1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12:1  Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Notice, I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you.

1 Samuel 12:2  Now notice that the king is leading you. As for me, notice I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now.

1 Samuel 12:3  Notice me. Bring charges against me before Yahveh and his anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whom have I accepted a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you.”

1 Samuel 12:4  “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded.

1 Samuel 12:5  He said to them, “Yahveh is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they said.

1 Samuel 12:6  Then Samuel said to the people, “Yahveh, who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness.

1 Samuel 12:7  Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before Yahveh about all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors.

1 Samuel 12:8  “When Jacob went to Egypt, your ancestors cried out to Yahveh, and he sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

1 Samuel 12:9  But they forgot Yahveh their God, so he handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them.

1 Samuel 12:10  Then they cried out to Yahveh and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned Yahveh and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.’

1 Samuel 12:11  So Yahveh sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely.

1 Samuel 12:12  But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king reign over us’– even though Yahveh your God is your king.

1 Samuel 12:13  “Now notice the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Notice, this is the king Yahveh has placed over you.

1 Samuel 12:14  If you fear Yahveh, worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against Yahveh’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow Yahveh your God.

1 Samuel 12:15  However, if you disobey Yahveh and rebel against his command, Yahveh’s hand will be against you as it was against your ancestors.

1 Samuel 12:16  “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that Yahveh will do before your eyes.

1 Samuel 12:17  Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on Yahveh, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in Yahveh’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.”

1 Samuel 12:18  Samuel called on Yahveh, and on that day Yahveh sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared Yahveh and Samuel.

1 Samuel 12:19  They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to Yahveh your God for your slaves so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”

1 Samuel 12:20  Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following Yahveh. Instead, worship Yahveh with all your heart.

1 Samuel 12:21  Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless.

1 Samuel 12:22  Yahveh will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.

1 Samuel 12:23  “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against Yahveh by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way.

1 Samuel 12:24  Above all, fear Yahveh and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.

1 Samuel 12:25  However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

links:

into his hands
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, September 13, 2021
Samuel’s bargain
the right sign

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library