Worthy.Bible » STRONG » 1 Samuel » Chapter 12 » Verse 22

1 Samuel 12:22 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

22 For the LORD H3068 will not forsake H5203 his people H5971 for his great H1419 name's H8034 sake: because it hath pleased H2974 the LORD H3068 to make H6213 you his people. H5971

Cross Reference

Psalms 106:8 STRONG

Nevertheless he saved H3467 them for his name's H8034 sake, that he might make his mighty power H1369 to be known. H3045

1 Kings 6:13 STRONG

And I will dwell H7931 among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and will not forsake H5800 my people H5971 Israel. H3478

Joshua 7:9 STRONG

For the Canaanites H3669 and all the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 shall hear H8085 of it, and shall environ us round, H5437 and cut off H3772 our name H8034 from the earth: H776 and what wilt thou do H6213 unto thy great H1419 name? H8034

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 STRONG

The LORD H3068 did not set his love H2836 upon you, nor choose H977 you, because ye were more H7230 in number than any people; H5971 for ye were the fewest H4592 of all people: H5971 But because the LORD H3068 loved H160 you, and because he would keep H8104 the oath H7621 which he had sworn H7650 unto your fathers, H1 hath the LORD H3068 brought you out H3318 with a mighty H2389 hand, H3027 and redeemed H6299 you out of the house H1004 of bondmen, H5650 from the hand H3027 of Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt. H4714

Jeremiah 14:21 STRONG

Do not abhor H5006 us, for thy name's H8034 sake, do not disgrace H5034 the throne H3678 of thy glory: H3519 remember, H2142 break H6565 not thy covenant H1285 with us.

Romans 11:29 STRONG

For G1063 the gifts G5486 and G2532 calling G2821 of God G2316 are without repentance. G278

Exodus 32:12 STRONG

Wherefore should the Egyptians H4714 speak, H559 and say, H559 For mischief H7451 did he bring H3318 them out, to slay H2026 them in the mountains, H2022 and to consume H3615 them from the face H6440 of the earth? H127 Turn H7725 from thy fierce H2740 wrath, H639 and repent H5162 of this evil H7451 against thy people. H5971

Deuteronomy 14:2 STRONG

For thou art an holy H6918 people H5971 unto the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and the LORD H3068 hath chosen H977 thee to be a peculiar H5459 people H5971 unto himself, above all the nations H5971 that are upon H6440 the earth. H127

Psalms 94:14 STRONG

For the LORD H3068 will not cast off H5203 his people, H5971 neither will he forsake H5800 his inheritance. H5159

Lamentations 3:31-32 STRONG

For the Lord H136 will not cast off H2186 for ever: H5769 But though he cause grief, H3013 yet will he have compassion H7355 according to the multitude H7230 of his mercies. H2617

Ezekiel 20:9 STRONG

But I wrought H6213 for my name's H8034 sake, that it should not be polluted H2490 before H5869 the heathen, H1471 among H8432 whom they were, in whose sight H5869 I made myself known H3045 unto them, in bringing them forth H3318 out of the land H776 of Egypt. H4714

Ezekiel 20:14 STRONG

But I wrought H6213 for my name's H8034 sake, that it should not be polluted H2490 before H5869 the heathen, H1471 in whose sight H5869 I brought them out. H3318

Ephesians 1:12 STRONG

That G1519 we G2248 should be G1511 to G1519 the praise G1868 of his G846 glory, G1391 who G3588 first trusted G4276 in G1722 Christ. G5547

Philippians 1:6 STRONG

Being confident G3982 of this G5124 very thing, G846 that G3754 he which hath begun G1728 a good G18 work G2041 in G1722 you G5213 will perform G2005 it until G891 the day G2250 of Jesus G2424 Christ: G5547

1 Peter 2:9 STRONG

But G1161 ye G5210 are a chosen G1588 generation, G1085 a royal G934 priesthood, G2406 an holy G40 nation, G1484 a peculiar G1519 G4047 people; G2992 that G3704 ye should shew forth G1804 the praises G703 of him who hath called G2564 you G5209 out of G1537 darkness G4655 into G1519 his G846 marvellous G2298 light: G5457

