1 Samuel 12:12-18 – God, our only worthy King

First Samuel 12:12 gives us the reason why the people of Israel asked for a king. It happened in 1 Samuel 11:1 when the aggression of Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, who was introduced to us, came against them. It was this incidence that had driven them to ask for a king. They probably wanted one just like Nahash. Can you recall how the people of Jabesh-gilead had tried to have a covenant with the Ammonites? They made an offer to serve Nahash as their king. It was only when Nahash threatened to “…gouge out the right eye of every one of you,” and “…make it a reproach on all Israel” that they sent messengers throughout the territory of Israel for help.  Now we know the reason why they did not first cry to the Lord as they would do all along. Instead, their request to Samuel when confronted by Nahash was for a king, who could go out in the battle for them. What they had done showed that they no longer trusted the Lord. Samuel showed them that in asking for a king like the other nations, they had actually rejected the Lord as their King. Was not God the one who had been delivering them all this while? This was not just sheer folly but was utter wickedness. Before we criticize the Israelites for their folly, we should also take a deeper look at ourselves. We also have been guilty of a similar mind-set. Like them, we have often sought the methods of the world to solve our problems. Shouldn’t we learn to make God our first option in life, rather than our last resort?  

At Gilgal, as they gathered to renew the kingdom, Samuel gave them the challenge in 1 Samuel 12:14-18. The condition to experience victory was obedience. If they and their king would both walk in obedience to the Lord, their ultimate King, then and only then would they experience success. What Samuel was postulating here is this: when they and their newly appointed king would give their total allegiance to the Lord and walk in obedience to Him, then the Kingdom would be renewed. Notice the exact words in verse 14, “If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God.” Remember Samuel told them to come to Gilgal so that they could renew the kingdom. This was exactly what he was goading them to do now. This tells us that no matter how talented our key leader may be, our victory as a community is assured only when God is our King.  

Alternatively, if the people of Israel would not submit to the new arrangement Samuel had proposed, they would be in for a challenging time. He told the people that “If you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the command of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.” They would, in turn, feel the hand of God coming against them as their fathers had experienced in their disobedience.  If they would not accept God as their King, it would mean their end. The choice is clear to them as it is to us: will we or will we not accept the Lord as our King and walk in obedience to His ways?

To confirm what he said was the absolute truth, Samuel offered them a sign from God to help them make their decision in verses 16-18.  What was so spectacular about the sign is this: rain would hardly fall during wheat harvest in early summer. To have thunder and rain during this time was something that only God who controls nature could do. This was a sign to show how wickedly the people of Israel had acted in asking for a king. But even now if they accept the new arrangement Samuel was proposing, the tide could still be reversed. As Samuel prayed, the Lord affirmed his words and sent the thunderstorm and the people feared Him and Samuel greatly.

The  decision for us remains clear. Nothing can be more important than having Christ rule and reign in our life. What the people of Israel went through is a clear instruction for us. The joy for us is that we don’t have to experience the pain they went through if we choose to acknowledge God as our king and yield only to Him alone. The difference is telling. Be sure that God is the King of our lives!