1 Samuel Chapter 12
I Samuel Chapter 12 records Samuel’s address at Saul’s coronation. Before presenting Saul to the people whom they had chosen and desired, whom the LORD set as a king over them, Samuel asked them to witness against him before the LORD and before His anointed that he had not cheated them nor received any bribe from anyone’s hand with which to blind his eyes nor taken anyone’s donkey or ox.
Afterward, Samuel said, “Take note that the LORD has set a king over you. If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers.”(v1-3, 13-15)
To convince the people over their great wickedness of demanding a king to rule over them, and also to enhance Israel’s respect for the LORD and Samuel, thunder and rain were sent down from heaven, when Samuel called upon the LORD. That was in May or June, the season of the wheat harvest in Israel, which was not the season of rain. And for rain to fall in season of harvest was most unusual. (v16-18)
Thus the people beseeched Samuel to pray to the LORD that they might not die, for they had added to all their sins the evil of asking a king for themselves. Samuel said, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me 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 what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” (v19-25)
COMMENTARY
1. Though Samuel was not pleased that the people had demanded a king to rule over them like all the nations, he heeded the instruction of the LORD and anointed Saul as king, and also solemnly forewarned them by telling all the words of the LORD which He said would be the behaviour of the king who will reign over them (8:6-22).
2. Saul, a Benjamite and the son of Kish, was anointed according to what the LORD said to Samuel (9:15-17; 10:1, 17-25).
3. Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead. The men of Jabesh sought to make a covenant with Nahash and they would serve him. But Nahash threatened that he would put out all their right eyes and bring reproach on all Israel. Saul was told the news of the threats in the hearing of the people. The Spirit of God came upon Saul and his anger was greatly aroused. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them into pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.” (11:1, 4-7) The fear of the LORD came upon the people, and they came out with one consent.
Three hundred thousand of the children of Israel and thirty thousand men of Judah came forward. The next day Saul put them in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. (11:7-8, 11)
4. Afterward the people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished salvation in Israel.” (11:12-13)
5. Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. (11:14-15)
6. At Gilgal, Samuel relinquished his judgeship over the people of Israel. There he presided over the coronation of Saul as king, whom the LORD had set over them. He told them that if they fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both they and the king who reigns over them would continue following the LORD their God. However if they do not obey the voice of the LORD but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD would be against them, as it was against their fathers. (12:1-5; 13-15)
7. Samuel called upon the LORD and He sent thunder and rain that day, even though it was the season of wheat harvest, not the season of rain, that they might perceive and see that their wickedness was great which they had done in the sight of the LORD in asking a king for themselves. All the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel (12:16-18).
8. The people came and said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.” Samuel told them not to fear. Though they had done all those wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD but serve Him with all their heart. If they turn aside, they will have gone after empty things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are nothing. The LORD will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake, because it pleased the LORD to make them His people. (I2:19-22)
9. Samuel said, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me 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 what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” (12:23-24)
TEACHINGS
1. Fear the LORD and obey His commandments. Serve Him and do not rebel against the commandments of God and teachings of Jesus Christ. (Eccl. 12:13; Rev. 12:17)
2. Do not be covetous nor be greedy for unrighteous wealth gotten through deceit and dishonest means (I Tim. 6: 9-10; II Pet. 2:10-15). Samuel the judge was not covetous.
3. Do not cease to pray for one another. Samuel deemed it a sin if he were to cease praying for the people of Israel even though they committed the wickedness of asking a king for themselves. (12:23) Later in chapter 15, Samuel cried out to the LORD all night for Saul, of whom the word of the LORD said, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” (15:11) He mourned for Saul who turned depraved (15:35).
4. Though often times we fall short of the glory of the Lord God, yet if we fear Him and turn back and obey Him and keep His commandments, He is gracious. If we seek His forgiveness, He hears our prayers. He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, so that we may continue in His mercy and be saved (I John 1:7-2:2; Ezek. 18:30-32). The LORD continued to be with Israel even after they had demanded a king, and Saul been anointed their king.