1 SAMUEL LESSON 12


     We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 12:1 "And Samuel said unto
all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye
said unto me, and have made a king over you."

     Samuel did not want them to have an earthly king, because he felt
it offended God. God told Samuel to bow to the wishes of the people,
and give them a king. One thing this did do, was to take all authority
away from Samuel's evil sons. In answer to their request, they now
have a king. His name is Saul. Saul would be their military leader,
and their civil leader. Samuel was still the leader of the spiritual
side of their life. Samuel continues in his office as judge and
prophet.  The difference is, now for the first time, Israel has an
earthly king.

     I Samuel 12:2 "And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and
I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons [are] with you: and I
have walked before you from my childhood unto this day."

     We still do not know just how old he is speaking of. I believe
he is saying, he is too old to lead them militarily. Some of the
weight of the people has been removed from him. Samuel will still be
involved in the morality of the nation, but will not lead them in
their battles against the Philistines and other enemies. His sons have
been removed from their positions. They are part of the people now,
and they will be shown no special favors. Samuel reminds them, that he
has been in the service of the LORD since his childhood {probably from
the age of 3 years old}. His entire life has been spent in the service
of the LORD.  His mother dedicated him before his birth.

     I Samuel 12:3 "Behold, here I [am]: witness against me before the
LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass
have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of
whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes therewith?
and I will restore it you."

     Samuel was above reproach. He had not done any of these evil
things.  It was his sons who had taken bribes. Samuel had never
received anything from anyone to sway his favor in judgement. There
has never even been a charge made against Samuel. Everyone knew of his
honesty and integrity.

     I Samuel 12:4 "And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor
oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand."

     This is a vote of confidence, that the people gave Samuel. They
knew that Samuel had been an upright judge in all he judged. There was
no mark against him.

     I Samuel 12:5 "And he said unto them, The LORD [is] witness
against you, and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not
found ought in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness."
     This was the same thing as taking an oath, that he had never
taken from any of them. When God is witness, it serves as an oath.

     I Samuel 12:6  "And Samuel said unto the people, [It is] the LORD
that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of
the land of Egypt."

     Moses and Aaron were from poor Hebrew families serving as slaves
in Egypt. It was the LORD who chose them out of this situation, and
made them the leaders of Israel. It was the LORD, working through
Moses, that caused the Pharaoh to let the people go. God was their
King, and his servants {Moses and Aaron} brought the children out of
Egypt, after the ten plagues fell on Egypt.

     I Samuel 12:7 "Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with
you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he
did to you and to your fathers."

     Samuel is explaining to them, that they had a King who was
greater than any earthly king. Samuel wants them to recognize where
their help has come from all this time. The LORD of all the earth had
been their King.

     I Samuel 12:8 "When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers
cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought
forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place."

     The families had not continued in the praise of the LORD for
bringing them out of Egypt, and putting them in this promised land,
they now have. They had forgotten that the LORD opened the Red Sea for
them to cross, and get away from Pharaoh. They had forgotten that the
LORD furnished them water to drink from the Rock. They had forgotten
that the Lord miraculously fed them Manna from heaven 40 years in the
wilderness. They had forgotten that it was the LORD who entrusted them
with His law. They had forgotten the opening of the Jordan River, so
they might pass over to their promised land. They forgot all the times
He had fought their enemies for them.

     I Samuel 12:9 "And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold
them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into
the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab,
and they fought against them."

     Their problems came, when they were unfaithful to the LORD, and
sought false gods to worship. Even their troubles had come to drive
them back to the LORD. He loved them, and cared for them as a husband
does a wife. They were unfaithful, and rebelled against Him at every
chance.

     I Samuel 12:10 "And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have
sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and
Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we
will serve thee."

     Every time they repented, and cried out to the LORD for help, and
turned from the false gods Ashteroth and Baalim, God helped them.

     I Samuel 12:11 "And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and
Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your
enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe."

     "Jerubbaal" is the same as Samson. Bedan is an unknown. Possibly,
it is another spelling for Barak. "Jephthah", was a very prominent
judge, as well. During the period each judge was in power, their
enemies had been subdued.

     I Samuel 12:12 "And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the
children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king
shall reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king."

     He had, probably, been threatening war on these people, before
they asked for an earthly king. Their heavenly King had delivered them
over and over. They should have trusted in Him, but they did not. This
is the climax of their unfaithfulness in the LORD as King.

     I Samuel 12:13 "Now therefore behold the king whom ye have
chosen, [and] whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a
king over you."

     For the first time since Israel had been a nation, they now have
an earthly king like the heathens around them. Saul is king of Israel.

     I Samuel 12:14 "If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey
his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then
shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue
following the LORD your God:"

     This has been the condition of their blessings from the
beginning. If they remain faithful to the LORD and keep His
commandments, they shall be blessed tremendously. The king is subject
to the laws and commandments of the LORD, as well as the people are.
For Israel to do well, they must reverence the LORD, and keep His
commandments {with or without a king}.

