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1 Samuel 12 – Samuel’s Final Warning

Today brings us to the end of a section within 1 Samuel. It began in chapter 8 with the people’s request for a king, and ends now with Samuel’s farewell speech (v2). It is a climactic moment and needs to be understood against the backdrop of all that has happened so far. It is the end of an era. For around 400 years God’s people have been ruled by Judges – people empowered and equipped by God to save his people and rule them in justice. Samuel has been the greatest of these judges, decisively breaking the Philistine stranglehold, bringing justice to the towns and leading the people back to God. In chapter 8 the people decided they didn’t like this arrangement anymore and asked for a king. God gave them Saul, and after an unpromising start, he led them to a great victory in the battle of Jabesh-gilead. The people gather at Gilgal to rejoice, worship God, and confirm Saul as King (11:15).

Now, in chapter 12, God’s prophet Samuel speaks. It’s his farewell speech. But there’s an undercurrent: a courtroom drama is being played out. We could easily miss the legal language that the original readers would pick up: calls to testify (v3); references to witnesses (v5-6); use of legal formulas and oaths; pleading a case (v7). Samuel, God, and Israel are in the courthouse. The question is: who is responsible for this turn of events and on whose head will the consequences be. Samuel presents the case (v1). His words are feisty and fiery. In the midst of a celebration Samuel gets confrontational. He might seem like the grumpy old granda who brings up the family feud at the four year old’s birthday party. But this is not a birthday party – this is a defining period in Israel’s history. The next 500 years would be decisively shaped by the kings. So, for the third time, Samuel rebukes them for requesting a king (v12). God speaks to us repeatedly about our serious sins. Have you been listening?

Questions

  1. What sin has God been speaking to you about repeatedly?

Prayer Points

  1. Ask God for a heart sensitive to his warnings and rebukes.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.