Samuel's Farewell Address
Notes
Transcript
I. Aim to Finish Well
I. Aim to Finish Well
“Walk before you” = in the public eye as a leader
Samuel has a long history of service, and has so much integrity that he can challenge them to report any wrongdoing.
Three examples of a leader misusing his office
Stealing
Fraud/Oppression
Bribe
significance of the claim to honesty is the implication that honesty strengthens the right of the office holder to continue in that position while dishonesty is the reverse. Moses says a similar thing when challenged by Korah’s rebellion Numbers 16:15
Then Moses was very angry, and said to the Lord, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.”
Samuel has been a Levite, a judge, and a prophet. He gave up the Levitical roles when he became a man. He has been a judge all this time, but now that there is a King, he will no longer be a judge. However, he will continue his function as a prophet. So this is his farewell, not from public service, but from his role as a judge.
The grace of finishing well.
II. Remember Your Deliverer
II. Remember Your Deliverer
The brief history of Israel here functions to remind them that their desire for safety has always been met when they cried out to God and served him.
Sisera (Deborah and Barak; Judges 4-5 ); Philistines (Samuel; 1 Samuel 7 ); and King of Moab (Ehud; Judges 3:12-30)
In each case when they repented of their idolatry and asked God for help, God appointed a man to deliver them. (Jerrubaal = Gideon, Judges 6; Jephthah, Judges 11; Samuel himself)
Result was always what they most wanted here - they lived free from danger from outsiders. It was never just that an individual delivered them; it was God behind it. So after Samuel dies, God could still do that just has he had in the past. They are rejecting that, thinking that Samuel himself is the essential thing to their safety, not the God behind him.
Unlike nations, individuals do go through life-changes and changes in roles that are not wrong, but a result of serving God. However, sometimes people seek a new role (job, location, spouse) because they think that will solve their problems, when what they really need is to turn back to God. They forget that God is still the one who hears us and delivers us, so they make a change for the worse because that wasn’t the way to fix it.
Remember what God has done for you in the past.
III. Fear God, not Man
III. Fear God, not Man
They feared what Nahash could do to them, when they should have feared what God would do to them if they failed to serve him.
The addition of a king would not exempt them from following God as they wanted. If they were to succeed, they must follow God just as much as before.
Wheat Harvest took place May-June. It was the dry season and it doesn’t rain in Israel then. But the rain would cause the wheat to rot in the field, if it continued. That would create famine. But why frighten them? Because they have lost their focus- they think the real threat is Nahash. The real threat is God, if they don’t follow him. Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
It’s easy to lose our focus, to think the problem is the problem people around us, when God can easily remove our problems, if he chooses.
IV. God’s Grace goes with his Servants
IV. God’s Grace goes with his Servants
Now sufficiently frightened of God, they must be encouraged by God’s grace. Fear is not a sufficient motivator to follow God by itself. If you want the power to live for God, you must become enthralled by his grace.
Despite their evil actions, God promises to not forsake them. Not because of anything in them, but because of his own glory. Salvation is not about you. God doesn’t save you because you are so great, but because he is so great. So its not enough to fear God’s wrath. You must also be comforted by his grace. Only then will you discover the real power to live a victorious Christian life.
Samuel will continue his faithful role as prophet - To pray and to teach
So how do you sin by failing to pray? [1 Thess 5:17 ] I suggest here that it means not being willing to stand in the gap, to intercede for those who need it.
Moses interceded for Israel, and God heard him and Israel was not destroyed. Without Moses they would have been.
God ordered Jeremiah not to pray for Israel, because there was no longer any opportunity to stand in the gap. Jeremiah 7:16
“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.
God sought a man to stand in the gap in Ezekiel’s day, so he wouldn’t have to destroy it Ezekiel 22:30
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
Teaching was the other, primary role of the prophet. It’s also the role of the pastor.
The final note mixes the threat and the grace - fail to fear and obey God who does great things for you and you and your king will be swept away. They did fail, and the king was swept away, so it wasn’t an idle threat.