SERIES I --- THE NATION UNITES --- LESSON 12

SAMUEL’S FAREWELL

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A WISE OLD MAN

From 1 Samuel 12

In his last address to the people of Israel, Samuel reminded them of their responsibilities to Adonai. ‘Listen to me! I have given you a king, as you wanted,’ said Samuel. ‘I have chosen him instead of my own sons to rule over you, even though I have served you faithfully from the time I was a lad until now when I am old and gray. ‘As I stand before your king and Adonai, testify against me if I have wronged you. Have I ever stolen an ox or donkey from any of you? Have I ever cheated or oppressed you or taken a bribe from any of you? Speak up! If I have, I will make it right with you.’ ‘You have never cheated or oppressed us,’ the people answered. ‘You have never taken a bribe from any of us.’ ‘Then Adonai and His king are my witnesses that you have found no wrong in me,’ Samuel told his people. ‘Let it be so!’ the people agreed. ‘Adonai Himself appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors from Egypt,’ Samuel reminded the people. ‘Now stand reverently here before Adonai as I tell you again of the wonders of Adonai which He has done for you and your ancestors. When the Egyptians oppressed Jacob’s descendants in Egypt, these people, who were your ancestors, cried to Adonai for help and He sent Moses and Aaron who led them from Egypt to this homeland. But they forgot Adonai, so He gave them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the armies of King Jabin of Hazor and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. Then your ancestors cried to Adonai and confessed their sin. We have turned against You, they said and served the Baal and Ashtaroth gods. Save us from our enemies and we will serve You. Adonai sent Gideon, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel to rescue you and you have lived safely because of them. When King Nahash of the Ammonites became a threat, you said, we must have a king, even though Adonai was already your King. Here is the king you wanted, whom YHVH has given to you. If you and your king will listen to Adonai and serve Him and will not rebel against Him, then all will be well with you. But if you rebel against Adonai and refuse to listen to Him, then Adonai will be against you and your king. Now watch carefully as Adonai sends a great miracle for you to see. This is the season of the wheat harvest, a time of the year when it does not rain. But when I call on Adonai, He will send thunder and rain to show you what a great evil you have done when you asked for a king. When Samuel prayed, Adonai sent thunder and rain and the people feared both Adonai and Samuel. Pray to Adonai for us, so that we will not die, the people cried. We have sinned because we asked for a king and have added this sin to all our others. You must not be afraid; Samuel told his people. Although you have sinned, you may still please Adonai. Worship Him with all your heart and stay away from worthless idols which will do nothing for you. Adonai will not forsake His people and bring shame to His own Name, for Adonai chose you as His people because He wanted to. I will never stop praying for you, for that would be a sin against Adonai; I will continue to teach you what is good and right. With all your heart, honour Adonai and serve Him faithfully and think about the wonderful things He has done for you. However, if you still continue to sin, you and your king will be set aside.’”

COMMENTARY

RAIN

Samuel as judge, had brought justice to Israel as well as spiritual leadership. Now Israel had a king, so Samuel retired from his judgeship. In Samuel’s farewell, he urged the people to obey Adonai, as the record showed that he had done. Their desire for a human king had been a rejection of YHVH as King. Yet if they served Adonai faithfully in the future, Samuel told them, He would bless them. Few things were more important to the people of Canaan than rainfall. They did not think of the year as having four seasons. Instead, the year passed in cycles of rain and drought, the rainy season and the dry season. Harvest time was during the summer. But those five months passed without rain. The soil became parched and barren. Streams trickled dry and village wells ran dangerously low. As the harvest season came to an end, brief showers restored life and activity to the land and the thunderstorms of October and November broke the summer drought. These {early rains} softened the sun-baked fields. Only then could farmers plough and plant the first grain crops. If the showers were late, the growing season would be short and yield a small harvest. The heaviest rainfall came during December and January. Often these storms were so intense and fast that the water ran off before the ground could absorb it. As it turned hot, the rainfall began to decline. March and April showers were called {later rains} because they were the last of the year. Heavy rainfall promised full harvests, but if the rains were slight the crops might wither before they had ripened. After years of such farming and waiting on the rains, the Israelites were familiar with every small change or shift of the seasons. Few events would startle them as much as a thunderstorm in the middle of the dry harvest season.