I Samuel 12
Dear RTB’ers,
Samuel spends five verses defending himself in today’s reading, then seven verses reflecting the Lord’s deliverance of His people – all of this leading up to his condemnation of the people in asking for a king. All is not lost, however: And now … behold, the LORD has set a king over you. If you will fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice … and if both you and the king … will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. (vv. 13-14) Samuel is telling the people that the Lord their God is still their King, that their earthly king, Saul, is not to be like the kings of the nations around them. In spite of all that, he reminds them that what they did was fundamentally wrong: And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king. (v. 17b)
Samuel leaves us with good advice, good wisdom for our own lives: And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake His people… (vv. 21-22a) The Lord will not forsake His people – not then, not now!
Blessings!
See also: March 24 (2023) / I Samuel 11-13