1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12

MacArthur explains that "Though rain during the wheat harvest (late May to early June) was unusual, the Lord sent the rain and thunder to authenticate Samuel's words to the people. (Borrow MacArthur Study Bible) Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the LORD by asking for yourselves a king - Samuel wanted to make it crystal clear that just because Israel now had a king as requested, they still needed to understand that what they had asked was a sin against the God. Samuel even says this wickedness is great! Yes, they had sinned but 1Sa 12:14 was God's gracious promise to them even in face of their sin and it was a promise to do good to them if they obeyed Him. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - In northern latitudes, thunder and rain are far from being uncommon during harvest. But rain is hardly ever known in Palestine during that season, which commences about the end of June, or beginning of July. This fact is abundantly confirmed by modern travellers, and is demonstrative to every unprejudiced reader of the Holy Scriptures, that the thunder and rain, which at Samuel's invocation, was sent at this season of the year, was a miraculous interposition of the power of God; for we read in ver. 16, it was a "great thing which the Lord will do." Thus were the Israelites warned of their sin in having asked a king, and of the omnipotence of that God, whose gracious promises they virtually neglected by this act. 1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. BGT 1 Samuel 12:18 καὶ ἐπεκαλέσατο Σαμουηλ τὸν κύριον καὶ ἔδωκεν κύριος φωνὰς καὶ ὑετὸν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς τὸν κύριον σφόδρα καὶ τὸν Σαμουηλ KJV 1 Samuel 12:18 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. NET 1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the LORD and Samuel. CSB 1 Samuel 12:18 Samuel called on the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. ESV 1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. NIV 1 Samuel 12:18 Then Samuel called upon the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and of Samuel. NLT 1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the LORD and of Samuel. NRS 1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. YLT 1 Samuel 12:18 And Samuel calleth unto Jehovah, and Jehovah giveth voices and rain, on that day, and all the people greatly fear Jehovah and Samuel; thunder: Ex 9:23-25 Rev 11:5,6 feared: Ex 14:31 Ezr 10:9 Ps 106:12,13 Related Passages: Exodus 9:23-25+ (MOSES CALLS FOR A SIGN FROM HEAVEN) Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field. SAMUEL CALLS YAHWEH ANSWERS So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day - Samuel calls, God answers could be the prophet's "tagline." Again we see this great man of prayer who has the ear of the LORD, because the LORD has his heart. One is reminded of Ps 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart." Samuel's "desires" were "in sync" with the desires of the LORD. Recall that the purpose for this sign was so that the people would "know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the LORD by asking for yourselves a king." The subsequent reactions of the people indicate the sign achieved the desired effect - they feared Yahweh's wrath against sin and they confessed their sin And all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel - The divine storm got Israel's attention! While fear can be reverential, it appears this fear that which causes one to be frightened or terrified. That this type of fear (rather than reverential) is more likely is substantiated by the fact that in the next verse they ask Samuel to intercede for their lives. They are afraid they might be killed by Yahweh. In addition Samuel's charge to not fear in 1Sa 12:20 supports the interpretation that their fear here was more a reaction of terror than a response of reverence. 1 Samuel 12:19 Then all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king." BGT 1 Samuel 12:19 καὶ εἶπαν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Σαμουηλ πρόσευξαι ὑπὲρ τῶν δούλων σου πρὸς κύριον θεόν σου καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνωμεν ὅτι προστεθείκαμεν πρὸς πάσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν κακίαν αἰτήσαντες ἑαυτοῖς βασιλέα KJV 1 Samuel 12:19 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. NET 1 Samuel 12:19 All the people said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God on behalf of us– your servants– so we won't die, for we have added to all our sins by asking for a king." CSB 1 Samuel 12:19 They pleaded with Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so we won't die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves." ESV 1 Samuel 12:19 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." NIV 1 Samuel 12:19 The people all said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king." NLT 1 Samuel 12:19 "Pray to the LORD your God for us, or we will die!" they all said to Samuel. "For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king." NRS 