1 Sam 12:1-5, 16-25 · Read 10 min · think and write 15 min
In the last lesson, the people said, “No, but we will have a king over us” (1 Sam 8:19), and the LORD said to Samuel: “Listen to their voice, and make them a king” (1 Sam 8:22).
Later Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, came to Samuel. “When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, ‘Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people’” (1 Sam 9:17). “Then Samuel took the vial of oil and poured it on his head, then kissed him” (1 Sam 10:1). Samuel called the people together at Mizpah, and “All the people shouted and said, ‘Long live the king!’” (1 Sam 10:24). Later “All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal” (1 Sam 11:15).
This lesson reads what Samuel said to all Israel at Gilgal.
1Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
2Now, behold, the king walks before you. I am old and gray-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to this day.
3Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
4They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
5He said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” They said, “He is witness.”
Samuel went on to tell the people what the LORD had done in the past: from sending Moses and Aaron to bring their fathers out of Egypt, to sending judges to deliver them out of the hand of their enemies on every side; and he said that when they saw the king of the Ammonites coming against them, they asked for a king, “when the LORD your God was your king” (vv. 6–15).
16“Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
17Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the LORD’s sight, in asking for a king.”
18So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
19All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.”
20Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
21Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain.
22For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.
23Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
24Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
25But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.”
From my youth to this day. “Samuel said to all Israel, ‘Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you’” (v. 1). He said: “I am old and gray-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to this day” (v. 2).
Witness against me. “Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you” (v. 3). “They said, ‘You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand’” (v. 4).
The LORD was your king. Samuel told of what the LORD had done from Egypt to the judges (vv. 6–11), and said: “When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the LORD your God was your king” (1 Sam 12:12).
Wheat harvest. “Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain” (v. 17). “So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel” (v. 18).
Pray for your servants. The people said: “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king” (v. 19).
Don’t be afraid. “Samuel said to the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart’” (v. 20). “For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself” (v. 22).
Far be it from me. “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 instruct you in the good and the right way” (v. 23). “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you” (v. 24).
A psalm speaks of Samuel: “Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who call on his name. They called on the LORD, and he answered them” (Ps 99:6).
Readers can see this: in Israel’s memory, Samuel was one of ‘those who call on his name’. In Lesson 2, the people asked him, “Don’t stop crying to the LORD our God for us” (1 Sam 7:8); in this lesson he says, “far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (v. 23).
Perhaps you, too, are praying for someone: a child, a friend, someone in your church. Perhaps they have not taken your advice, and have even let you down badly.
This lesson does not say that praying for someone will make them change the way you want. Samuel did not stop the people from asking for a king. What it shows you is this: right after they asked for a king, and the thing had displeased him, Samuel still said: “as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (v. 23). Paul wrote to Timothy: “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men” (1 Tim 2:1).
This week: Think of someone who has disappointed you, or whom you have not prayed for in a long time, and pray for them once this week. If you think of someone who once prayed for you, you might also write them a word of thanks.
Scripture: World English Bible.