Romans 9:13-18 STRONG

As G2531 it is written, G1125 Jacob G2384 have I loved, G25 but G1161 Esau G2269 have I hated. G3404 What G5101 shall we say G2046 then? G3767 G3361 Is there unrighteousness G93 with G3844 God? G2316 God forbid. G3361 G1096 For G1063 he saith G3004 to Moses, G3475 I will have mercy on G1653 whom G3739 G302 I will have mercy, G1653 and G2532 I will have compassion G3627 on whom G3739 G302 I will have compassion. G3627 So G686 then G3767 it is not G3756 of him that willeth, G2309 nor G3761 of him that runneth, G5143 but G235 of God G2316 that sheweth mercy. G1653 For G1063 the scripture G1124 saith G3004 unto Pharaoh, G5328 Even for G3754 G1519 this G5124 same purpose G846 have I raised G1825 thee G4571 up, G1825 that G3704 I might shew G1731 my G3450 power G1411 in G1722 thee, G4671 and G2532 that G3704 my G3450 name G3686 might be declared G1229 throughout G1722 all G3956 the earth. G1093 Therefore G686 G3767 hath he mercy G1653 on whom G3739 he will G2309 have mercy, and G1161 whom G3739 he will G2309 he hardeneth. G4645

Hebrews 13:5 STRONG

Let your conversation G5158 be without covetousness; G866 and be content G714 with such things as ye have: G3918 for G1063 he G846 hath said, G2046 I will never G3364 leave G447 thee, G4571 nor G3761 G3364 forsake G1459 thee. G4571

Ephesians 1:6 STRONG

To G1519 the praise G1868 of the glory G1391 of his G846 grace, G5485 wherein G1722 G3739 he hath made G5487 us G2248 accepted G5487 in G1722 the beloved. G25

1 Corinthians 4:7 STRONG

For G1063 who G5101 maketh G1252 thee G4571 to differ G1252 from another? and G1161 what G5101 hast thou G2192 that G3739 thou didst G2983 not G3756 receive? G2983 G1161 now if G1499 thou didst receive G2983 it, why G5101 dost thou glory, G2744 as G5613 if thou hadst G2983 not G3361 received G2983 it?

Isaiah 42:16 STRONG

And I will bring H3212 the blind H5787 by a way H1870 that they knew H3045 not; I will lead H1869 them in paths H5410 that they have not known: H3045 I will make H7760 darkness H4285 light H216 before H6440 them, and crooked things H4625 straight. H4334 These things H1697 will I do H6213 unto them, and not forsake H5800 them.

Numbers 14:13-19 STRONG

And Moses H4872 said H559 unto the LORD, H3068 Then the Egyptians H4714 shall hear H8085 it, (for thou broughtest up H5927 this people H5971 in thy might H3581 from among H7130 them;) And they will tell H559 it to the inhabitants H3427 of this land: H776 for they have heard H8085 that thou LORD H3068 art among H7130 this people, H5971 that thou LORD H3068 art seen H7200 face H5869 to face, H5869 and that thy cloud H6051 standeth H5975 over them, and that thou goest H1980 before H6440 them, by day time H3119 in a pillar H5982 of a cloud, H6051 and in a pillar H5982 of fire H784 by night. H3915 Now if thou shalt kill H4191 all this people H5971 as one H259 man, H376 then the nations H1471 which have heard H8085 the fame H8088 of thee will speak, H559 saying, H559 Because the LORD H3068 was not H1115 able H3201 to bring H935 this people H5971 into the land H776 which he sware H7650 unto them, therefore he hath slain H7819 them in the wilderness. H4057 And now, I beseech thee, let the power H3581 of my Lord H136 be great, H1431 according H834 as thou hast spoken, H1696 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 is longsuffering, H750 H639 and of great H7227 mercy, H2617 forgiving H5375 iniquity H5771 and transgression, H6588 and by no means H5352 clearing H5352 the guilty, visiting H6485 the iniquity H5771 of the fathers H1 upon the children H1121 unto the third H8029 and fourth H7256 generation. Pardon, H5545 I beseech thee, the iniquity H5771 of this people H5971 according unto the greatness H1433 of thy mercy, H2617 and as thou hast forgiven H5375 this people, H5971 from Egypt H4714 even until now. H2008

