Samuel (chap. 12) receives
the people's testimony to his fidelity. He sets before
them the ways of God towards them, their ingratitude and
foolishness in having asked for a king and rejected God.
Nevertheless, while giving a sign from God which added
the weight of God's own testimony to his words, he
declares to the people that, if henceforth they would
obey Jehovah, both the king and the people should
continue to follow Jehovah (that is, they would walk
under His blessing and guidance); but if not, Jehovah
would be against them. For Jehovah would not forsake them,
and he himself (Samuel) would assuredly not cease to pray
for them, and would teach them the good and the right way:
that is to say, he places the people, as to their public
conduct, in the position they had chosen, and set them
under their own responsibility before Jehovah; but at the
same time, full of love to them as the people of God,
their rejection of himself does not for a moment suggest
the thought to him of giving up his intercession or his
testimony for their welfare. Beautiful picture of a heart
near the Lord, which, in forgetfulness of self, can love
His people as its own! To fail in this would have been to
sin against the Lord (compare 2 Cor. 12: 15).
Saul established,
called to be faithful and obedient
Here then is Saul
established in his place, and his authority confirmed by
the blessing of God. Samuel retires, confining himself to
his prophetic office, and Saul is now called to prove
himself faithful and obedient in his present position,
surrounded by all the advantages which the blessing of
God and the solemn act of His prophet could confer upon
him.
Summary of
chapters 1 to 12
Let us now recapitulate
the history we have been examining.
Israel, unfaithful, no
longer maintain their relationship with God under
priesthood. The ark is taken, the priest dies, and
Ichabod is written on the condition of the people. God
raises up a prophet, who becomes the means of
communication between Himself and the people; but,
threatened by the Ammonites, the people at length demand
a king. God grants their request, testifying at the same
time His displeasure, since He Himself was their King.
The Spirit of prophecy continues nevertheless to be the
channel of divine communication to the people. Signs,
which indicate the state of the people, are given to Saul,
the elected and anointed king: first of all, some
faithful ones who own the God of Bethel—that is to
say, the faithful God of Jacob, who had promised not to
leave him till He had performed all that He had promised
him; and, next, the hill of God—the seat of
authority among the people—in possession of the
Philistines, the power of the enemy in the land of
promise.
The Spirit of prophecy
comes upon Saul, shewing him where God was amid these
circumstances; and Samuel tells him to wait for him at
Gilgal. Meantime, as we have seen, he is strengthened by
the blessing of God upon his undertakings.
1 Samuel 12 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Samuel (chap. 12) receives the people's testimony to his fidelity. He sets before them the ways of God towards them, their ingratitude and foolishness in having asked for a king and rejected God. Nevertheless, while giving a sign from God which added the weight of God's own testimony to his words, he declares to the people that, if henceforth they would obey Jehovah, both the king and the people should continue to follow Jehovah (that is, they would walk under His blessing and guidance); but if not, Jehovah would be against them. For Jehovah would not forsake them, and he himself (Samuel) would assuredly not cease to pray for them, and would teach them the good and the right way: that is to say, he places the people, as to their public conduct, in the position they had chosen, and set them under their own responsibility before Jehovah; but at the same time, full of love to them as the people of God, their rejection of himself does not for a moment suggest the thought to him of giving up his intercession or his testimony for their welfare. Beautiful picture of a heart near the Lord, which, in forgetfulness of self, can love His people as its own! To fail in this would have been to sin against the Lord (compare 2 Cor. 12: 15).
Saul established, called to be faithful and obedient
Here then is Saul established in his place, and his authority confirmed by the blessing of God. Samuel retires, confining himself to his prophetic office, and Saul is now called to prove himself faithful and obedient in his present position, surrounded by all the advantages which the blessing of God and the solemn act of His prophet could confer upon him.
Summary of chapters 1 to 12
Let us now recapitulate the history we have been examining.
Israel, unfaithful, no longer maintain their relationship with God under priesthood. The ark is taken, the priest dies, and Ichabod is written on the condition of the people. God raises up a prophet, who becomes the means of communication between Himself and the people; but, threatened by the Ammonites, the people at length demand a king. God grants their request, testifying at the same time His displeasure, since He Himself was their King. The Spirit of prophecy continues nevertheless to be the channel of divine communication to the people. Signs, which indicate the state of the people, are given to Saul, the elected and anointed king: first of all, some faithful ones who own the God of Bethel—that is to say, the faithful God of Jacob, who had promised not to leave him till He had performed all that He had promised him; and, next, the hill of God—the seat of authority among the people—in possession of the Philistines, the power of the enemy in the land of promise.
The Spirit of prophecy comes upon Saul, shewing him where God was amid these circumstances; and Samuel tells him to wait for him at Gilgal. Meantime, as we have seen, he is strengthened by the blessing of God upon his undertakings.