1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12:1

B. Rebuke and Charge to the People (Chap. 12)12:1-13 After the ceremony to renew the kingdom at Gilgal, Samuel spoke to all Israel. He first of all reminded them of his righteous rule as judge. No one could charge him with injustice. But in asking for a king, Israel had rejected this rule and God’s sway over them. The Lord had been gracious in the past, raising up deliverers when they were needed. “Bedan” in verse 11 probably refers to Barak (NKJV marg., LXX and Syriac versions). Samuel placed himself in the line of deliverers that began with Moses. But Israel was ungrateful for these past mercies and cried out for a king. The Lord working through His judges wasn’t enough for them, so He gave them Saul. 12:14-18 In demanding a king, they committed a great sin. But if they would obey . . . the LORD, even now He would bless them. If . . . not, they would experience His wrath. As solemn proof, Samuel prayed down a great thunderstorm, an obvious sign from God because such a storm was unseasonal during the wheat harvest and too well-timed to be a fluke of nature. 12:19-25 Stark fear gripped the people and they implored Samuel to pray for them. His prayer had brought down judgment; it could also bring down mercy. To this he replied with another appeal to follow the LORD; that was the way to avoid judgment. As for him, he couldn’t stop praying for them; to do so would have been sin. This important statement shows that prayerlessness is sin and not just carelessness.