Deuteronomy 9:5 STRONG

Not for thy righteousness, H6666 or for the uprightness H3476 of thine heart, H3824 dost thou go H935 to possess H3423 their land: H776 but for the wickedness H7564 of these nations H1471 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 doth drive them out H3423 from before H6440 thee, and that he may perform H6965 the word H1697 which the LORD H3068 sware H7650 unto thy fathers, H1 Abraham, H85 Isaac, H3327 and Jacob. H3290

Deuteronomy 31:17 STRONG

Then my anger H639 shall be kindled H2734 against them in that day, H3117 and I will forsake H5800 them, and I will hide H5641 my face H6440 from them, and they shall be devoured, H398 and many H7227 evils H7451 and troubles H6869 shall befall H4672 them; so that they will say H559 in that day, H3117 Are not these evils H7451 come H4672 upon us, because our God H430 is not among H7130 us?

Deuteronomy 32:26-27 STRONG

I said, H559 I would scatter them into corners, H6284 I would make the remembrance H2143 of them to cease H7673 from among men: H582 Were it not H3884 that I feared H1481 the wrath H3708 of the enemy, H341 lest their adversaries H6862 should behave themselves strangely, H5234 and lest they should say, H559 Our hand H3027 is high, H7311 and the LORD H3068 hath not done H6466 all this.

2 Kings 21:14 STRONG

And I will forsake H5203 the remnant H7611 of mine inheritance, H5159 and deliver H5414 them into the hand H3027 of their enemies; H341 and they shall become a prey H957 and a spoil H4933 to all their enemies; H341

1 Chronicles 28:9 STRONG

And thou, Solomon H8010 my son, H1121 know H3045 thou the God H430 of thy father, H1 and serve H5647 him with a perfect H8003 heart H3820 and with a willing H2655 mind: H5315 for the LORD H3068 searcheth H1875 all hearts, H3824 and understandeth H995 all the imaginations H3336 of the thoughts: H4284 if thou seek H1875 him, he will be found H4672 of thee; but if thou forsake H5800 him, he will cast thee off H2186 for ever. H5703

2 Chronicles 15:2 STRONG

And he went out H3318 to meet H6440 Asa, H609 and said H559 unto him, Hear H8085 ye me, Asa, H609 and all Judah H3063 and Benjamin; H1144 The LORD H3068 is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek H1875 him, he will be found H4672 of you; but if ye forsake H5800 him, he will forsake H5800 you.

Isaiah 37:35 STRONG

For I will defend H1598 this city H5892 to save H3467 it for mine own sake, and for my servant H5650 David's H1732 sake.

Isaiah 41:17 STRONG

When the poor H6041 and needy H34 seek H1245 water, H4325 and there is none, and their tongue H3956 faileth H5405 for thirst, H6772 I the LORD H3068 will hear H6030 them, I the God H430 of Israel H3478 will not forsake H5800 them.

Exodus 19:5-6 STRONG

Now therefore, if ye will obey H8085 my voice H6963 indeed, H8085 and keep H8104 my covenant, H1285 then ye shall be a peculiar treasure H5459 unto me above all people: H5971 for all the earth H776 is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom H4467 of priests, H3548 and an holy H6918 nation. H1471 These are the words H1697 which thou shalt speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel. H3478

Isaiah 43:25 STRONG

I, even I, am he that blotteth out H4229 thy transgressions H6588 for mine own sake, and will not remember H2142 thy sins. H2403

Isaiah 48:11 STRONG

For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do H6213 it: for how should my name be polluted? H2490 and I will not give H5414 my glory H3519 unto another. H312

Jeremiah 14:7 STRONG

O LORD, H3068 though our iniquities H5771 testify H6030 against us, do H6213 thou it for thy name's H8034 sake: for our backslidings H4878 are many; H7231 we have sinned H2398 against thee.

