Faithful One | 1 Samuel 12:1-25

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever wondered how God responds to our moments of failure and unfaithfulness? Faithfulness is one of the attributes of our God (2. Th. 3:3) and his love and commitment to us remain unwavering, even when we stumble.  God expects us to be faithful as well.

Open your Bibles to 1 Samuel 12, where we see Samuel’s powerful reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness.

Faithful One

1 Samuel 12 is Samuel is old and gives a farewell speech. Until now, he had been the judge, the prophet, and the leader. Now he has given the kingship over to Saul and he is relieving himself of leadership; however, his office as a prophet continues.

Today, from this passage, we are going to look at:

• Samuel’s Faithfulness As A Leader.
• God’s Faithfulness to the Nation of Israel.
• Samuel Calls for the People to be Faithful to God.
• Samuel Warning Israel to Serve the Lord with Their Whole Heart

1 Samuel 12:1

Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you.

The background of our text this morning is one of rejection Samuel faced, covering 1 Samuel 8-12 as a literary unity. In 1 Samuel 8, Samuel appoints his sons as Israel’s leaders, but they are corrupt, leading the elders to demand a king to judge them, effectively firing Samuel from his role. Despite God using Samuel to lead Israel to victory in 1 Samuel 7 through prayer and divine intervention, the people still insisted on having a king. God allows this, and Saul is appointed as the first king of Israel.

1 Samuel 12:2

Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day.

Samuel is recalling his service on their behalf, but the people have rejected him.

Rejection is an Inevitable Part of Leadership.

No matter how faithful and dedicated a leader may be, rejection is often inevitable. Samuel, despite his integrity and unwavering service to Israel, was rejected by the people in favour of a king. This teaches us that leadership, even when marked by righteousness and commitment, can encounter rejection.

The charge of Israel against Samuel:

1 Samuel 8:1-5

¹“When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. ²The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.  ³But his sons did not follow his ways. (One of the major challenges leaders and believers face is to bring our children up in the ways of the Lord). They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.” (Samuel’s sons became like Eli’s sons). ⁴So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.  ⁵They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.

There are two presenting two problems and a solution:

• You are old.
• Your son don’t walk in your ways.
• Appoint a king to lead us.

Their remedy was now to appoint a king to lead them. Actually, in Hebrew it says to Judge us, the very same word that is  used to designate judges. Samuel faced rejection.

ILLUSTRATION

A mental health study from the Oxford Handbook of Social Exclusions stated, “Rejection is both a cause and consequence of depression.”

Psychologists tell us that for most people, the very earliest fragmentary memories that we have are the memories that come from about age 3 or 4. It is remarkable how often, those earliest of memories have to do with this theme of ‘Rejection.’ Some of our earliest memories are memories of rejection. For some reason, we forget physical pain and remember emotional pain vividly. When you try to remember when you broke that bone or fell from the bike, it is hard to reconstruct exactly how it felt but the moments of rejection from the same period is remembered vividly.

Rejection affects our mental well-being as well..

What is the normal way to respond to rejection?

Be angry, get bitter, lash out, and distance yourself from the ones who rejected you.

How did Samuel handle rejection?

1. Samuel Did Nothing – Say Nothing.

Do not unleash your fury.

There are plenty of things Samuel could have said, but where Samuel began is by saying nothing.

Proverbs 12:16

Fools show their annoyance at once,

but the prudent overlook an insult.

James 1:19-20

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Proverbs 29:11

“Fools give full vent to their rage,

but the wise bring calm in the end.”

ILLUSTRATION

There are wonderful Olympic athletes, archers who can just shoot an arrow at bull’s eyes. But there’s no archer who is so skilful, so accurate that once he let his arrow, he can reach out and take it back.

2. Pray

Bring it to the Lord. That’s exactly what Samuel did.

1 Samuel 8:6

But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.”

3. My Sin First

1 Samuel 12:3

Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”

Samuel was doing what Jesus later taught his disciples in the NT.

Mathew 7:3-5

³“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

4. Pray Again.

It is in prayer that Samuel starts and in prayer he ends.

