In the previous chapter we saw that Saul was renewed in his kingship after his victory over the Ammonites, 1 Samuel 11:12-15. This chapter is a continuation of this event and as Saul is being confirmed as king of Israel, Samuel uses this occasion to give a farewell speech to the people like Moses, Deuteronomy 31:1-13, and Joshua did, Joshua 24:1-28.
It was both God and Saul who were witnesses to the fact that Samuel had handled himself with honesty among the people as he didn’t take any bribes from anyone.
Samuel tells the people that it was God who brought them out of Egypt over 400 years ago and because He made a covenant with Abraham and Israel, then God can be seen as a just God because He fulfilled His promises to them. On the other hand, Israel as nation broke their covenant with God by turning to the Baals and Ashtaroths, 1 Samuel 7:3-4.
But despite them turning from God, God continued to deliver from their oppressing enemies when they cried out to God for help in repentance, Judges 6:28-32. Samuel reminds them that God sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel to deliver them, so they can live in peace, Hebrews 11:22-24. Note that some translations have the name Bedan, but this name doesn’t appear anywhere in the Book of Judges, so the name Barak is more accurate.
Nahash was the king of the Ammonites and it’s highly likely it was because of their fear of him that Israel wanted a king of their own in the first place. Samuel reminds them to fear the Lord and Obey Him, this was Samuel reminding the people that God was still their true king and they needed to fear Him and obey His commands.
To help the Israelites fear God, Samuel called on God to make Himself be known and heard through thunder and rain, Proverbs 26:1, and it appears that the thunder and rain had the effect which Samuel wanted, they feared the Lord and were in awe of Him. The purpose of the thunder and the rain was also a sign from God that He didn’t agree with Israel wanting a physical king on earth when they had a heavenly King already.
Samuel reminds them that they weren’t to turn useless idols for protection, Isaiah 44:9 / 1 Corinthians 7:4. He reminds then that God will not forsake them not because of anything they do but for His own Name’s sake, Genesis 12:3.
Although the Lord wouldn’t forsake them, the reality was that they would forsake the Lord and when they do, they will bring the Name of God into shame among other nations, Exodus 20:7.
We can’t sit of the fence with God, we can’t claim we belong to Him but at the same time just live however we wish. The way we conduct ourselves should be a reflection of the God we serve.
Samuel’s love for God and his people is seen in that fact that he says it would be a sin for him if he didn’t pray for the people. He wants to teach them the way of good and right, that is God’s ways and what is right in God’s eyes.
He goes on to encourage them to consider what God has done for them in the past in an effort to encourage them to remain faithful to God and His will, Mark 12:29.
There are times when people need to be reminded of what they did in the past and although this can be embarrassing at times, it should also help us recognise what God has done for each of us in the past, 2 Peter 1:9.
What Samuel is doing here is asking them to think about why they wanted a physical earthly king in the first place, when God, their heavenly King has done so much for them in the past.
Notice the final warning which Samuel gives the people, if they persist in doing evil, both Israel as a nation and their king will perish. As we know this is exactly what is going to happen, when the Assyrians and the Babylonians take them into captivity.
The good news is that Israel never asked for a physical king to rule over them after these events.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."