     I Samuel 12:15 "But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD,
but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of
the LORD be against you, as [it was] against your fathers."

     It is the same throughout the Bible. When they become unfaithful
to Him, and begin to follow after false gods, He will chastise them
with defeat at the hands of their enemies.

     I Samuel 12:16  "Now therefore stand and see this great thing,
which the LORD will do before your eyes."

     He wants them to be totally aware, that it is the LORD who does
this. It is not Samuel, or Saul, it is the LORD. He may work through
them, but it is the LORD.
     I Samuel 12:17 "[Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call
unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may
perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done
in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king."

     This would be an unnatural time for rain. Samuel is calling for
this rain, to leave no doubt in the minds of the Israelites, that the
LORD is displeased, that they want an earthly king. This is rejection
of the LORD. They have been rejecting and rebelling against Him from
the beginning. This is a sign to them of their great sin.

     I Samuel 12:18 "So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent
thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD
and Samuel."

     At the very minute this is happening, they recognize it as
punishment for their sins. They greatly fear the LORD who can send
rain at any given time. They fear Samuel, because he can pray and have
an immediate answer. The problem with the fear they have, here, is
this is in the form of terror, rather than in reverence.

     I Samuel 12:19 "And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy
servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added
unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king."

     They fear that the LORD will be so angry with this latest sin,
that He will kill them. They feel that Samuel has an access to the
LORD, that they do not have. This is why they ask him to pray.

     I Samuel 12:20  "And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye
have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the
LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;"

     There is no question, they have sinned. The LORD will forgive
them, as He has so many times in the past, if they will turn from
their wicked ways, and worship and serve Him. They must worship the
LORD in their hearts and have faith, and He will save them.

     I Samuel 12:21 "And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go]
after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are]
vain."

     Those that go after vain things, are those who chase after things
of this world. He is saying, do not become worldly people. The things
of this earth are the creations of God. They should worship the
Creator, and not His creation.

     I Samuel 12:22 "For the LORD will not forsake his people for his
great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his
people."

     God had chosen them out of all the people in the world to be His
people. They are not only His creation, but His family. Everyone is
God's creation. Those who love Him, and accept Him as their Saviour,
are His sons. I John 3:2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it
doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

     I Samuel 12:23 "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin
against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the
good and the right way:"

     This is separating the office of the Judge and prophet from the
office of the king. Samuel will still be responsible for the moral
side of their lives. He will pray for them, and guide them into the
truth about the Lord. Samuel will still judge them on moral issues, as
well. Samuel's service to the LORD was for his entire life. It would
be a sin for Samuel not to continue in the service as Judge and
prophet of God.

     I Samuel 12:24 "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with
all your heart; for consider how great [things] he hath done for you."

     The fact that they now have a king, does not altar the fact that
they must reverence the LORD with all their hearts. Their first
loyalty must be to the LORD. He has made them everything that they
are. He has blessed them, as long as they are faithful to Him. They
must hang on to their faith now.

     I Samuel 12:25 "But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be
consumed, both ye and your king."

     The king, or the people, are not exempt from punishment, if they
turn away from the LORD to other gods. If they turn to wickedness and
away from the One True God, they will be totally destroyed.























                        1 Samuel 12 Questions


1.  Samuel did not want them to have an ___________ _________.
2.  Why is Samuel giving them a king?
3.  Who will be the king of Israel?
4.  Who was still their leader in spiritual things?
5.  How does Samuel describe himself in verse 2?
6.  What has happened to the sons of Samuel?
7.  How old was Samuel, when he began to minister?
8.  What questions did Samuel ask the people in verse 3?
9.  What did the people say to Samuel?
10. Verse 5 was the same as taking an _________.
11. Who advanced Moses and Aaron?
12. _____ was their King.
13. After the ______ ________ fell on Egypt, the Pharaoh let them go.
14. Their help had come from the _________.
15. What were some of the miracles God had done for them, they had
    forgotten?
16. What happened to them, when they forgot about God?
17. God loved them and cared for them as a ________ does a ______.
18. Who were the two false gods they worshipped?
19. Who was "Jerubbaal"?
20. What was "Jephthah"?
21. What happened to their enemies, every time there was a judge in
    power?
22. When did they demand an earthly king to lead them?
23. _______ is the king of Israel.
24. What was the condition of their blessings from God, from the
    beginning?
25. When did God chastise them?
26. Who chose their king?
27. What thing did Samuel pray for God to do, to show them He was
    displeased with them wanting an earthly king?
28. What effect did it have on the people when it happened?
29. What is wrong with their fear in verse 18?
30. Why are they begging Samuel to pray for them?
31. Those who go after vain things, are those who chase after
    _________ __ _____ ________.
32. The Israelites are not only God's creation, but _______ _________.
33. Quote 1 John chapter 3 verse 2.
34. How would it be possible for Samuel to sin?
35. Quote 1 Samuel chapter 12 verse 24.