Bible Verse Synopsis 5-27-25
1st Samuel 12
Samuel retires as the Judge of Israel. He makes it well known in his retirement speech that he hath done the people no wrong (verse 3). And they confirm it in verse 4. Samuel had a very good life of service to the people and to God. His sons are mentioned in verse 2 and they are the only blemish on him. Few of us can hold a candle to Samuel in his duty to God. Verse 5 holds the true lesson from this stanza. “And they answered, He is witness.” The Lord witnessed this action by Samuel and Israel. He is also witness to everything we do. Are you a good person to witness in your life? Do you do things that God would want to see you doing?
The next stanza is a clear warning to the people of Israel. Verse 6 begins this warning: “And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD who advanced Moses and Aaron, and Who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.” The Lord advanced Moses and Aaron. The Lord showed them the way. What are you expecting Samuel to say next?……. Verse 7 - “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 your fathers.” Samuel is going to show Israel all that God has done for them without a king. And the warning is to trust and follow the king (Saul) over God. Samuel shows through the great events of the history of Israel what God has done for them. Do you trust in the Lord your God? With all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind?
We can also see how God’s blessings for us are conditional. Verse 15: “But if you will not obey the Voice of the Lord, but rebel against the Commandment of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.” He does not give us plenty when we are not deserving and do not follow Him. When we forget Him, we are subject to the evils of the world and He will allow it. That is until we come groveling back to His feet. Are you ready to grovel for your life? Do you seek that expectation?
To make his message clear, Samuel asked the Lord to bring thunder and lightning in the beginning of wheat harvest. This was not likely and the people were in fear of God. They could not undo their actions but they could repent! And they did just that in verse 19: “And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for your servants unto the Lord your God, that we die not: for we have added unto our sins this evil, to ask for a king.” This prayer is tremendous and serves as a great example for us. The people first ask to be prayed for by Samuel. Notice the first thing that is prayed for is more prayer. Then, they ask “that we die not”. To me this is an ask to live spiritually not physically. To Live eternally with God in spite of their sins. They have added to their sins. This is admittance of the sins they have already committed. And they end with the repentance of the sin they just committed. Could we follow this recipe in our efforts to be more like God? Lord, I pray to you for eternal life. Please forgive the sins I have committed and wash them away. Forgive the sins I will commit today. I repent of these sins for they are many and I am but a weak foolish man. Can you do this with me? (Insert your own sins into this)
Samuel ends his chapter here with instructions to avoid the wrath of God. We should already know these and Israel most definitely knew them. They had simply forgotten. Verse 20 - “serve the Lord with all your heart.” Verse 21 - “And turn ye not aside.” Stay with God and serve Him. Repent of our sins at His feet and keep Him front of mind. Verse 24 says “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart.” This is a simple easy instruction. Yet it is so hard for us to do. Evidenced by the warning in verse 25 that ends our chapter today. “But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king.” God will no longer protect us if we do wickedly in his eyes and fall prey to our weaknesses. Be strong in His name. We are all Israel and must resist the earthly kings. Are you ready to heed the warning of Samuel and answer God’s call to each of us?