Bible Studies:What does 1 Samuel chapter 12 mean?
Chapter Context
Samuel was the last of Israel's "judges" who served when Israel came into Canaan (Judges 2:16–19). Here, he transitions into his role as the first of Israel's national prophets. This chapter is his speech explaining this change. The speech may or may not have been given at the sacrificial celebration at Gilgal to renew the kingship of Saul, which is described at the end of the previous chapter (1 Samuel 11:14–15). Though Samuel will continue to serve as the Lord's prophet in Israel, he will no longer be the main political leader and judge. Saul's early decisions as king become the focus of the following chapters (1 Samuel 13—15).
What does 1 Samuel chapter 12 mean?
Many translations title this chapter "Samuel's Farewell Address" or something similar. That can be misleading, because Samuel is not dying or retiring at the time. Samuel is making a speech to the assembled people of Israel and their new king, Saul, concluding Samuel's political role as Israel's judge and deliverer. However, he will continue to serve as the prophet of the Lord to Israel so long as he lives (1 Samuel 12:23).
Samuel begins by declaring God's supremacy in all he has done as a judge. This includes Israel's choice to appoint a human king. Now that king has officially taken the throne. After a lifetime of service to Israel since his youth, Samuel describes himself as old and gray (1 Samuel 12:1–2).
Samuel invites anyone among the Israelites who feels that he has abused his authority to come forward and say so now. He wants to leave behind this position with a clean record before God and the people. Has he taken anyone's property? Has he defrauded or oppressed anyone? Has he taken any bribes? Samuel asks for anyone who would make such a claim to come forward and offer testimony. The people respond by saying that Samuel has not done any of these things, and Samuel declares the Lord and the king to be witness to this legal affirmation (1 Samuel 12:3–5).
Samuel's next topic is the Lord's goodness and faithfulness to Israel. This covers what was then about eight hundred years of their history. He gives a thumbnail reminder of those centuries, beginning with the Egyptian oppression of Israel during their years in Egypt and God's rescue of them through Moses and Aaron (1 Samuel 12:6–8).
In this record, Samuel also includes Israel's pattern of unfaithfulness to the Lord. After being given the Promised Land, the people continually disobeyed and insulted God (Judges 2:11–23). As He had promised, the Lord responded by selling them into the hands of enemies such as Sisera and the Philistines and the king of Moab. When Israel's suffering became intense, the people repeated their pattern of crying out to the Lord in repentance and asking for help (Judges 2:16–19). The Lord repeated His pattern of raising up a deliverer to free them, including judges such as Jerubbaal—also known as Gideon—Barak, Jephthah, and finally Samuel himself (1 Samuel 12:9–11).
After all God's faithfulness through that history, though, Israel still responded to the threat posed by Nahash and the Ammonites by asking for a human king to lead them (1 Samuel 8; 11). Samuel insists that this was a rejection of the Lord (1 Samuel 8:7–9), who had been their King all along. But now an earthly king has been established over them by the Lord (1 Samuel 10—11). The covenant with God remains. If the king and the people will fear and serve God and obey Him and not live in rebellion against His commandments, all will be well with them. If the king and the people disobey the Lord and rebel against Him, the Lord will turn against them (1 Samuel 12:12–15).
Samuel then provides a powerful demonstration to prove his perspective. He wants them to understand that God is not happy with their choice, even though He has chosen to allow it. Samuel calls to the Lord to send a violent storm, even though it is the time of the wheat harvest when it almost never rains. The Israelites are terrified by the resulting storm. They beg Samuel for mercy for their current and prior sins. Samuel tells them to be brave and faithful. They are to serve God with all their hearts and not fall into worshipping empty idols. God will not forsake His people because of His name and because it pleased Him to make Israel His people (1 Samuel 12:16–22).
Samuel comforts the people by telling them that he will remain the Lord's prophet to Israel. Samuel concludes his speech by repeating God's instructions: fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully. They should remember all the great things God had done for them. Samuel reminds the people that if they act wickedly, the Lord will sweep them, and their king, away (1 Samuel 12:23–25).