1 Samuel 12:19 All the people said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of demanding a king for ourselves." YLT 1 Samuel 12:19 and all the people say unto Samuel, 'Pray for thy servants unto Jehovah thy God, and we do not die, for we have added to all our sins evil to ask for us a king.' Pray for: 1Sa 7:5,8 Ge 20:7 Ex 9:28 10:17 Job 42:8 Ps 78:34,35 Isa 26:16 Mal 1:9 Ac 8:24 Jas 5:15 1Jn 5:16 Related Passages: 1 Samuel 7:5+ Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 1 Samuel 8:6+ But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 1 Samuel 15:11+ “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night. Hebrews 6:11-12+ (DEAR READER - HERE IS MY PRAYER FOR YOU AS YOU STUDY SAMUEL'S LIFE) And we (I) desire that each one of you show the same diligence (AS SAMUEL!) so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that (TERM OF PURPOSE/RESULT) you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. SIGN STIMULATES ISRAEL TO SEEK SAMUEL'S INTERCESSION Then all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king - Added to all our sins indicates Israel was aware of their past sins and now their new big one, rejected God as King! Notice they call themselves your servants. Really? Even though they had discounted his advice and warnings against seeking a king! Notice also they want Samuel to pray for them to his God (not our God)! So that (term of purpose) introduces the purpose they sought by their plea to the prophet. They now fear God might kill them because finally they do have some heightened realization that their asking for a human king was a great sin against Yahweh. In that sense, their response is good, because it amounts to a confession of their sin. THOUGHT - Whitcomb and Davis make a very important observation - Again one is reminded of the spiritual depth of Samuel’s ministry. His achievements were not due to mere human ingenuity, but to a sincere and consistent prayer life. This fact was clearly recognized by the people (cf. 1Sa 12:19). Samuel’s view of prayer and its importance in the life of the people is most instructive (1Sa 12:23; cf. 1Sa 7:5+; 1Sa 8:6+). He did not consider prayer an option to be exercised at convenient moments, but essential to an effective prophetic ministry. One wonders whether the lack of power and impact, so evident in many pulpits, is not due to the absence of fervent, continuous prayer as exemplified in the life of Samuel (and in the life of our Lord). (Borrow Whitcoma and Davis' excellent summary commentary - Israel From Conquest to Exile : a Commentary on Joshua-2 Kings) Robert Bergen has an interesting thought on Israel's sin of asking for a king for themselves - It is important to note here that the request for a king was not in itself sinful; the Torah envisioned a day in which Israel would decide to have a monarchy and made provisions for the establishment of this institution (cf. Gen 17:6; Deut 17:14–20). But for Israel to entrust its future to a human deliverer instead of anchoring it in their relationship with the Lord was both wicked and futile. (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) 1 Samuel 12:20 Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. BGT 1 Samuel 12:20 καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πρὸς τὸν λαόν μὴ φοβεῖσθε ὑμεῖς πεποιήκατε τὴν πᾶσαν κακίαν ταύτην πλὴν μὴ ἐκκλίνητε ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν κυρίου καὶ δουλεύσατε τῷ κυρίῳ ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν KJV 1 Samuel 12:20 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; NET 1 Samuel 12:20 Then Samuel said to the people, "Don't be afraid. You have indeed sinned. However, don't turn aside from the LORD. Serve the LORD with all your heart. CSB 1 Samuel 12:20 Samuel replied, "Don't be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don't turn away from following the LORD. Instead, worship the LORD with all your heart. ESV 1 Samuel 12:20 And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. NIV 1 Samuel 12:20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. NLT 1 Samuel 12:20 "Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don't turn your back on him. NRS 1 Samuel 12:20 And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; YLT 1 Samuel 12:20 And Samuel saith unto the people, 'Fear not; ye have done all this evil; only, turn not aside from after Jehovah -- and ye have served Jehovah with all your heart, Fear: Ex 20:19,20 1Pe 3:16 turn: De 11:16 31:29 Jos 23:6 Ps 40:4 101:3 125:5 Jer 3:1 SAMUEL'S GRACIOUS RESPONSE TO ISRAEL Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear - First Samuel seeks to calm their fear that God is going to take their lives. They are not in danger of imminent destruction. You have committed all this evil - Second, Samuel does not "sugarcoat" their sin. They committed it and they were guilty, and should not presume upon the LORD's showing them mercy by not taking their lives. What they had done was serious, was evil and was against the holiness of God. So yes, it did deserve death and they needed to keep that in mind. yet do not