1 Samuel 12:16-25

Samuel Rebukes the People. 1 Samuel 12:16-25

16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.
17 Is it not wheat harvest today? 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.

18 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.
19 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.

20 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;
21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

22 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.
23 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:
24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

10.

Why did Samuel ask for a sign? 1 Samuel 12:16-18

Miracles were performed throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament in order to attest either the message or the messenger. When a truth pronounced by a prophet was in doubt, God often vindicated it by a sign. On other occasions a sign was given to authenticate a messenger of God. As Samuel was bidding farewell to his people, he asked them to stand still and see the great thing which the Lord would do for them.

11.

What was the effect of the sign? 1 Samuel 12:17-18

Very little rain fell in Palestine during harvest time. Seasons were marked by dry periods and wet periods. The temperature did not vary a great deal. Rain falling in harvest time would be very unusual. The people realized this. The thunder they heard and the rain that fell caused the people to fear the Lord greatly. They also stood in awe and reverence of Samuel.

12.

Why did the people think that they would die? 1 Samuel 12:19

A great number of the people had died when they had shown improper respect for the Ark as it was brought back to Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:19). When Manoah saw the angel of the Lord, he said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God (Judges 13:22). One of man's natural reactions upon the realization of his own guilt and the complete holiness of God is to realize that sin cannot abide in the presence of God. Since he is a sinner, he wonders that he is able to stand in God's presence (Psalms 24:3). As the Israelites realized their sinful nature they believed that they would perish in the presence of the Holy God.

13.

Why did Samuel reassure the people? 1 Samuel 12:20-22

God will not reject the broken and contrite heart (Psalms 51:17). The people of Israel had repented completely of their iniquity. They admitted that they had the wrong motives for asking for a king. Samuel sensed this repentant spirit and reassured the people that God would pardon them. Throughout the ages God had not forsaken His chosen people. He had threatened to destroy them in the days of Moses when they made a golden calf and Moses had interceded for them asking God to blot his name out of the book of life, but to spare the people of Israel (Exodus 32:32). Moses prayed that God would not forget His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 32:13). God did not forget His covenant, and Samuel reassured the Israelites that the Lord would not forsake His people.

14.

Why would it be a sin to cease praying for them? 1 Samuel 12:23

Samuel would have demonstrated a reprehensible degree of selfishness if he had prayed only because he was an official. Once he was not serving as a judge, he assured the people that he would be faithful in remembering them in prayer. He would be concerned for them as long as he lived. In addition to praying for them, he would continue to teach them as a faithful prophet. Samuel stands as a good example for a model preacher.

15.

How is this a tribute to Samuel?

Every local minister could study Samuel's Farewell Address with profit. Every leader of any congregation in quest of a preacher might well use him as an example. This is the sermon outline which has been suggested by this chapter:

THE BEGINNING OF SAUL'S REIGN

1 Samuel 9:1 to 1 Samuel 12:25

1.

Gibeah

Saul sent to seek asses; 1 Samuel 9:1-3

2.

Ephraim, and lands of Shalishah and Shaalim;

seeking asses; 1 Samuel 9:4

3.

Land of Zuph

Meeting with Samuel, and anointing of Saul; 1 Samuel 9:5-8

4.

Between Zuph and Gibeah

Saul meets three groups of men.

fulfilling Samuel's prophecies; 1 Samuel 10:9-13.

5.

Gibeah

Saul is questioned by his uncle; 1 Samuel 10:14-16

6.

Mizpah

Saul publicly proclaimed king; 1 Samuel 10:17-27

7.

Jabesh-Gilead

Attack by Nahash the Ammonite; 1 Samuel 11:1-5

8.

Gibeah

Saul gathers army; 1 Samuel 11:6-10

9.

Jabesh-Gilead

Saul defeats Ammon; 1 Samuel 11:11-13

10.

Gilgal

Samuel's address to Israel; 1 Samuel 11:14 to 1 Samuel 12:25