Structure:
A. Samuel judging himself v.1-512:3 Here I am. Bring a charge against me before the LORD and before his chosen king
B. Samuel judging Israel v.6-25
12:7 Now take your positions, so I may confront you before the LORD regarding all the LORD’s just actions toward you and your ancestors
C. Vindication of Samuel's judgment
12:16 “So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the LORD is about to do in your sight.
(1) By pointing out that he was upright but still the people wanted to replace him, Samuel accused the people of Israel that they wanted to replace God with a king even when God made them secure. Finally, he gave evident that the accusation was valid by the miracle of the storm over the harvest.
Reflections: People abandon God even when God was just and upright to His people just as they abandoned Samuel when he was just and upright to them.
Have we rejected God? Even when He has protected us, given us security we sought help from other sources? We search all the resources to solve our problem but we do not pray and we do not seek God.
(2) Even with the judgment from God, Samuel asked the people not to turn aside from the LORD into idols. Again, because the LORD did not abandon them. Samuel would not abandon them. He even considered that as a sin for ceasing to pray for them and instruct them.
12:23 As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright.
Reflections: I think Samuel was ready to give up the people in his heart, but he would not do so because God did not do so. Samuel probably exercised his submission to God and was willing to care for them. On the other hand, even if he was willing, the people were not under his leadership anymore. Praying for people who did not listen to you is a good way to show our care.
(3) The encouragements and the warnings v.14,15,24,25
12:14 If you fear the LORD, serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, all will be well.12:15 But if you don’t obey the LORD and rebel against what the LORD says, the hand of the LORD will be against both you and your king.
In other words, your king could not protect you against God. Both you and your king were under the rulership of God even you set up the king to replace God's position.
Reflection: God will never cease to be God whether we recognize Him or not. We can replace God with all we want, but God is still over us. We still need to obey Him if we do not want to be swept away.
2024
Bring spots
1. The main point: an accusation with God's back up
v.6 The LORD is the One who...
v.7 so I may confront you...regarding all the LORD's just actions towards you...
v.11 you were able to live securely
v.12 you said to me, "No! A king will rule over us.."
v.17b thunder and rain. Realize...what a great sin you have committed
2. Samuel did not meant for them to turn away from God because of their shame to their sins v.20. It was because God was pleased to make them His own people v.22.
(EBC) His intention to make Israel his own covenant people (Exod 19:5; cf. 1 Peter 2:9) was not because of any merit on their part (Deut 7:6–7). Far from it, he chose them because of his love for them and to fulfill the oath that he had sworn to their forefathers (Deut 7:8–9; cf. Gen 15:4–6, 13–18; 22:16–18).
(UBSH) The sense is that God will not abandon his people, because his reputation would suffer if he were to do so.
Therefore, as servant of God, Samuel did not turn away from them, but praying for them and instructing them v.23b. Otherwise, it is a sin against God v.23a.
Reflection
I have a terrible time last night teaching the Jr. Youth. I finished my teaching, but I did not pray with them. I prayed for them later last night at home.
I thank God to let me not only reading about Samuel, but also about God. He Himself is the one who please with His own people and will not leave them as His promise. And thus, as His servant my position is where His position is. Otherwise, it is a sin.
Questions:
1. The LORD told him to listen to all that the people are saying to him.
2. (1) the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of Egypt v.6. the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place v.8.
(2) But they forgot the LORD their God; so He sold them into the hand of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab v.9 (see how forgetting about God's goodness has repeated in 10:18). Have we ever forgotten about the goodness of God? What is the goodness of God to you personally? How serious is it about forgetting about God's goodness? How can we not to forget about God?
(3) 10 They cried out to the LORD v.10.the LORD sent Jerub-Baal, o Barak, p Jephthah and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you v.11
Summary: Their country had began when God led them v.6. He gave them leaders v.8a, land v.8b.
They would expect deliverance and safety if they continued to served the LORD.
If they rebel like what they did in the past (v.9) He would sold them into the hand of their enemies again.
3. v.22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. He promised Ab and He did this for His name or reputation to keep promise.
Samuel would pray for them and teach them as a servant of God.
I have a terrible time last night teaching the Jr. Youth. I finished my teaching, but I did not pray with them. I prayed for them later last night at home.
I thank God to let me not only reading about Samuel, but also about God. He Himself is the one who please with His own people and will not leave them as His promise. And thus, as His servant my position is where His position is. Otherwise, it is a sin.
4. My husband and my students in Jr. Youth and DMSS.
Audrey
Comments