1 Samuel 12:23

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.

You end with prayer. You end with the point where you are now praying for the other person.

Jesus said the same thing, in the Sermon on the Mount:

Mathew 5:43-45

Jesus said “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven”

Samuel’s experience teaches us about handling rejection with grace, integrity, and faithfulness, reflecting on God’s unwavering faithfulness despite human failings.

APPLICATION

I understand that we all face rejection from time to time. Maybe some of you are facing rejection now and God is speaking to you to not respond like the world. Adam and Eve rejected God and God came to them. Jesus was rejected by his own. He gave his life for the world (including the ones who crucified him) and prayed for them. Jesus gives us a great example to follow.

Samuel’s Faithfulness As A Leader.

1 Samuel 12:3

³Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”

He got them to agree with him that he didn’t do any of those things.

1 Samuel 12:4-5

⁴“You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.” ⁵Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is witness,” they said.

He had not been acting that way toward them. They agreed.

In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel defends his leadership integrity against the people’s accusations. Samuel recounts his unblemished service and challenges the people to testify against any wrongdoing, affirming his honest leadership. This emphasizes Samuel’s faithfulness as a leader amidst rejection, reflecting his commitment to God and Israel.

APPLICATION

Christian believers and leaders are called to exhibit faithfulness.

Jesus was given the title ‘Faithful and True’ – Rev. 19:11

Timothy: 1 Cor. 4:17 For this reason, I have sent you Timothy, my Son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord.

We are to be faithful in our work, ministry, and stewardship of resources. This involves integrity, dedication, and wise management, ensuring our actions align with biblical principles and honour God’s name.

Samuel, now moves to God’s faithfulness to them.

God’s Faithfulness to the Nation Of Israel.

1 Samuel 12:6-7

⁶Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of Egypt. (Samuel is doing a rehearsal of their history as a background of his exhortation to them. He is reminding them that it is the Lord who is ultimately your king. The Lord is your deliverer) ⁷Now then, stand here, because I am going to confront you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts performed by the Lord for you and your ancestors.

1 Samuel 12:8-10

⁸“After Jacob entered Egypt, they cried to the Lord for help, and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place. ⁹“But they forgot the Lord their God; so he sold them into the hand of Sisera, (You forget the Lord and you face the consequences) the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. ¹⁰They cried out to the Lord (The cycles in Judges) and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 

So Samuel reminds them that God raised up a leader when they needed a leader. God has been faithful to you in giving you leaders.

1 Samuel 12:11

Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal,^[Gideon] Barak,^[Bedan] Jephthah and Samuel ^[Samson], and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you, so that you lived in safety.

Samuel is rehashing Israel’s history. You rebelled against the Lord and the Lord would raise up a judge and deliver Israel and they lived in safety. He has given you leaders when you needed.

Our Security Comes From The Lord.

Any time you were defeated or your enemies were oppressing you, it was not because of the Lord being weak or negligent. It was because of your sin. But when you repented and cried out, the Lord will deliver you. It was fine when you followed the Lord.

1 Samuel 12:12

¹²“But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’ even though the Lord your God was your king. ¹³Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you.

He ends this speech with a warning for them to serve the Lord with all their heart.

Samuel Warning Israel to Serve the Lord with Their Whole Heart.

Samuel Calls for the People to be Faithful to God.

1 Samuel 12:14-15

¹⁴If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God good! ¹⁵But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

Samuel reminds them that the security of God’s covenant people depends on their allegiance to the Lord who remains committed to them. They have got a king and they have won the victory, but it is not the king who is the source of their security, it is the Lord himself. Because they have a king, there is no guarantee of any freedom. The rule is the same. If you obey the Lord, you will be blessed.

1 Samuel 12:16

“Now then, stand still and see the great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!

The Lord is giving them a confirming sign that Samuel is speaking the truth.

1 Samuel 12:17-18

¹⁷Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call on the Lord to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”

¹⁸Then Samuel called on 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.

We have a little intermission here for three verses where we see Samuel and the Lord bringing this thunderstorm to put an exclamation point on what he’s saying.