Jeremiah 33:24-26 STRONG

Considerest H7200 thou not what this people H5971 have spoken, H1696 saying, H559 The two H8147 families H4940 which the LORD H3068 hath chosen, H977 he hath even cast them off? H3988 thus they have despised H5006 my people, H5971 that they should be no more a nation H1471 before H6440 them. Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 If my covenant H1285 be not with day H3119 and night, H3915 and if I have not appointed H7760 the ordinances H2708 of heaven H8064 and earth; H776 Then H1571 will I cast away H3988 the seed H2233 of Jacob, H3290 and David H1732 my servant, H5650 so that I will not take H3947 any of his seed H2233 to be rulers H4910 over the seed H2233 of Abraham, H85 Isaac, H3446 and Jacob: H3290 for I will cause their captivity H7622 to return, H7725 H7725 and have mercy H7355 on them.

Lamentations 5:20 STRONG

Wherefore dost thou forget H7911 us for ever, H5331 and forsake H5800 us so long H753 time? H3117

Malachi 1:2 STRONG

I have loved H157 you, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Yet ye say, H559 Wherein hast thou loved H157 us? Was not Esau H6215 Jacob's H3290 brother? H251 saith H559 the LORD: H3068 yet I loved H157 Jacob, H3290

Matthew 11:26 STRONG

Even so, G3483 Father: G3962 for G3754 so G3779 it seemed G1096 good G2107 in thy G4675 sight. G1715

John 15:16 STRONG

Ye G5210 have G1586 not G3756 chosen G1586 me, G3165 but G235 I G1473 have chosen G1586 you, G5209 and G2532 ordained G5087 you, G5209 that G2443 ye G5210 should go G5217 and G2532 bring forth G5342 fruit, G2590 and G2532 that your G5216 fruit G2590 should remain: G3306 that G2443 whatsoever G3739 G302 G3748 ye shall ask G154 of the Father G3962 in G1722 my G3450 name, G3686 he may give it G1325 you. G5213

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 12

Commentary on 1 Samuel 12 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 12

We left the general assembly of the states together, in the close of the foregoing chapter; in this chapter we have Samuel's speech to them, when he resigned the government into the hands of Saul, in which,

  • I. He clears himself from all suspicion or imputation of mismanagement, while the administration was in his hands (v. 1-5).
  • II. He reminds them of the great things God had done for them and for their fathers (v. 6-13).
  • III. He sets before them good and evil, the blessing and the curse (v. 14, 15).
  • IV. He awakens them to regard what he said to them, by calling to God for thunder (v. 16-19).
  • V. He encourages them with hopes that all should be well (v. 20-25). This is his farewell sermon to that august assembly and Saul's coronation sermon.

