Introduction

A. Testimony To Samuel—His Integrity (12:1-5) 1

1. The Declaration of Samuel’s Faithfulness (v.1-3) 1

2. The Affirmation of Samuel Faithfulness (v.4-5). 1

B. Testimony To The Lord—His Faithfulness (12:6-12). 1

1. The Session In History (v.6-12). 1

C. The Test For Israel—To Serve God Under Their New King (12:13-25) 1

1. The Selection For Israel (v.13-15). 1

2. The Sign Of God (v.16-18). 1

3. The Sin of Israel—Desiring a king (v.19). 1

4. The Specifics of Israel—Samuel exhorts Israel to walk right with the LORD today (v.20-25). 1

I. Samuel’s Farwell speech (12:1-25)

In this chapter Samuel, resigning the government to Saul, asserts the integrity with which he had performed his office, and calls upon the people of Israel to Affirm his faithfulness, and they did (1Sam.12:1-5). He then reminds them of the goodness & faithfulness of the Lord in times past (1Sam.12:6-12). Samuel goes on to tell them of their desire for a king when the Lord was their King and exhorts them to fear and serve the Lord (v.13-15). Samuel then gives them a sign from God by calling for thunder in an unusual time and then comforts and encourages them, that in doing their duty God would be with them, and not forsake them, otherwise they might expect nothing but ruin and destruction (1Sam.12:20-25).

A. Testimony To Samuel—His Integrity (12:1-5)

1. The Declaration of Samuel’s Faithfulness (v.1-3)

a) Samuel Heeded their voice for a king (8:1-4)

b) Samuel, was old, & walked before them from his childhood (2Tim.3:15)

c) Not stolen, taken, defrauded oppressed, or received a bribe

(1) Samuel judged with just judgment, not perverting justice, no partiality (Deut.16:18-20)

(2) Bribe—blinds the eyes of the wise, twists the words of the righteous.

(3) Blameless

2. The Affirmation of Samuel Faithfulness (v.4-5).

a) You have not defrauded—blameless

b) Leviticus (19:13; Ex.22:7-15, 21-27)

B. Testimony To The Lord—His Faithfulness (12:6-12).

1. The Session In History (v.6-12).

a) The Lord raised up Moses & Aaron (Ex.3:7ff; 4:14ff)

b) Samuel reasons with them, concerning the Lords righteous acts (v.7)

(1) Isaiah 1:18

(2) The Lord brought their father out of Ehypt (v.8)

(3) Upon forgetting the Lord, He sold them into slavery. They cried out, the Lord delivered them (v.9-11)

c) They cried for a king, when the Lord was their king.

C. The Test For Israel—To Serve God Under Their New King (12:13-25)

1. The Selection For Israel (v.13-15).

a) Here is your king you desired and chose (v.13).

(1) In other words, you got what you wanted. Sometimes God gives us what we want even when its not what He want’s for us, to show us the poor choice we have made.

(2) Fear the Lord (v.14).

(3) Serve Him (v.14).

(4) Obey Him (v.14).

(5) The Result: will be a continuing of following the Lord (v.14).

b) If you do not (v.15).

(1) The hand of the Lord will be against you as it was your fathers (v.15).

(2) God is the same yesterday, today, & forever. He will not allow His children to get away with disobedience (Heb.12:5-11).

(3) I want “the good hand of God upon me” (Neh.2:8).

(4) If God be for us who can be against us (Rom.8:31).

(a) Sometimes God’s hand is against us because we brought it upon ourselves

(b) Other times God’s hand is against us (we think) when it is actually working for good (Gen.42:36; 45:1-8; 50:15-21; Rom.8:28).

2. The Sign Of God (v.16-18).

a) Stand and see this great thing (v.16).

(1) Moses said that about parting the red sea (Ex.14:13, 31)

b) Thunder and Rain at the wheat harvest (v.17).

(1) Explain wheat harvest.

(2) Purpose: to see their great wickedness in asking for a king

c) The Result (v.18)

(1) Samuel prayed, having faith like Elijah (James 5:17-18).

(2) God answered.

(3) The people feared.

3. The Sin of Israel—Desiring a king (v.19).

a) After the sign they seen their sin.

(1) Pray for us-confession

(2) Pray for us-intercession.

4. The Specifics of Israel—Samuel exhorts Israel to walk right with the LORD today (v.20-25).

a) Do not fear (v.20).

(1) Is this the same as “fear” in (2Tim.1:7)?

b) Do not turn aside from following the Lord (v.22).

(1) Turning aside will lead to going after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.

(a) They were seeking Him for the wrong reasons (John 6:26ff).

(2) But God is everything.

(a) He is our portion (Num.18:20).

(b) He fed the 5,000 giving them as much as they wanted (John 6:11).

(c) They were all filled (John 6:12), even having leftovers (John 13).

(d) He alone has the Words to eternal life (John 6:68)..

c) The Lord is Faithful (v.22)

(1) Even the cows did not turn to the right or left (1Sam.6:10-12).

(2) He will not forsake you for His great name sake (v.22).

(3) It has pleased the Lord to make you His people.

(a) It pleased the Lord to bruise His Son (Is.53:10).

(b) His Son was pleasing to Him (Matt.17:5).

(c) We are well pleasing to the Lord, for we are accepted in the beloved (Eph.1:6)..

1 Samuel 12:1-25 - Samuel’s Farwell speech