1 Samuel 12

PURPOSE: To stop ourselves from excusing sin, but to come to Christ, confess it, and start to follow Jesus
again.

Saul has defeated the Ammonites. The kingdom was renewned in Gilgal before the Lord. It is not clear if
this speech happened at Gilgal or if this is a completely separate event. Samuel now speaks to the people
giving them his farewell speech. He is stepping down as judge/leader over the people as everything
transitions to King Saul. His speech can be divided into 3 parts. Vs1-5 “Samuel Reviews his Career”. 6-15
“Samuel Reviews Israel's History” 16-25”Samuel Rebukes the People”.

Vs1-5 “Samuel's Career”

Although Samuel may have been able to serve for many more years. The people have rejected him (and
God) for a king. They had demanded for a king, and a king they got. Now Samuel speaks quickly about his
life before them. He is making it clear that it is not because of any wrong he has done that they rejected
him for a king. Look at vs2-3.

Samuel asks the people 5 questions:

1. 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?
1. These 5 questions refer to his role as a judge/leader over the people. It is like he is saying “Look
now! Look at the time I have walked before you as leader/judge over you since my childhood.
Where have I abused my authority? Where have I done wrong as a judge? Where have I not
given justice?”
1. Samuel may not have been sinless, but his work was spotless. The people recognise this in
vs4-5. They confess that he had done them no wrong, and acknowledge that both the Lord
God and King Saul are witnesses to this fact and to their confession.

Q. What do you think? Is Samuel being prideful, protecting his reputation?

Q. Is it right for a Christian to protect his reputation against lies? Or should he suffer reproach and let the
Lord defend him?
==> Samuel is giving (1) Saul an example to follow in his position, (2) an example for us to follow in our
positions, and (3) Samuel is giving them no excuse. A time might come when the people will wish that they
didn't have a king ruling over them. When they see his many evils. Samuel doesn't want them to harden
their hearts and blame him for this mess. He wants to realise that this was their fault, and be brought to
repentance.
Illustration: unless a man knows that he is sick he will not seek medical help. If he keeps excusing his
sickness away he has no hope.
==> There are times when we must speak out so that sin may not be excused. God does not excuse sin, He
forgives it. As long as people keep excusing their sin there is no hope for them. God will not simply excuse
sin, and say it doesn't matter. It does matter! You have done a terrible crime against God! You can not
simply excuse it away. God does not excuse sin away, He forgives it. Sin must be dealt with.

Vs6-15 “Samuel Reviews Israel's History”

Samuel has just shown the people that it was not because of any wrong he had done that they have
rejected him for a king. Now he speaks of Israel's history. And he is showing the people that it is not
because of any wrong the Lord did that they have rejected the Lord instead for a king. Look in vs8-11

Samuel shows them a pattern in their history of deliverance (v. 8b), sin (v. 9a), defeat (v. 9b),
repentance (v. 10), and deliverance (v. 11).
 God delivered them out of Egypt. They forget the Lord. They were defeated by their enemies. They
repented and cried to the Lord. God rescued them from their enemies.
◦ In all of their history the Lord has been faithful. He has done them no wrong.
◦ In all of their history the people have been faithless, they have turned from the Lord, and done
wrong. Look in vs12.

Samuel points out their sin. They broke the cycle. Just like before, their enemies came to fight against
them. Instead of crying out to the Lord for their help like before, they asked for a king.

Q. What was their sin? Or What lead to their sin? What do you think?
==> Their sin was rejection. They rejected God and His provision, for a king. It was unbelief that lead to it.
==> notice what unbelief does. Unbelief removes God as king and puts yourself up as king. It tries to put
everything under your control, into your hand. It doesn't want what God has provided (Samuel).
Illustration: imagine a man sitting in a restaurant waiting for some food. But the food seems to be taking
a while. The man suddenly goes into the kitchen takes the pots out of the chefs hands and start to cook his
own food. That is what unbelief does. It tries to take the pots out of Gods hands so it can do it itself.

