1 Samuel 12
In this chapter, Samuel addresses Israel after they asked for a king. He reminds them of his faithfulness, recounts God’s mighty acts in their history, and calls them to obedience. Samuel emphasizes that although they now have a king, their success will still depend on their loyalty to God.
1 Samuel 12:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
2 And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.
3 Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
4 And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”
5 Then he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they answered, “He is witness.”
Samuel begins his speech by reminding Israel that he has fulfilled their demand for a king. He calls upon them to confirm his integrity as a leader who has never wronged them or taken bribes. The people affirm his honesty, and Samuel makes them testify before God and the newly anointed king. This sets the tone for Samuel’s message of accountability, both for himself and the nation under their new king.
1 Samuel 12:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.
7 Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers.”
Samuel shifts the focus to God's faithfulness, reminding the people of His role in delivering them from Egypt through Moses and Aaron. He prepares to recount their history, urging them to listen carefully as he highlights God’s past acts of deliverance, justice, and mercy. This is intended to make Israel reflect on their responsibilities to God.
1 Samuel 12:8-12 (NKJV)
8 When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.
9 And when they forgot the Lord their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.
10 Then they cried out to the Lord, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’
11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety.
12 And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king.
Samuel recounts Israel’s repeated cycle of rebellion, oppression, and deliverance. Despite God’s consistent faithfulness in sending leaders to rescue them, the people continually turned to other gods. Their most recent act of demanding a king to protect them, even though God was their true king, is highlighted as a rejection of God’s authority. This passage emphasizes their reliance on human solutions rather than trusting in God.
1 Samuel 12:13-15 (NKJV)
13 Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the Lord has set a king over you.
14 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.
15 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.
Samuel presents the conditions for Israel’s success under the new king. Though they have chosen a king, their well-being still depends on obedience to God. If they and the king follow God’s commands, they will prosper. However, if they disobey, they will face consequences just as their ancestors did. Samuel makes it clear that human leadership does not replace God’s ultimate authority.
1 Samuel 12:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes:
17 Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.”
18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
Samuel calls upon God to demonstrate His power by sending rain during the wheat harvest, an unusual event in that season. This miraculous sign is meant to emphasize the seriousness of Israel's sin in asking for a king. The people are filled with fear, realizing that their actions displeased God. This divine display serves as a powerful reminder of God’s control over nature and their lives.
1 Samuel 12:19 (NKJV)
19 And all the people 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.”
The people, realizing their guilt, plead with Samuel to intercede for them so that God will not punish them with death. Their request reveals both their acknowledgment of wrongdoing and their reliance on Samuel’s connection with God to seek mercy on their behalf. They now recognize that demanding a king was a grave mistake added to their previous sins.
1 Samuel 12:20-21 (NKJV)
20 Then Samuel said to the people, “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.
21 And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.”
Samuel reassures the people not to be paralyzed by fear, even though they have sinned. Instead, he urges them to stay faithful to God with all their hearts and not be tempted to pursue worthless idols. This is a call for renewed commitment to God, emphasizing that despite their failings, they can still find mercy if they wholeheartedly return to Him.
1 Samuel 12:22 (NKJV)
22 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.
Samuel reminds the people of God’s unchanging covenant. Despite their failures, God will not abandon Israel because of His commitment to His own name and His desire to have them as His chosen people. This verse highlights God’s mercy and His faithfulness to His promises, offering hope even in the face of sin.
1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV)
23 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.
Samuel commits to continuing his role as an intercessor and teacher for Israel. He recognizes that failing to pray for them would be a sin, and he promises to guide them in the path of righteousness. This reveals Samuel’s deep sense of responsibility as a leader and his dedication to the spiritual well-being of the nation.
1 Samuel 12:24-25 (NKJV)
24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”
Samuel concludes with a final call to obedience. He urges the people to remember God’s great deeds on their behalf and serve Him sincerely. However, he warns that if they persist in wickedness, both the people and their king will face destruction. This reinforces the conditional nature of their covenant with God and the high stakes of obedience.