As noted in my previous Blog,
Saul hits his high-water mark. He shows
exceptional leadership. It is not
certain, nor the place known, where Chapter 12 takes place, but now there is the
beginning of the end. Samuel the judge of Israel is now transitioning the nation
to their chosen destiny with a kingdom.
This is neither a retirement ceremony nor is he relinquishing his
duty. It is a transitional speech. “And
now, behold, the king walks before you . . ..”[1]
The first part of the speech is intended to release Samuel
from any wrongdoing. After asking some
leading questions the nation responded: “You have not defrauded us or
oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.”[2]
The next part of the speech absolves God Himself of any
wrongdoing. Instead of God being held in
disapproval, the nation itself is condemned. In view of their desire to have
their own human king; and now that this is accomplished, Samuel calls them to
obedience to God. “If you will fear the Lord
and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who
reigns over you will follow the Lord
your God, it will be well.” (1 Samuel 12:14, ESV).
As a sign of God’s displeasure, God sent them a sign, an
unusual flash flood during a dry season. “and all the people greatly feared
the Lord and Samuel. And
all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to the Lord
your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to
ask for ourselves a king.’”[3] Samuel comforted the people and reminded
them, from this day forward to not “turn aside” from following God. “And do
not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are
empty.” (1 Samuel 12:21, ESV). Then
Samuel said these two things of comfort:
1. “The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great
name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself;”[4] and
2. “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord
by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right
way.”[5]
Samuel then ended his speech with this exhortation: “Only
fear the Lord and serve him
faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for
you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your
king.”” (1 Samuel 12:24–25, ESV). The fate of this nation and its king
hinges on being faithful to their covenant God.
There is an obvious and troubling problem in this story. God said to Israel, “For the Lord will not forsake his people, for
his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself” (1 Samuel 12:22,
ESV); but then Samuel warns the people: “But if you still do wickedly, you
shall be swept away, both you and your king.”” (1 Samuel 12:25, ESV). These verses represent the blessings and
curses sections that were part of ancient suzerainty covenants. This is a clear
reminder of the blessings-and-curses terminology of Deuteronomy
which is summarized by this verse: ““But if you will not obey the voice of
the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes
that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and
overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:15, ESV).
This is God’s demand on the nation of Israel: obey and be
blessed; disobey and perish. In this scenario
of the Mosaic covenant, it is clearly conditional. God will bless upon perfect obedience. Who can perform such perfection? Who can possibly be perfect enough to
guarantee God’s blessing? Answer? No
one. But then we read this words in Deuteronomy
29:4 (ESV),
“4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to
understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.”
And in Chapter 30 we read: “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart
and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul, that you may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:6, ESV).
What is not stated in 1 Samuel 12 is stated here in the
Deuteronomic Covenant. In order to fulfill the demands of God, God Himself must
initiate a change of heart within the individual. The Apostle Paul interprets Deuteronomy
30:11–14, in Romans
10:6-8 to show that this righteousness demanded by God can only be achieved
by faith in Jesus Christ, not based on the Law. Paul interprets Deuteronomy 30
as fulfilled by Christ. By extension
Samuel’s speech to the nation can only be fulfilled by Christ.
When we read Samuel’s speech we should tremble. If we obey, we will be blessed. If we disobey, we will be cursed. But we are all sinners by nature and by
choice. How does one find comfort in
such demands? The answer is found by having faith in Jesus Christ who is our
righteousness.
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested
apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the
righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For
there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be
received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine
forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at
the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has
faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:21–26, ESV)
There’s our comfort!
There’s the Gospel!
[1] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 12:2). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
[2] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 12:4). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
[3] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 12:18–19). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
[4] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 12:22). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
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