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.”

They have realized their mistake. Samuel is functioning as an intercessor here. Samuel is a prophet like Moses according to Deuteronomy. Samuel is the first fulfilment of this. Ultimately it is Jesus who is a prophet like Moses.

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.

I agree you sinned, but don’t turn away from the Lord. You are not going to die, but you need to return to the Lord. What he is saying is it’s not too late to change. That’s a good message. It’s not too late to change, not too late to repent. Establish your heart now to serve the Lord.

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.

1 Samuel 12:22

²⁴For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. ²³As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. (Samuel realizes that if he does not intercede for the Lord’s people it is a sin. They are the Lord’s people. God has not rejected them. If Samuel does not do his job as a prophet, he will be sinning.) ²⁴But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. ²⁵Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”

Rules are the same:

If you are faithful to the Lord, he will protect and make you secure.

If you fall away from the Lord, he will have to discipline you.

Security of God’s covenant people depends on their allegiance to the Lord who remains committed to them. It is about obedience.

CONCLUSION

A new government is formed in Israel:

The formation of a new government in a country often gives rise to hope and expectations. However, earthly governments often fail, and promises made during election campaigns are forgotten. The only kind of government that will not take from its people but will exist to serve them is God’s rule. This will only be completely achieved on earth when Christ returns. However, as we wait, we who are citizens of his kingdom must demonstrate kingdom characteristics in our lives here. Like Samuel, we must deal fairly with people, take no bribes, use no force, cheat nobody and oppress no one. This is especially relevant for those whom God has placed in leadership positions. Time and again, the Scriptures remind us to deal fairly with one another and to acknowledge God’s rule in our lives. May we actualise the rule of God in our lives daily in every way we can, even as we wait for its eventual establishment.

In conclusion, Samuel’s unwavering faithfulness amidst rejection teaches us the importance of integrity and dedication. Despite our failures, God’s faithfulness to us remains steadfast, always drawing us back to Him. He calls us to mirror this faithfulness in our own lives, serving Him wholeheartedly. Though we may face rejection and challenges, we can take comfort in knowing that God is always with us, offering His unwavering support and guidance. Let us commit to living faithfully, reflecting God’s love and faithfulness in all we do.

I would like to summarize this chapter, this speech by Samuel, by pointing out just the end part of his speech here, and what we see, the emphasis that we see. So I’ll put it on the screen, look at the number of times the repetitions here that Samuel is saying, do not turn aside, do not rebel, two times against the commandment of the Lord. Fear the Lord twice, obey the Lord twice, obey his voice, and serve the Lord he says three times, two of those times with all your heart.

LIFE APPLICATION POINTS

Faithfulness in Leadership

Be faithful and deal with integrity in your leadership roles, as Samuel did.

Reflection Question: How can I ensure that my leadership reflects God’s values and integrity?

Application: Commit to leading by example, demonstrating honesty, and fairness in all your actions.

Handling Rejection with Grace

Respond to rejection with grace and prayer, following Samuel’s example.

Reflection Question: How do I typically respond to rejection, and how can I improve?

Application: When facing rejection, take a moment to pray and seek God’s guidance instead of reacting impulsively.

God’s Unwavering Faithfulness

Remember that God’s faithfulness remains steadfast, even when we fail.

Reflection Question: How have I experienced God’s faithfulness in my moments of failure?

Application: Reflect on past experiences of God’s faithfulness and let them strengthen your trust in Him.

Faithfulness in Daily Life

Exhibit faithfulness in your work, ministry, and stewardship of resources. Serve the Lord with your whole heart, as Samuel urged the Israelites.

Reflection Question: How can I better manage the resources God has entrusted to me? What areas of my life do I need to surrender more fully to God?

Application: Evaluate your current stewardship of time, talents, and treasures, and make adjustments to better honor God.

Each of these points encourages us to reflect on our personal walk with God and to strive for a deeper, more faithful relationship with Him, drawing inspiration from Samuel’s life and God’s enduring faithfulness.