turn aside from following the LORD - Third, he warns them not to turn aside from God's commandments. And if they kept in mind the fact that God had bestowed undeserved mercies, this truth could or should motivate them to not turn away from the LORD. But (contrast with turning aside) serve the LORD with all your heart - The best preventative to keep from turning aside is to serve the LORD with all your heart. This is tantamount to the spiritual dynamic of the expulsive power of a new affection. If desire to obey out of love for God fills your heart, it is much more difficult for desires of self to enter your heart and cause you to turn away. The book of Deuteronomy repeatedly alludes to the truth that the heart of Israel's problem was their heart.... Deuteronomy 10:12-13;“Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? Deuteronomy 11:13) “It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, 14 (THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE) that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. Related Resource: Expulsive Power of a New Affection David O'brien - Question 76 Why did God choose Saul to be king? It sounds as if God made a mistake and changed His mind about it (1 Samuel 10–12). God chose Saul because Saul was a good candidate for the office. He had all the right qualifications. He was big and impressive looking (1 Samuel 10:24). In fact, when all the people shouted “Long live the king,” most of them knew about Saul was that he was a head taller than the rest of them. Ours isn’t the first nation to pick it’s leaders on the basis of image. Saul’s first military encounters also confirmed the wisdom of the choice. He warmed up by defeating Nahash the Ammonite (1 Samuel 11:11) and then went on to triumph against overwhelming odds in his first encounters with the Philistines (1 Samuel 13–14). In spite of the negative image most preachers paint of Saul, he was able to awaken intense and lasting loyalties among the people. Today he is so thoroughly overshadowed by David in most of our minds that we miss the indications of his popularity among the people of Israel. It was probably that loyalty that kept his army behind him in the final, losing confrontation with the Philistines. It was that loyalty that motivated the men of Jabesh Gilead to risk their lives to rescue his body from the walls of Beth Shan and give it a decent burial (1 Samuel 31:11–13). It was that loyalty that kept the northern tribes from giving their allegiance to David until seven years after Saul’s death (2 Samuel 5:5).1 God’s seriousness in choosing Saul may be seen in the judgment Samuel announced against Saul for his impatient offering of sacrifice for the sake of public opinion (1 Samuel 13:13–14). The judgment reveals God’s plan for Saul and announces the tragic news that it has been cancelled because of Saul’s sin. Instead of establishing Saul’s house as the ruling dynasty, God removed His support for Saul and transferred it to another. Saul was given the opportunity to live up to God’s highest call on his life. The fact that Saul was unsuccessful doesn’t mean God’s choice was a mistake. It means only that Saul lacked commitment to do God’s will as well as the humility and true repentance necessary for success. Saul’s rejection is a warning to all of us. God’s calling is sure, but our response is less sure. I have no question about God’s ability to keep us as His children. I’m a great deal more reserved about our ability to respond properly to God’s specific call for service. Saul had been anointed for a job. He was called in the same way a pastor or missionary might be called. He accepted that call, but in the course of his service he began to free-lance, operating as if he were able to perform God’s work in his own way. This rejection of God as King over the king led to his fall, not from grace, but from power. (Today's Handbook for Solving Bible Difficulties) 1 Samuel 12:20 Have You Turned? In May of 1998, the failure of a control processor on board the Galaxy IV communications satellite caused it to rotate out of position and turn away from the earth. In an instant, 40 million pagers became useless pieces of plastic. Hundreds of retail stores and scores of radio and TV stations were also affected--all because one satellite turned the wrong way. How many people would be affected if you or I turned away from God? Few of us realize the extent of our influence, but our obedience to God is vital because of our role in the church (1 Cor. 12:12-17) and the world (1 Pet. 2:9-12). God charged His Old Testament people to be faithful to His covenant "so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, … and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood" (Dt. 29:18). A New Testament writer recalled this when he said we should be careful "lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (Heb. 12:15). THINKING IT OVER What might cause me to turn away from God? Is there any "root of bitterness" in my life? Is there anything I need to confess to God right now? True repentance turns from the wrong and returns to the right. 