1Sa 12:1-5

Here,

  • I. Samuel gives them a short account of the late revolution, and of the present posture of their government, by way of preface to what he had further to say to them, v. 1, 2.
    • 1. For his own part, he had spent his days in their service; he began betimes to be useful among them, and had continued long so: "I have walked before you, as a guide to direct you, as a shepherd that leads his flock (Ps. 80:1), from my childhood unto this day.' As soon as he was illuminated with the light of prophecy, in his early days, he began to be a burning and shining light to Israel; "and now my best days are done: I am old and gray-headed;' therefore they were the more unkind to cast him off, yet therefore he was the more willing to resign, finding the weight of government heavy upon his stooping shoulders. He was old, and therefore the more able to advise them, and the more observant they should have been of what he said, for days shall speak and the multitude of years shall teach wisdom; and there is a particular reverence due to the aged, especially aged magistrates and aged ministers. "I am old, and therefore not likely to live long, perhaps may never have an opportunity of speaking to you again, and therefore take notice of what I say.'
    • 2. As for his sons, "Behold' (says he), "they are with you, you may, if you please, call them to an account for any thing they have done amiss. They are present with you, and have not, upon this revolution, fled from their country. They are upon the level with you, subjects to the new king as well as you; if you can prove them guilty of any wrong, you may prosecute them now by a due course of law, punish them, and oblige them to make restitution.'
    • 3. As for their new king, Samuel had gratified them in setting him over them (v. 1): "I have hearkened to your voice in all that you said to me, being desirous to please you, if possible, and make you easy, though to the discarding of myself and family; and now will you hearken to me, and take my advice?' The change was now perfected: "Behold, the king walketh before you' (v. 2); he appears in public, ready to serve you in public business. Now that you have made yourselves like the nations in your civil government, and have cast off the divine administration in that, take heed lest you make yourselves like the nations in religion and cast off the worship of God.
  • II. He solemnly appeals to them concerning his own integrity in the administration of the government (v. 3): Witness against me, whose ox have I taken? Observe,
    • 1. His design in this appeal. By this he intended,
      • (1.) To convince them of the injury they had done him in setting him aside, when they had nothing amiss to charge him with (his government had no fault but that it was too cheap, too easy, too gentle), and also of the injury they had done themselves in turning off one that did not so much as take an ox or an ass from them, to put themselves under the power of one that would take from them their fields and vineyards, nay, and their very sons and daughters (ch. 8:11), so unlike would the manner of the king be from Samuel's manner.
      • (2.) To preserve his own reputation. Those that heard of Samuel's being rejected as he was would be ready to suspect that certainly he had done some evil thing, or he would never have been so ill treated; so that it was necessary for him to make this challenge, that it might appear upon record that it was not for any iniquity in his hands that he was laid aside, but to gratify the humour of a giddy people, who owned they could not have a better man to rule them, only they desired a bigger man. There is a just debt which every man owes to his own good name, especially men in public stations, which is to guard it against unjust aspersions and suspicions, that we may finish our course with honour as well as joy.
      • (3.) As he designed hereby to leave a good name behind him, so he designed to leave his successor a good example before him; let him write after his copy, and he will write fair.
      • (4.) He designed, in the close of his discourse, to reprove the people, and therefore he begins with a vindication of himself; for he that will, with confidence, tell another of his sin, must see to it that he himself be clear.
    • 2. In the appeal itself observe,
      • (1.) What it is that Samuel here acquits himself from.
        • [1.] He had never, under any pretence whatsoever, taken that which was not his own, ox or ass, had never distrained their cattle for tribute, fines, or forfeitures, nor used their service without paying for it.
        • [2.] He had never defrauded those with whom he dealt, nor oppressed those that were under his power.
        • [3.] He had never taken bribes to pervert justice, nor was ever biassed by favour for affection to give judgment in a cause against his conscience.
      • (2.) How he calls upon those that had slighted him to bear witness concerning his conduct: "Here I am; witness against me. If you have any thing to lay to my charge, do it before the Lord and the king, the proper judges.' He puts honour upon Saul, by owning himself accountable to him if guilty of any wrong.
  • III. Upon this appeal he is honourably acquitted. He did not expect that they would do him honour at parting, though he well deserved it, and therefore mentioned not any of the good services he had done them, for which they ought to have applauded him, and returned him the thanks of the house; all he desired was that they should do him justice, and that they did (v. 4) readily owning,
    • 1. That he had not made his government oppressive to them, nor used his power to their wrong.
    • 2. That he had not made it expensive to them: Neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand for the support of thy dignity. Like Nehemiah, he did not require the bread of the governor (Neh. 5:18), had not only been righteous, but generous, had coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel, Acts 20:33.
  • IV. This honourable testimony borne to Samuel's integrity is left upon record to his honour (v. 5): "The Lord is witness, who searcheth the heart, and his anointed is witness, who trieth overt acts;' and the people agree to it: "He is witness.' Note, The testimony of our neighbours, and especially the testimony of our own consciences for us, that we have in our places lived honestly, will be our comfort under the slights and contempts that are put upon us. Demetrius is a happy man, that has a good report of all men and of the truth itself, 3 Jn. 12.

1Sa 12:6-15

Samuel, having sufficiently secured his own reputation, instead of upbraiding the people upon it with their unkindness to him, sets himself to instruct them, and keep them in the way of their duty, and then the change of the government would be the less damage to them.

