1 Samuel 12: A Practical Farewell

As we back up to look at 1 Samuel 12 today, we see a practical farewell speech given by Samuel before he ended his ministry to the Isrealites. As I was contemplating our study of 1 Samuel, I really wanted to come back and touch upon this chapter, as it was perhaps my favorite chapter in all of 1 Samuel, as from it, we can find many great applications.

As stated above, 1 Samuel 12 is a chapter containing Samuel's last words to the Israelites before he ended his ministry to them. In this chapter, Samuel first establishes his credibility (1-5) and then recalls God's faithfulness to Israel (6-12). He then continues in his wonderful speech, calling the Israelites to faith in their God, whom they have already neglected. From this speach, there are several questions that we can apply to our own lives:

1. Have I forgotten the Lord my God? In first 9, Samuel explains how the Israelitees have forgotten the Lord their God. Ultimately, as Samuel point out, this leads them to sin. But how have we forgotten the Lord God? As you go throughout your day, do remember what he has done for you? As you live your live, are you consciously aware and responsive to the God who died fo ryou on a cross?

2. Have I rejected God as king of my life? As Samuel states, this was one of the Israelites' primary sins. God was supposed to be the king of their life, but they chose Saul instead. In the end, this was surely to their peril. In stories like this, we can make fun of the Israelites, or we can humble ourselves to realize that we are just like them. We ought to ask ourselves: who or what have we crowned as Lord of our life rather than Jesus? Perhaps our spouse? our job? our family? our hobbies? In the end, we must remember that God is the only worthy king of our lives.

3. Do I realize that disobedience brings curses, and obedience brings blessings? In verses 14-15, Samuel points out to the Israelites how it will go well with them if we "fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord," but that the hand of the Lord would be against them if they do not do so. In the end, it is the same in our own lives. Will God always love us and give us mercy because we are his children? Yes. But there is still this thing called personal responsibility, and if we neglect the commands of God, it certainly will not go well with us.

There are perhaps many other questions that we could ask in response to Samuel's speech, but we will stop here. So, in response today, take these questions and ponder over them. Ask yourself if you have obeyed God in the way that Samuel lays out here, and if not, how you can be doing better at obeying him.