1 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
6 And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.
8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:
15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
The book of 1 Samuel is a historical narrative of the establishment of the Israelite monarchy and the reign of King Saul. Chapter 12 is a pivotal chapter in this book as it marks the transition of leadership from the prophet Samuel to King Saul. This chapter begins with Samuel addressing the people of Israel, reminding them of their history and their relationship with God. He then anoints Saul as king and warns the people of the consequences of rejecting God as their king. The main themes of this chapter include obedience, faithfulness, and the consequences of disobedience. Through this chapter, we learn about the importance of following God’s will and the dangers of turning away from Him.
The chapter opens with Samuel addressing the people of Israel, reminding them of their history and their relationship with God. He begins by asking the people to bear witness to his words and to testify against him if he has wronged them in any way. This shows Samuel’s integrity and his commitment to serving God and the people. He then recounts the history of the Israelites, from their time in Egypt to their journey to the promised land. He reminds them of how God delivered them from their enemies and established them as a nation. This serves as a reminder to the people of God’s faithfulness and the importance of remaining faithful to Him.
Samuel then rebukes the people for their disobedience and reminds them of how they rejected God as their king and asked for a human king instead. He emphasizes that their request for a king was a sin against God and that they should have trusted in Him to lead and guide them. This serves as a warning to the people about the dangers of disobedience and the importance of trusting in God’s plan.
After Samuel’s address, he anoints Saul as king in front of the people. This marks the official transition of leadership from Samuel to Saul. This anointing symbolizes God’s approval and blessing upon Saul as the chosen king of Israel. It also serves as a reminder to the people that God is the one who appoints and anoints leaders, and they should trust in His choices.
Samuel then gives Saul instructions on how to rule over the people and reminds him of his responsibilities as king. He also reminds Saul of the consequences of disobedience and warns him not to turn away from God. This shows the importance of obedience and faithfulness in leadership and the consequences of straying from God’s will.
Samuel then calls upon God to send thunder and rain as a sign to the people of Israel. This was an unusual request, as it was the dry season in Israel. However, God answers Samuel’s prayer and sends a thunderstorm, which the people interpret as a sign of God’s anger for their disobedience. This serves as a reminder to the people of the power and sovereignty of God and the consequences of disobeying Him.
Samuel ends his address by encouraging the people to continue to follow God and to serve Him with all their hearts. He reminds them that God will continue to be with them if they remain faithful and obedient. However, he also warns them that if they turn away from God and follow after worthless idols, they will face judgment and destruction. This serves as a final warning to the people to remain faithful to God and to trust in His guidance.
Chapter 12 of 1 Samuel carries several important messages for the readers. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His sovereignty over the nation of Israel. It also highlights the consequences of disobedience and the importance of obedience and faithfulness in leadership. Through Samuel’s address, we learn about the dangers of rejecting God and the importance of trusting in His will for our lives.
One of the main themes of this chapter is obedience. The Israelites’ request for a king was a disobedient act, as they were rejecting God’s chosen leader, Samuel. This serves as a warning to us about the dangers of disobedience and the importance of following God’s will for our lives. It also highlights the consequences of disobedience, as seen in the signs from God and Samuel’s warning to the people.
The anointing of Saul as king also carries a significant meaning. It symbolizes God’s approval and blessing upon Saul as the chosen leader of the Israelites. This serves as a reminder that God is the one who appoints and anoints leaders, and we should trust in His choices. It also shows the importance of leadership and the responsibilities that come with it.
The signs from God, such as the thunderstorm, serve as a reminder of His power and sovereignty. It also shows His displeasure with the people’s disobedience and their turning away from Him. This serves as a warning to us that God will judge those who reject Him and follow after other gods.
Finally, Samuel’s address to the people serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness throughout history. He recounts the history of the Israelites and how God has delivered them from their enemies and established them as a nation. This serves as a reminder that God is always with His people and will continue to guide and protect them if they remain faithful and obedient to Him.
In conclusion, chapter 12 of 1 Samuel in the KJV Holy Bible is a crucial chapter in the narrative of the establishment of the Israelite monarchy. It serves as a transition from the leadership of Samuel to King Saul and carries important messages about obedience, faithfulness, and the consequences of disobedience. Through this chapter, we learn about the importance of following God’s will and the dangers of turning away from Him. It also serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and sovereignty over His people. Ultimately, this chapter teaches us that God is the one who appoints and anoints leaders, and we should trust in His plan for our lives.
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