  • I. He reminds them of the great goodness of God to them and to their fathers, gives them an abstract of the history of their nation, that, by the consideration of the great things God had done for them, they might be for ever engaged to love him and serve him. "Come,' says he (v. 7), "stand still, stand in token of reverence when God is speaking to you, stand still in token of attention and composedness of mind, and give me leave to reason with you.' Religion has reason on its side, Isa. 1:18. The work of ministers is to reason with people, not only to exhort and direct, but to persuade, to convince men's judgments, and so to gain their wills and affections. Let reason rule men, and they will be good. He reasons of the righteous acts of the Lord, that is, "both the benefits he hath bestowed upon you, in performance of his promises, and the punishments he has inflicted on you for your sins.' His favours are called his righteous acts (Jdg. 5:11), because in them he is just to his own honour. He not only puts them in mind of what God had done for them in their days, but of what he had done of old, in the days of their fathers, because the present age had the benefit of God's former favours. We may suppose that his discourse was much larger than as here related.
    • 1. he reminds them of their deliverance out of Egypt. Into that house of bondage Jacob and his family came down poor and little; when they were oppressed they cried unto God, who advanced Moses and Aaron, from mean beginnings, to be their deliverers, and the founders of their state and settlement in Canaan, v. 6, 8.
    • 2. He reminds them of the miseries and calamities which their fathers brought themselves into by forgetting God and serving other gods, v. 9. They enslaved themselves, for they were sold as criminals and captives into the hand of oppressors. They exposed themselves to the desolation of war, and their neighbours fought against them.
    • 3. He reminds them of their fathers' repentance and humiliation before God for their idolatries: They said, We have sinned, v. 10. Let not them imitate the sins of their fathers, for what they had done amiss they had many a time wished undone again. In the day of their distress they had sought unto God, and had promised to serve him; let their children then reckon that good at all times which they found good in bad times.
    • 4. He reminds them of the glorious deliverances God had wrought for them, the victories he had blessed them with, and their happy settlements, many a time, after days of trouble and distress, v. 11. He specifies some of their judges, Gideon and Jephthah, great conquerors in their time; among the rest he mentions Bedan, whom we read not of any where else: he might be some eminent person, that was instrumental of salvation to them, though not recorded in the book of Judges, such a one as Shamgar, of whom it is said that he delivered Israel, but not that he judged them, Jdg. 3:31. Perhaps this Bedan guarded and delivered them on one side, at the same time when some other of the judges appeared and acted for them on another side. Some think it was the same with Jair (so the learned Mr. Poole), others the same with Samson, who was Ben Dan, a son of Dan, of that tribe, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him Be-Dan, inn Dan, in the camp of Can. Samuel mentions himself, not to his own praise, but to the honour of God, who had made him an instrument of subduing the Philistines.
    • 5. At last he puts them in mind of God's late favour to the present generation, in gratifying them with a king, when they would prescribe to God by such a one to save them out of the hand of Nahash king of Ammon, v. 12, 13. Now it appears that this was the immediate occasion of their desiring a king: Nahash threatened them; they desired Samuel to nominate a general; he told them that God was commander-in-chief in all their wars and they needed no other, that what was wanting in them should be made up by his power: The Lord is your king. But they insisted on it, Nay, but a king shall reign over us. "And now,' said he, "you have a king, a king of your own asking-let that be spoken to your shame; but a king of God's making-let that be spoken to his honour and the glory of his grace.' God did not cast them off, even when they in effect cast him off.
  • II. He shows them that they are now upon their good behaviour, they and their king. Let them not think that they had now cut themselves off from all dependence upon God, and that now, having a king of their own, the making of their own fortunes (as men foolishly call it) was in their own hands; no, still their judgment must proceed from the Lord. He tells them plainly,
    • 1. That their obedience to God would certainly be their happiness, v. 14. If they would not revolt from God to idols, nor rebel against him by breaking his commandments, but would persevere in their allegiance to him, would fear his wrath, serve his interests, and obey his will, then they and their king should certainly be happy; but observe how the promise is expressed: Then you shall continue following the Lord your God; that is,
      • (1.) "You shall continue in the way of your duty to God, which will be your honour and comfort.' Note, To those that are sincere in their religion God will give grace to persevere in it: those that follow God faithfully will be divinely strengthened to continue following him. And observe, Following God is a work that is its own wages. It is the matter of a promise as well as of a precept.
      • (2.) "You shall continue under the divine guidance and protection:' You shall be after the Lord, so it is in the original, that is, "he will go before you to lead and prosper you, and make your way plain. The Lord is with you while you are with him.'
    • 2. That their disobedience would as certainly be their ruin (v. 15): "If you rebel, think not that your having a king will secure you against God's judgments, and that having in this instance made yourselves like the nations you may sin at as cheap a rate as they can. No, the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers when they offended him, in the days of the judges.' We mistake if we think that we can evade God's justice by shaking off his dominion. If God shall not rule us, yet he will judge us.

