12:1 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have done everything you requested. I have given you a king.
Samuel gave a speech to Israel before his death. He reminded them of his service to Israel. After his death, Israel would no longer need any judges. They were now to become obedient to their new king.
12:2 Now look! This king walks before you. As for me, I am old and gray, though my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from the time of my youth till the present day.
The people asked for a human king. Their request was answered.
12:3 Here I am. Bring a charge against me before the Lord and before his chosen king. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe so that I would overlook something? Tell me, and I will return it to you!”
Samuel asked the people if they could make any unrighteous statements against him.
12:4 They replied, “You have not wronged us or oppressed us. You have not taken anything from the hand of anyone.”
No one could accuse Samuel of being an unrighteous judge. They could say this about his sons, but not about Samuel.
12:5 He said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his chosen king is witness this day, that you have not found any reason to accuse me.” They said, “He is witness!”
Jehovah was the second witness that Samuel had been a righteous judge.
12:6 Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is the one who chose Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt.
Samuel reminded Israel that King Jehovah was the one who brought Moses, Aaron, and their ancestors out of Egypt.
12:7 Now take your positions, so I may confront you before the Lord regarding all the Lord’s just actions toward you and your ancestors.
Samuel was not a seeker-friendly pastor. He informed the people that he was about to confront them on some sin issues.
12:8 When Jacob entered Egypt, your ancestors cried out to the Lord. The Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and they led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
Jacob was another name for Israel that was usually used when Israel was living in sin. When Joseph and Israel entered Egypt, then they were blessed. However, after Joseph died, a new Pharaoh came to Egypt and enslaved the Israelites. The people cried out to King Jehovah for deliverance.
12:9 “But they forgot the Lord their God, so he gave them into the hand of Sisera, the general in command of Hazor’s army, and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
Israel turned away from God. King Jehovah allowed Israel to fall into enemy hands. God used Sisera, the Philistines, and the Moabites as spanking instruments against Israel.
12:10 Then they cried out to the Lord and admitted, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth. Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies so that we may serve you.’
The cycle of the Judges began. The people cried out to King Jehovah for deliverance. They confessed their sins. They removed the Baal and Ashtoreth false idols.
12:11 So the Lord sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hand of the enemies all around you, and you were able to live securely.
Jerub Baal was another name for Gideon, meaning “Baal Fighter." When Israel cried to King Jehovah, He sent judges to deliver Israel from their enemies. Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel were four of these judges who were sent by King Jehovah.
12:12 “When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me, ‘No! A king will rule over us’ – even though the Lord your God is your king!
Samuel informed the Israelites again that they had made a big mistake. When the Ammonites attacked Israel and threatened to gouge out one of their eyes, then Israel cried to God and asked for a human king. Jehovah was the King of Israel. The people did not want God as their king anymore, even though He had protected Israel from all of their enemies throughout all of history. Instead of God as king, they wanted a human king. This was a major turning point in Israelite history.
12:13 Now look! Here is the king you have chosen – the one that you asked for! Look, the Lord has given you a king!
Samuel introduced Israel again to King Saul.
12:14 If you fear the Lord, serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the Lord your God, all will be well.
If the king and people obeyed the Mosaic Law, then the nation would be blessed. Notice that the king was not above the Law, but he was below the Law. The Puritans would later used this biblical doctrine to rebel against absolute monarchies.
12:15 But if you don’t obey the Lord and rebel against what the Lord says, the hand of the Lord will be against both you and your king.
If the king and people refused to obey the Mosaic Law, then they would be cursed.
12:16 “So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the Lord is about to do in your sight.
To prove that Samuel was speaking words from God, a great miracle was about to occur to authenticate his message.
12:17 Is this not the time of the wheat harvest? I will call on the Lord so that he makes it thunder and rain. Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves.”
In Israel, there was no thunder and rain during the wheat harvest.
12:18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the Lord and Samuel.
The thunder and rain during the wheat harvest authenticated the prophecies of Samuel. Notice that he gave a long-term prophecy first, but it was accompanied by a short-term prophecy. The short-term prophecies were signs of authentication that the long-term prophecy would be fulfilled as well.
12:19 All the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God on behalf of us – your servants – so we won’t die, for we have added to all our sins by asking for a king.”
The people realized that God was not happy about Israel rejecting him as king and then asking for a replacement human king. They asked for Samuel to intercede in prayer for them.
12:20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed sinned. However, don’t turn aside from the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart.
If the people would be obedient to the Mosaic Law, then they had no one to fear. God would protect and bless them.
12:21 You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver, since they are empty.
Israel should not focus on empty idols who can accomplish nothing.
12:22 The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The Lord was pleased to make you his own people.
Jehovah made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jehovah would keep this promise to the patriarchs, even if Israel rebelled against Him.
12:23 As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright.
Samuel would be guilty of sin if he did not pray for Israel. Jeremiah spoke of Samuel as a great man of prayer.
12:24 However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!
If Israel fears God and follows His commandments, then they would have no reason to fear. They would be greatly blessed.
12:25 But if you continue to do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
If Israel continued to do evil (which they were guilty of at the present time), then Jehovah would remove Israel and their king out of the land. This prophecy would later be fulfilled during the Assyrian and Babylon captivities.