1 Samuel 12:19-25 – Walk faithfully with God

Challenged by Samuel, the people of Israel finally saw their folly in asking for a king like all the other nations. They realized how they had sinned against the Lord and asked Samuel to pray for them. Aware that they had forfeited the right, hence their request to Samuel was “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God….” Notice  they dared not refer to God as “our God.” Verses 20-25 show us how Samuel pointed them in the right direction so that they could renew their allegiance to God to serve Him. Samuel firstly assured them and told them not to be afraid. Secondly, he acknowledged that what they did was evil. Thirdly he counseled them not to repeat what they did, i.e. to turn away from God. Finally, they should serve the Lord wholeheartedly. We wonder how Saul felt when all these were taking place. Nothing was said about how he felt, but we can imagine him to be feeling greatly uncomfortable. His awkwardness must have been compounded by Samuel's reference to their request for a king as a futile thing. Here is a word for all in leadership. While God had allowed us to lead His people, we are not the king. We must not forget that we are only representing God and not God. We must always maintain a posture of humility before Him.

This chapter rounded up with the comforting words of Samuel. We can be sure that they must have brought great comfort to the people. They need not be afraid, because the foundational truth is: “For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you  (them) a people for Himself.”  God is not fickle like a child. Though we, His people are faithless, He remains faithful.  The people of Israel had done something stupid that brought themselves to the edge of a catastrophe, yet God in His mercy dealt with them graciously. He knew that they, like every human being, were only people made with feet of clay.

The comforting thought is this, that once God has committed Himself to us, He sees it to the very end. Hence, like Israel, we must be careful about how we conduct our lives. We must never spurn His grace. For us who are in a leadership capacity, we must let the words and actions of Samuel recorded in verses 23-24 motivate us. Hear what the prophet said,  “…far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” According to the words of Samuel to the people of Israel, let us also “fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all our hearts”. And like them, we must also never forget the things God in Christ had done for us. Let us walk obediently and faithfully with Him.