Samuel Defends His Integrity
Study note
Samuel stood before all of Israel and challenged the people to accuse him of any wrongdoing during his years of service. Had he stolen from anyone? Had he cheated anyone? Had he taken bribes? The people confirmed that Samuel had been completely honest and fair. This was a powerful contrast to the warnings Samuel had given about how a king would treat them.
1 Samuel addressed all of Israel. He said, "I have listened to everything you asked of me, and I have given you a king." 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.
2 "Now you have a king to lead you. As for me, I am old and gray-haired. My sons are right here among you. I have been your leader from the time I was young until today." 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.
3 "Here I am. Tell me honestly in the presence of the Lord and his anointed king: Did I ever steal anyone's ox? Did I ever take anyone's donkey? Did I ever cheat anybody or push anyone around? Did I ever accept a bribe to look the other way? If I did any of these things, I will make it right." 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.
4 The people answered, "You never cheated us. You never mistreated us. You never took anything from anyone." And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
5 Samuel said, "The Lord and his anointed king are witnesses today that you have found nothing wrong with how I have treated you." They answered, "They are our witnesses." 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.
Samuel Reviews Israel's History
Study note
Samuel reminded the people of God's faithfulness throughout their history. God had sent Moses and Aaron to deliver them from Egypt. Whenever they forgot God and served idols, God let their enemies defeat them. But whenever they cried out to God in repentance, he sent judges like Gideon (also called Jerubbaal), Barak (also called Bedan), Jephthah, and Samuel himself to rescue them. Despite all this, when they saw Nahash the Ammonite coming against them, they demanded a human king instead of trusting God.
6 Samuel continued, "It was the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors out of Egypt." 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.
7 "Now stand here while I lay out before the Lord all the good and righteous things he has done for you and your ancestors." 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.
8 "After Jacob's family went down to Egypt, your ancestors cried out to the Lord for help. The Lord sent Moses and Aaron to lead them out of Egypt and settle them here in this land." 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.
9 "But they forgot about the Lord their God. So he let them fall into the hands of Sisera, the army commander from Hazor, into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the king of Moab. All of these enemies attacked them." 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.
10 "Then they cried out to the Lord again: 'We have sinned! We abandoned the Lord and worshipped the Baals and Ashtaroth idols. But please rescue us from our enemies, and we will serve you.'" 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.
11 "So the Lord sent Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel to rescue you. He saved you from the enemies all around you, and you were able to live in safety." 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.
12 "But then you saw Nahash, the Ammonite king, march toward you. You said, 'No, we want a king!' But the Lord your God was your king." 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.
Thunder as a Sign of God's Power
Study note
Samuel told the people that their choice to have a king was wrong, but God would still bless them if they obeyed him. To prove that God was displeased, Samuel called on the Lord to send thunder and rain during the wheat harvest, a time when rain was extremely unusual in Israel. When the thunder and rain came, the people were terrified and begged Samuel to pray for them, admitting they had sinned by asking for a king.
13 "Well, here he is: the king you picked out, the one you begged for. The Lord has placed a king over you." Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
14 "Fear the Lord. Serve him. Obey him. Do not fight his commands. If you and your king follow the Lord your God, all will go well." 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:
15 "But if you refuse to obey the Lord, his hand will strike you hard. It struck your fathers the same way." 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.
16 "Now stand still and watch what the Lord is about to do right before your eyes." Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
17 "Is it not the wheat harvest right now? I am going to ask the Lord to send thunder and rain. When he does, you will realize how wrong it was in the Lord's eyes for you to demand a king." 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.
18 Samuel called out to the Lord, and that very day the Lord sent thunder and rain. Every person in the crowd was filled with dread of the Lord and of Samuel. 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.
19 They all pleaded with Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for us! We do not want to die! On top of all our other sins, we have now added the sin of asking for a king." 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.
Samuel's Final Encouragement
Study note
Samuel comforted the frightened people. He told them not to be afraid because even though they had sinned, God would not abandon them. He promised to continue praying for them and teaching them the right way to live. But he gave a final warning: if they and their king continued to do evil, both they and their king would be destroyed.
20 Samuel reassured them, "Don't be afraid. Yes, you have done all this wrong. But whatever you do, do not walk away from the Lord. Serve him with your whole heart." 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;
21 "Do not chase after worthless idols. They are useless. They cannot help you. They cannot rescue you. They are nothing." And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
22 "The Lord will never abandon his people, because it made him happy to claim you as his very own." 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.
23 "As for me, I would never commit the sin of stopping my prayers for you. I will keep on teaching you to live in the way that is good and right." 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:
24 "Respect the Lord and serve him faithfully with everything you have. Look back and remember all the incredible things he has done for you." Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
25 "But if you insist on doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away." But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.