Q. is it wrong to ask the government for help? Is that unbelief?

==> No it is not unbelief when we ask the government for help. It is unbelief when we reject God's
provision. God has given us prayer and his word, even each other. When we refuse to pray, trust His word,
and ask Him for help, this is unbelief.

Vs16-25”Samuel Rebukes the People”

Samuel here shows them how great there sin is. He calls out to God to bring thunder and rain, and the
Lord answers his prayer, sending the thunder and rain. The people become very scared and ask Samuel to
pray for them to the Lord so that they might not die.

Q. Why are they scared for their lives?

==> They angered God! Rain during the wheat harvest is extremely extremely rare, almost unheard of. It is
very destructive. The crops can be destroyed. The rain can cause humidity and fungus to grow on the
wheat. If God remains angry at them, they might not be able to survive! The people now realise the evil
that they have done against God, and ask for Samuel to pray for them.
==> Sin brings the fear of God's judgement.
Illustration: sheep don't walk in straight lines. They walk a winding trail, from side to side. This is so they
can always keep one eye looking back to see who's chasing them. When we sin our eyes suddenly start
looking behind us to see if God's chasing us. Why? Because God has declared that the soul who sins shall
die. Make no mistake, a person who sins against God has the wrath of God against Him.

Now look at these words Samuel says to them in vs20-22.

They are scared for their lives. They know their sin. Samuel did not excuse their sin but dealt with it and
show how bad it really was. Samuel now comes and tells them that God has made them His people, and
that He will not forsake them. Samuel tells them not fear, and not to turn aside from following the Lord,
but to serve the Lord with all their heart. He warns them not to turn aside aside after empty things,
because they are empty.

Q. What do you do when fall into sin? What can we learn from Samuel's word to Israel?
==> Don't let your past sin stop you from serving the Lord! God has made you His child in Jesus Christ,
don't let your sin keep you away, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
==>Luther used to tell his friends to “be a sinner and sin boldly”. He wasn't talking about abusing God's
grace. But not letting your sins keep you away from or stop you from following the Lord with all your
heart. When we sin we must recognise that we have done wrong and deserve God's wrath. But our minds
must come back to Jesus, to the forgiveness and grace given in Him. There we see that our sins have been
forgiven, and from there we begin to follow the Lord again.

Conclusion: we saw some things tonight.

1. Samuel did not let himself become an excuse for the people's sins. He made them witness that his
work was blameless.
1. God has not given us our positions to cheat, abuse, or oppress people. May we use them as he
intended, walking openly before Him.
2. Samuel showed them their sin. They wouldn't trust God to save them but turned to their own ways.
1. God has given us the promise of His provision. He has given us all blessings in Jesus. May we not
not take the pots out of His hands, but truly trust Him in all that happens to us.
3. Samuel did not excuse their sin but showed them its seriousness.
1. Don't excuse yourself. Your sin does matter! It must be confessed. A sick man has no hope if he
denies his sickness!
4. Samuel led them to follow the Lord with all their hearts. They realised their sin and their danger.
1. Don't let your sins stop you from following the Lord. The Soul that sins will die, and in Christ God
has given us forgiveness, life and salvation. Don't run away and harden your hearts against Him,
but come back and follow Him with your whole heart. For He has made you His child.
5. Samuel has given us an example of a minister of God. He did not use his position for his own gain,
but walked before them with nothing to hide. He has not excused their sins, but has shown them
how great it truly is. Samuel did not condemn them either, but led them to follow the Lord with all
their hearts.
1. May we as ministers too be faithful as Samuel was. Walking in integrity, not excusing sin, but
leading all to repentance and faith in Jesus our Saviour, so they may follow Him with all their
hearts.
1. Samuel gives us a beautiful picture of our Lord Jesus who prays for us, interceding, turning
away Gods wrath and bringing God's grace and mercy.