1Sa 12:16-25

Two things Samuel here aims at:-

  • I. To convince the people of their sin in desiring a king. They were now rejoicing before God in and with their king (ch. 11:15), and offering to God the sacrifices of praise, which they hoped God would accept; and this perhaps made them think that there was no harm in their asking a king, but really they had done well in it. Therefore Samuel here charges it upon them as their sin, as wickedness, great wickedness in the sight of the Lord. Note, Though we meet with prosperity and success in a way of sin, yet we must not therefore think the more favourably of it. They have a king, and if they conduct themselves well their king may be a very great blessing to them, and yet Samuel will have them perceive and see that their wickedness was great in asking a king. We must never think well of that which God in his law frowns upon, though in his providence he may seem to smile upon it. Observe,
    • 1. The expressions of God's displeasure against them for asking a king. At Samuel's word, God sent prodigious thunder and rain upon them, at a season of the year when, in that country, the like was never seen or known before, v. 16-18. Thunder and rain have natural causes and sometimes terrible effects. But Samuel made it to appear that this was designed by the almighty power of God on purpose to convince them that they had done very wickedly in asking a king; not only by its coming in an unusual time, in wheat-harvest, and this on a fair clear day, when there appeared not to the eye any signs of a storm, but by his giving notice of it before. Had there happened to be thunder and rain at the time when he was speaking to them, he might have improved it for their awakening and conviction, as we may in a like case; but, to make it no less than a miracle, before it came,
      • (1.) He spoke to them of it (v. 16, 17): Stand and see this great thing. He had before told them to stand and hear (v. 7); but, because he did not see that his reasoning with them affected them (so stupid were they and unthinking), now he bids them stand and see. If what he said in a still small voice did not reach their hearts, nor his doctrine which dropped as the dew, they shall hear God speaking to them in dreadful claps of thunder and the great rain of his strength. He appealed to this as a sign: "I will call upon the Lord, and he will send thunder, will send it just now, to confirm the word of his servant, and to make you see that I spoke truly when I told you that God was angry with you for asking a king.' And the event proved him a true prophet; the sign and wonder came to pass.
      • (2.) He spoke to God for it. Samuel called unto the Lord, and, in answer to his prayer, even while he was yet speaking, the Lord sent thunder and rain. By this Samuel made it to appear, not only what a powerful influence God has upon this earth, that he could, of a sudden, when natural causes did not work towards it, produce this dreadful rain and thunder, and bring them out of his treasures (Ps. 135:7), but also what a powerful interest he had in heaven, that God would thus hearken to the voice of a man (Jos. 10:14) and answer him in the secret place of thunder, Ps. 81:7. Samuel, that son of prayer, was still famous for success in prayer. Now by this extraordinary thunder and rain sent on this occasion,
        • [1.] God testified his displeasure against them in the same way in which he had formerly testified it, and at the prayer of Samuel too, against the Philistines. The Lord discomfited them with a great thunder, ch. 7:10. Now that Israel rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit, he turned to be their enemy, and fought against them with the same weapons which, not long before, had been employed against their adversaries, Isa. 63:10.
        • [2.] He showed them their folly in desiring a king to save them, rather than God or Samuel, promising themselves more from an arm of flesh than from the arm of God or from the power of prayer. Could their king thunder with a voice like God? Job 40:9. Could their prince command such forces as the prophet could by his prayers?
        • [3.] He intimated to them that how serene and prosperous soever their condition seemed to be now that they had a king, like the weather in wheat-harvest, yet, if God pleased, he could soon change the face of their heavens, and persecute them with his tempest, as the Psalmist speaks.
    • 2. The impressions which this made upon the people. It startled them very much, as well it might.
      • (1.) They greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. Though when they had a king they were ready to think they must fear him only, God made them know that he is greatly to be feared and his prophets for his sake. Now they were rejoicing in their king, God taught them to rejoice with trembling.
      • (2.) They owned their sin and folly in desiring a king: We have added to all our sins this evil, v. 19. Some people will not be brought to a sight of their sins by any gentler methods than storms and thunders. Samuel did not extort this confession from them till the matter was settled and the king confirmed, lest it should look as if he designed by it rather to establish himself in the government than to bring them to repentance. Now that they were flattering themselves in their own eyes, their iniquity was found to be hateful, Ps. 36:2.