1 Samuel 12:21 "You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile. BGT 1 Samuel 12:21 καὶ μὴ παραβῆτε ὀπίσω τῶν μηθὲν ὄντων οἳ οὐ περανοῦσιν οὐθὲν καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἐξελοῦνται ὅτι οὐθέν εἰσιν KJV 1 Samuel 12:21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. NET 1 Samuel 12:21 You should not turn aside after empty things that can't profit and can't deliver, since they are empty. CSB 1 Samuel 12:21 Don't turn away to follow worthless things that can't profit or deliver you; they are worthless. ESV 1 Samuel 12:21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. NIV 1 Samuel 12:21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. NLT 1 Samuel 12:21 Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you-- they are totally useless! NRS 1 Samuel 12:21 and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless. YLT 1 Samuel 12:21 and ye do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they are vain, futile things: De 32:21 Jer 2:5,13 10:8,15 14:22 16:19 Jon 2:8 Hab 2:18 1Co 8:4 cannot profit: Ps 115:4-8 Isa 41:23,24 Isa 44:9,10 Isa 45:20 Isa 46:7 Jer 10:15 Related Passages: Isaiah 44:9; 10 Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame. 10 Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no profit? Isaiah 45:20 “Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; They have no knowledge, Who carry about their wooden idol And pray to a god who cannot save. Isaiah 46:7 “They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it; They set it in its place and it stands there. It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer; It cannot deliver him from his distress. Jeremiah 10:14-15 Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. 15 They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish. SAMUEL EMPHASIZES WHY FOLLOWING GOD IS CRITICAL You must not turn aside - Samuel had just charged them to not turn aside and now reiterates the importance of this instruction. The word "must" signifies this is not optional. This statement is like a sign that says do not go down this road as it has been washed out and your car will be washed away and you will be destroyed! To drive down this road would be utter foolishness! For - This term of explanation explains why not turning aside is not optional but is obligatory, mandatory! Then you would go after futile things (tohu; NIV "useless idols", TEV = "false gods"; REB = "sham gods") which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile - Literally = “the nothingness/emptiness.” Note the progression - turning aside from following God is a "surefire" way to follow things that are not God (because our God created nature abhors a spiritual vacuum!), specifically to go after idols (futile things) which are not alive and have no and cannot profit spiritually or save one's soul. The prophet says they are "non-profit!" ESV Study Note (borrow) says futile things (empty things) "refers here to vain idols. An idol is “nothing”—a vacuous entity that gives the one who trusts in it only vanity or emptiness in return." Futile (empty, formless, waste, meaningless) (08414) tohu means empty, formless, futile, waste, meaningless. Tōhû refers to a desert "wasteland" in Deut. 32:10 and Job 6:18. Isaiah spoke of moral "emptiness" (Isa. 29:21; 44:9) and of unreality (40:17, 23). Idols are "empty" and "unreal" (1 Sam. 12:21). Tohu - 20x in 19v - chaos(1), confusion(1), desolation(1), emptiness(1), empty space(1), formless(2), futile(2), futile things(1), meaningless(2), meaningless arguments(1), nothing(2), waste(3), waste place(2).Gen. 1:2; Deut. 32:10; 1 Sam. 12:21; Job 6:18; Job 12:24; Job 26:7; Ps. 107:40; Isa. 24:10; Isa. 29:21; Isa. 34:11; Isa. 40:17; Isa. 40:23; Isa. 41:29; Isa. 44:9; Isa. 45:18; Isa. 45:19; Isa. 49:4; Isa. 59:4; Jer. 4:23 1 Samuel 12:22 "For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself. BGT 1 Samuel 12:22 ὅτι οὐκ ἀπώσεται κύριος τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ διὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ τὸ μέγα ὅτι ἐπιεικέως κύριος προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς αὑτῷ εἰς λαόν KJV 1 Samuel 12:22 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. NET 1 Samuel 12:22 The LORD will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The LORD was pleased to make you his own people. CSB 1 Samuel 12:22 The LORD will not abandon His people, because of His great name and because He has determined to make you His own people. ESV 1 Samuel 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. NIV 1 Samuel 12:22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. NLT 1 Samuel 12:22 The LORD will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the LORD to make you his very own people. NRS 1 Samuel 12:22 For the LORD will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. YLT 1 Samuel 12:22 for Jehovah doth not leave His people, on account of His great name; for Jehovah hath been pleased to make you to Him for a people. the Lord: De 31:17 1Ki 6:13 2Ki 21:14 1Ch 28:9 2Ch 15:2 Ps 94:14 Isa 41:17 42:16 Jer 33:24-26 La 3:31,32 5:20 