FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL
Study Continued
For the TEXT of the following study please see previous posting
CHAPTER 12
Verse 1 - 5
Chapter 12 is the proclamation of Samuel at this important moment in the history of the Hebrew People. Saul is chosen as king and has ‘ proven ‘ himself for the first time in the arena of war. Saul is their King. And yet here Samuel reminds the People of their true king – the Lord God.
Since the day of his birth and his dedication by his mother Hannah and father Elkanah he has faithfully served the Lord. He was presented to the Jewish Priest Eli and since then has favoured God. He has always served the People of God well. Perhaps Samuel felt a deep sense of personal rejection. He was without fault and yet the Hebrew People rejected him and wanted another , a King not a Judge. It was also a reminder that he was blameless and thus if any disaster fell upon the People it would be their fault not his.
Samuel is to be the last of the Judges of Israel. How wonderful that the last Judge is to be one who is so devoted to God. This is Samuel’s final address as Judge.
As one author states:
"With this address Samuel laid down his office as judge, but without
therefore ceasing as prophet to represent the people before God, and to
maintain the rights of God in relation to the king."
Verse 6 – 10
Samuel then reminds the People of the great foundational events of their faith – the Passover from Egypt. Samuel purposely recalls Pharaoh, another king whose heart was hard against God and His People. This must not happen with King Saul. The Lord God was the one who also conquered the many other pagan kings of the region. Once again Samuel gives warning of what kingship is all about. That God alone, as ‘ proven ‘ here is the King of kings.
Verse 10 -11
Samuel reminds the People that God then sent Judges – among them --
Jerubbaal ( also known as Gideon – see Judges 6 – After 40 years of peace following the great Judge Deborah the Hebrew People turned to pagan worship and morals. Gideon was sent to deliver them. With only 300 men he slew the Midianites and the Amalekites in the Valley of Jezreel. During his 40 year reign peace prevailed. The People wished to make him king to which he refused. He had 70 sons – one of which is Abimelech ( meaning ‘ my father is king’) Perhaps this is why Samuel reminds them of Gideon – he refused to be made king.
Bedan or Barak ( Bedan translated as ‘Son of Dan’ – that is Samson, the great Judge. Manoah was Samson’s father of the tribe of Dan) or other translations of the Bible render the name as Barak – the commander with the Judge Deborah
Jephthanh ( Faithful Judge who slew the Ephraimites and Ammonites. Then peace prevailed. )
and Samuel, the present great judge.
For list of Judges see http://www.bible-history.com/resource/r_judge.htm
Verse 12 - 13
Samuel reminds the People of this recent battle – how King Saul won his first offensive against the evil king Nahash ( translated as “Serpent” and the Ammonites, from the preceding chapter ) God was victorious.
Verse 14 -15
Samuel gives the People a clear commandment – if you do not rebel against the command of the Lord all WILL go well. Although the People preferred a King and God allowed it – here then is the rule – to continue to serve God.
Verse 16 – 18
To ‘ prove ‘ this point Samuel then calls upon God to give a sign. In the midst of the dry season he calls down rain and thunder and it happens. The People are forewarned.
Verse 19 - 21
The People cry out. Samuel tells them that they have their king – they have made their choice - and yet they are still called to worship and obey and follow the one and only true king – the Lord.
Verse 22
To me this is the heart of the chapter -- For the LORD will not cast away His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for Himself. The reason that God stays by His People – in spite of their choice of an earthly king is that He still wishes and invests in the People so that His Name may be glorified. This is the heart of the COVENANT that He made with His People. Perhaps in spite of or because they do have an earthly king God must now make His Name known and glorified now by other means.
Verse 23 - 25
Samuel promises that he shall remain with the Hebrew People and continue to teach them. That the King and People may serve God with all their hearts. If not – then they and King shall be consumed. What will happen ?
QUESTIONS
1. Samuel has to remind the Hebrew People of the foundational events within their lives. When did you have to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in this world or within your life ?
2. What were the foundational events in your Faith Life ? Like the great ones mentioned by Samuel who were the foundational people in your faith life ?
3. Imagine how rejected Samuel must have felt. He was faithful but the People wanted a king. How do you think Samuel felt ? Have you had any similar experience of rejection as Samuel ? How did you handle it ?
1. When difficult times arise, I need to remember that God has a plan for me. Whatever happens does so for a reason. I need to keep faith in Him.
ReplyDelete2. The foundational events in my faith life occurred at the highest “highs” and the lowest “lows” in my life – my marriage, birth of my children, medical issues (with my youngest child at birth, my father last year, myself throughout my life). The foundational people in my faith life include my mother, a few of my friends, some of my religious education teachers, and, more recently, some of the people who traveled with me to Israel this March.
3. I think Samuel felt that he had been faithful to God his whole life, doing everything that God had asked him to do and now, for some reason, the people wanted a king instead. He must have been deeply hurt by this. I have felt rejected before, but not to the same extent.