decades of dedicated service, he challenges anyone to accuse him of corruption, oppression, or bribery. He stands before them, confident that his integrity is beyond reproach.
“Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you.” (I Samuel 12:3)
The people's unanimous affirmation of Samuel's honesty underscores his commitment to justice and righteousness, not only in their eyes but also before the Lord. This serves as a powerful example for all leaders, spiritual or otherwise, to live lives "above reproach" (1 Timothy 3:2).
A History of God's Faithfulness and Israel's Unfaithfulness (I Samuel 12:6-15)
Samuel shifts his focus to recounting God's unwavering faithfulness to Israel throughout their history. He reminds them of their deliverance from Egyptian slavery through Moses and Aaron (I Samuel 12:6-8). He then reviews the history of the Lord’s dealings with Israel, from the exodus from Egypt to their arrival in the promised land, a place where Israel forgot the Lord (I Samuel 12:8-9). He reminds them how, after settling in the Promised Land, they repeatedly turned away from God, leading to oppression by various enemies like the Philistines, Sisera, and the king of Moab (Judges 2:11-23). In their distress, they would cry out to the Lord, who, in His mercy, would raise up deliverers like Jerubbaal (Gideon), Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel himself (I Samuel 12:9-11).
Despite God's consistent provision and deliverance, Israel persisted in their pattern of disobedience. The recent request for a king, prompted by the threat of Nahash and the Ammonites (I Samuel 8; 11), was seen by Samuel as the latest manifestation of their rejection of God as their true King (I Samuel 8:7-9).
Samuel then offers a conditional covenant: If both the king and the people fear the Lord, serve Him, and obey His commands, they will prosper. However, if they disobey and rebel, God's hand will be against them (I Samuel 12:12-15). This message serves as a crucial reminder that God’s blessings are contingent upon obedience, while disobedience leads to judgment, a pattern repeatedly demonstrated throughout Israel’s history.
A Supernatural Sign and a Call to Repentance (I Samuel 12:16-25)
To underscore the seriousness of their sin and the importance of repentance, Samuel calls upon the Lord to send a powerful thunderstorm during the wheat harvest, a time when rain was exceedingly rare (I Samuel 12:17). This miraculous sign terrifies the Israelites, prompting them to acknowledge their sin and plead for Samuel's intercession (I Samuel 12:19).
Samuel reassures them, urging them to remain faithful and to serve God with all their hearts, forsaking idolatry. He reminds them that God will not abandon His people because of His covenant and His desire to make Israel His own (I Samuel 12:20-22). Samuel also vows his own faithfulness to continue to pray for them (I Samuel 12:23).
Samuel concludes his speech by reiterating the importance of fearing the Lord and serving Him faithfully. He reminds them of God's great deeds on their behalf and warns them that if they continue in wickedness, they and their king will be swept away (I Samuel 12:24-25). This serves as a final appeal for obedience and a stark warning against the consequences of disobedience.