Sermon Tone Analysis

Leadership from Underneath: 1 Samuel 12

PRAY

INTRO: Elections coming up this week: Tuesday, November 6. - If only we could have confidence in those running for public office that they view themselves (and would behave accordingly) as servants of the people and bound in duty to what is right.

- Josh Hawley’s promise on a tv ad I saw (only once mind you, I VERY rarely watch any live TV and just happened to catch it) that he was not in it for himself but to serve the people of MO and that he would even stand up to his own party when he believed they weren’t doing what is right.

(Now of course those are campaign promises....

In politics and in life, the best we can do is try to find out if their track record matches up to their claims.)

Well, in our text today in 1 Samuel 12, Samuel gives a speech, but not to run for public office.

In fact, he’s stepping down as the primary leader in Israel.

He’s giving up out-front leadership bc the newly-crowned King Saul is now expected to be both judge and military leader.

What we have though is an old and wise Samuel who yet leads from underneath by holding the people accountable to sin before God, by proclaiming God's gracious deliverance, and by helping the people through prayer and instruction.

The first part of this public address to the people is Samuel’s defense of his ministry to this point:

Samuel Defends His Ministry (vv.

1-5)

I have done what you asked, in accordance with the will of God, in making you a king.

I have served you faithfully in leadership from my youth until this very day.

[the king now walks before you (leads), indeed, I am old and gray… and yes my sons are with you (as you yourselves have said about them, 8:5 and see v. 3 there)… but I have walked before you in plain sight)

(So now testify against me.

“Here I am.”)

I put myself and my servant leadership on trial before you this day.

(I stand trial here before the Lord and before his anointed king.)

What have I taken from you to line my own pockets?

(Did I ever make people pay me for keeping my responsibilities?)

Whom have I cheated (exploited) or mistreated (oppressed, crushed… by unjust use of one’s authority)?

Who among you can say that I have ever taken a bribe to pervert justice?

(If you can think of anything I will immediately restore it.

- He of course is completely confident there isn’t.)

The people vindicate Samuel’s upright leadership.

The matter is confirmed.

- The Lord is witness and your new leader is witness.

What was the point of that little defense?

— So that they would listen to him still in what else he is about to say (and in the future)!

[Before moving on in Samuel’s speech, here’s a thought of application for your to chew on later…]

Application: Could the integrity of your life stand trial?

[Let’s continue]

Samuel Judges the People (vv.

6-19)

Again, invoking God as witness, (who appointed Moses and Aaron for the purpose of deliverance)...

Samuel has them stand before him to judge them.

(And this judgment is according to the righteous deeds of God.)

Samuel’s overall point becomes this:

God is Deliverer

This is undisputed.

God in his mercy brought them up out of Egypt and planted them in Canaan.

(The underlying current is the continued faithfulness and kindness of God to deliver them when they “cried out” to him.

…clearly not bc they deserved it, but because of his mercy.)

Don’t pin your hopes on a mere man! [Our Savior was God-man…] Let us not elevate a man, even an important leader, to a place that he doesn’t belong.

We must not idolize men.

It is a danger always before us.

Let us never give to men that which belongs only to God.

Let us not suppose that “a man” will save us, that our future or the future of our church or of our nation depends on one man.

This is especially important to remember in presidential elections.

Men ought never to [be] idolized.

God is the ultimate source of our trials and testings and chastening, and God is ultimately the source of our salvation and blessing.

Men are, at best, only God’s instruments.

(Deffinbaugh)

Application: Are you looking to God by faith for deliverance?

Thus it is faith (trusting submission to God) that brings deliverance.

It is God who is Savior, Rescuer.

[and now let’s continue to listen to Samuel as he judges the people]

Israel’s Track Record & Recent Rebellion

Israel’s history of ignoring God to do things their own way, and their most recent rebellion in asking for a king - Israel’s history is evidence of God’s gracious care and righteous deeds! - A kindness and rebuke all at once to rehearse the history of God’s faithfulness to them (and to us).

Samuel recounts, in no particular order, some of the peoples that God allowed to oppress Israel in their disobedience as well as some judges God raised up for deliverance.

***

Because of their sin, God would allow their oppression by enemies around them.

In their despair, they would finally admit their sin and cry out to God for help: “We have sinned, bc we have forsaken the Lord...” [Baal - The Canaanite storm god and bringer of rain.

Chief of the Canaanite pantheon.

(The Lexham Bible Dictionary.) - Ashtaroth - plural form of Ashtoreth, the female counterpart of Baal]

In fear of Nahash you asked for a king (when God was your king).

- And now you have your king (whom God graciously used to deliver you… should be understood in this context.

- But you have failed to yet recognize your sin.)

Application: When we fail to see sin as sin (or treat sin as sin), we attempt to solve our problems by secular means.

[And now his speech shifts emphasis: That is what you have already done.

But let’s look ahead at where we go from here.]

Accountability to & Dependence on God Remains the Same

The Lord has set a king over you (v.

13b)

Having a king changes nothing regarding your obligation to God.

Nothing has changed with the appointment of a king over Israel.

You are accountable to God the same as before you had a king.

- God’s conditions for his divine blessing and cursing on his chosen people are the same as they always have been.

(If you obey… but if you will not obey…)

And even though you have a king, Israel is still completely dependent on God.

It is Him to whom they must submit.

It is Him in whom they should trust.

He is the one they should fear.

[And now Samuel caps off his powerful speech with a pretty effective audiovisual presentation!

:-)]

Samuel delivers a pretty mean speech (that means effective, for you literalists out there… or listeners under the age of 10).

There’s nothing quite like a good thunderstorm to get your audience’s attention and drive home a point.

And it is a rousing success - The People Confess and Cry Out for Help

So they agree with Samuel and admit their wrongdoing… they even ask him to intercede for them in prayer… no doubt to plead for God to be merciful.

- Interestingly, Samuel of course already knows that God IS merciful.

He also knows that they need more than just admission of guilt; that need to repent and change their ways.

- They don’t need just external deliverance, they need heart change.

Fortunately (in response to their fearful cry for help)…

Samuel Offers Hope & Help (vv.

20-25)

You have indeed failed.

You have committed this evil.

But don’t be afraid and don’t turn aside from God. Serve the Lord only with all your heart!

Notice the tender kindness of Samuel and God… - Samuel’s faithfulness to the people runs parallel to God’s faithfulness to them.

— Offering Hope in spite of their failure.

[To go through these final verses, I’d like to view it through the lens of applying it to ourselves…]

Application: What should we do when we fail?

(20b) Instead of turning away in shame, turn your heart back to God.