1 Samuel 12
Saul is now king over Israel, and Samuel no longer has the job of judging Israel.
This chapter is his final speech to the nation. His first question is basically "Did I do a good job, did I rob anybody? take anything? Oppressed anybody? take a bribe? If so tell me and I will make it right"
The people confirm that Samuel has never done any of these things.
Samuel calls on God to witness this, then gives a bit of history -
God appointed Moses and Aaron to liberate Israel from slavery, but Israel forgot God and he handed them over to Sisera and Hazor, the Philistines, and Moabites until Israel came back to God confessing this worship of other gods.
God sent Jerub-Baal (Gideon), Barak, Jephthah and Samuel to deliver Israel from the hands of their oppressors Now when Nahash the king of Ammon coming against them they demand a king, even though God himself was their king
Israel is to keep on obaying God and they and their king will be ok, but if not then expect the worst - it may well happen.
Samuel prayed to God for a thunderstorm to reinforce that Israel's real king is God himself - when it came it rather dismayed the Israelites.
They ask Samuel to continue to pray for them and that they would not be killed by God for this rejection of God.
Samuel tells them that it is beyond him not to pray, and exhorts Israel to follow God, turning away after Idols is futile - an Idol cannot save anybody nor can they do any good.
God will not disown Israel as that would be against his own character
Samuel now takes more of a back seat and allows king Saul to rule the country, but in fact, Samuel is the nations conscience, and reminds Israel of the commands of God
Saul is now king over Israel, and Samuel no longer has the job of judging Israel.
This chapter is his final speech to the nation. His first question is basically "Did I do a good job, did I rob anybody? take anything? Oppressed anybody? take a bribe? If so tell me and I will make it right"
The people confirm that Samuel has never done any of these things.
Samuel calls on God to witness this, then gives a bit of history -
God appointed Moses and Aaron to liberate Israel from slavery, but Israel forgot God and he handed them over to Sisera and Hazor, the Philistines, and Moabites until Israel came back to God confessing this worship of other gods.
God sent Jerub-Baal (Gideon), Barak, Jephthah and Samuel to deliver Israel from the hands of their oppressors Now when Nahash the king of Ammon coming against them they demand a king, even though God himself was their king
Israel is to keep on obaying God and they and their king will be ok, but if not then expect the worst - it may well happen.
Samuel prayed to God for a thunderstorm to reinforce that Israel's real king is God himself - when it came it rather dismayed the Israelites.
They ask Samuel to continue to pray for them and that they would not be killed by God for this rejection of God.
Samuel tells them that it is beyond him not to pray, and exhorts Israel to follow God, turning away after Idols is futile - an Idol cannot save anybody nor can they do any good.
God will not disown Israel as that would be against his own character
Samuel now takes more of a back seat and allows king Saul to rule the country, but in fact, Samuel is the nations conscience, and reminds Israel of the commands of God
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