      • (3.) They earnestly begged Samuel's prayers (v. 19): Pray for thy servants, that we die not. They were apprehensive of their danger from the wrath of God, and could not expect that he should hear their prayers for themselves, and therefore they entreat Samuel to pray for them. Now they see their need of him whom awhile ago they slighted. Thus many that will not have Christ to reign over them would yet be glad to have him intercede for them, to turn away the wrath of God. And the time may come when those that have despised and ridiculed praying people will value their prayers, and desire a share in them. "Pray' (say they) "to the Lord thy God; we know not how to call him ours, but, if thou hast any interest in him, improve it for us.'
  • II. He aims to confirm the people in their religion, and engage them for ever to cleave unto the Lord. The design of his discourse is much the same with Joshua's, ch. 23 and 24.
    • 1. He would not that the terrors of the Lord should frighten them from him, for they were intended to frighten them to him (v. 20): "Fear not; though you have done all this wickedness, and though God is angry with you for it, yet do not therefore abandon his service, nor turn from following him.' Fear not, that is, "despair not, fear not with amazement, the weather will clear up after the storm. Fear not; for, though God will frown upon his people, yet he will not forsake them (v. 22) for his great name's sake; do not you forsake him then.' Every transgression in the covenant, though it displease the Lord, yet does not throw us out of covenant, and therefore God's just rebukes must not drive us from our hope in his mercy. The fixedness of God's choice is owing to the freeness of it; we may therefore hope he will not forsake his people, because it has pleased him to make them his people. Had he chosen them for their good merits, we might fear he would cast them off for their bad merits; but, choosing them for his name's sake, for his name's sake he will not leave them.
    • 2. He cautions them against idolatry: "Turn not aside from God and the worship of him' (v. 20, and again v. 21); "for if you turn aside from God, whatever you turn aside to, you will find it is a vain thing, that can never answer your expectations, but will certainly deceive you if you trust to it; it is a broken reed, a broken cistern.' Idols could not profit those that sought to them in their wants, nor deliver those that sought to them in their straits, for they were vain, and not what they pretended to be. An idol is nothing in the world, 1 Co. 8:4.
    • 3. He comforts them with an assurance that he would continue his care and concern for them, v. 23. They desired him to pray for them, v. 19. He might have said, "Go to Saul, the king that you have put in my room,' and get him to pray for you; but so far is he from upbraiding them with their disrespect to him that he promised them much more than they asked.
      • (1.) They asked it of him as a favour; he promised it as a duty, and startles at the thought of neglecting it. Pray for you! says he, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in not doing it. Note, It is a sin against God not to pray for the Israel of God, especially for those of them that are under our charge: and good men are afraid of the guilt of omissions.
      • (2.) They asked him to pray for them at this time, and upon this occasion, but he promised to continue his prayers for them and to cease as long as he lived. Our rule is to pray without ceasing; we sin if we restrain prayer in general, and in particular if we cease praying for the church.
      • (3.) They asked him only to pray for them, but he promised to do more for them, not only to pray for them, but to teach them; though they were not willing to be under his government as a judge, he would not therefore deny them his instructions as a prophet. And they might be sure he would teach them no other than the good and the right way: and the right way is certainly the good way: the way of duty is the way of pleasure and profit.
    • 4. He concludes with an earnest exhortation to practical religion and serious godliness, v. 24, 25. The great duty here pressed upon us is to fear the Lord. He had said (v. 20), "Fear not with a slavish fear,' but here, "Fear the Lord, with a filial fear.' As the fruit and evidence of this, serve him in the duties of religious worship and of a godly conversation, in truth and sincerity, and not in show and profession only, with your heart, and with all your heart, not dissembling, not dividing. And two things he urges by way of motive:-
      • (1.) That they were bound in gratitude to serve God, considering what great things he had done for them, to engage them for ever to his service.
      • (2.) That they were bound in interest to serve him, considering what great things he would do against them if they should still do wickedly: "You shall be destroyed by the judgments of God, both you and your king whom you are so proud of and expect so much from, and who will be a blessing to you if you keep in with God.' Thus, as a faithful watchman, he gave them warning, and so delivered his own soul.