Heb 13:5 for his great: Ex 32:12 Nu 14:13-19 De 32:26-27 Jos 7:9 Ps 106:8 Isa 37:35 Isa 43:25 Isa 48:11 Jer 14:7,21 Eze 20:9,14 Eph 1:6,12 has been pleased: Ex 19:5-6 De 7:7-8 Dt 9:5 Dt 14:2 Mal 1:2 Mt 11:26 Joh 15:16 Ro 9:13-18 11:29 1Co 4:7 Php 1:6 Related Passages: Joshua 7:9 “For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?” Psalm 106:8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known. Ezekiel 20:9; 14 “But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.....14 “But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Deuteronomy 9:5 “It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 14:2 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth REASSURANCE TO ISRAEL For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name - To abandon Israel would result in the pagans disparaging His great Name (cf Ex 32:12, Nu 14:13-19). This truth speaks to God's faithfulness. Robert Bergen - He had responded this way before and would do so again “for the sake of his great name” (1Sa 12:22; cf. Ps 25:11; 79:9; 106:8; 143:11; Isa 48:9; Jer 14:7, 21; Ezek 20:9, 22; Dan 9:19), not because of Israel’s worthiness. (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself - In other words, the reason God would not abandon Israel as a nation was not because of the fact that they deserved His covenant mercy, but because of His sovereign will to make them His people. We call that amazing grace, completely undeserved and unmerited divine favor! Eugene Merrill - In a marvelous manifestation of the grace of God, Samuel related to the people that God would bless them in spite of their wrong choice if they would only be steadfast in their obedience from this point on. The past could not be undone but their future was untainted and could be devoted to the Lord (1Sa 12:20-22). (Bible Knowledge Commentary - Old Testament) Spurgeon in Faith's Checkbook - 1 Sam. 12:22. GOD’S choice of his people is the reason for his abiding by them, and not forsaking them. He chose them for his love, and he loves them for his choice. His own good pleasure is the source of their election, and his election is the reason for the continuance of his pleasure in them. It would dishonour his great name for him to forsake them, since it would either show that he made an error in his choice, or that he was fickle in his love. God’s love has this glory, that it never changes, and this glory he will never tarnish. By all the memories of the Lord’s former loving-kindnesses let us rest assured that he will not forsake us. He who has gone so far as to make us his people, will not undo the creation of his grace. He has not wrought such wonders for us that he might leave us after all. His Son Jesus has died for us, and we may be sure that he has not died in vain. Can he forsake those for whom he shed his blood? Because he has hitherto taken pleasure in choosing and in saving us, it will be his pleasure still to bless us. Our Lord Jesus is no changeable Lover. Having loved his own, he loves them to the end Brian Bill - It’s interesting that the Israelites want to make a man their god but God’s way is to make God a man, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to deliver us from the dominion of darkness and to rule and reign in our hearts. The kernel of the gospel message is found in 1 Samuel 12:22: “For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.” Even though they sinned greatly, God is still gracious. For the sake of His great name, He sent His Son Jesus as Savior, Redeemer and King. What would happen if I went around the room this morning and asked this question: Who do you place your confidence in? How would you answer? There is only one king worth following. Who is on the throne of your life? That is the great gospel invitation. Will you respond right now and submit to His reign in your life? Every Sunday the ducks would waddle out of their house and waddle down Main Street to their church. They waddled into the auditorium and jumped into their chairs. The duck musicians waddled in and took their place and then the duck minister came forward and opened the Bible. He preached up a storm saying, “Ducks, God has given you wings! With wings you can fly! With wings you can mount up and soar like eagles. No walls can confine you! No fence can hold you! You have wings. God has given you wings and you can fly like birds.” All the ducks shouted, “AMEN!” and they all waddled home. If you’re ready to repent and be changed so that you can soar, then please pray this prayer with me. Pray it only if you’re determined to allow God to deal with your fatal flaws: “Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I admit that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. I repent of my sins and my fatal flaws by changing my mind about the way I’ve been living. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. With all my heart I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I accept you into my life. Be my Savior and Lord, my forgiver and king. I surrender to your leadership in my life. Make me into the person you want me to be. Amen.” F B