1 Samuel 12:19

SAMUEL REASSURES THE PEOPLE OF GOD'S CONTINUED LOVE AND PROTECTION

"And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." And Samuel said to the people, "Fear not; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; and do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or save, for they are vain. For the Lord will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."

"We have added ... this evil ... to ask for ourselves a king" (1 Samuel 12:19). There is every evidence that the sin of Israel did not lie in their motives for asking a king, but in the fact of their asking it.

"Serve the Lord with all your heart" (1 Samuel 12:20). No merely pretended service of the Lord could suffice; as reiterated long afterward by the Saviour, "Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, this is the first and great commandment" (Mark 12:29).

"Do not turn aside after vain things" (1 Samuel 12:21). This is a reference to the pagan idols, which are also referred to in the Scriptures as `nothings.' In fact the words here rendered vain things, "Actually mean anything empty or void, and are often used, as here, for an idol. As Paul says, `An idol is nothing in the world' (1 Corinthians 7:4)."[14] H. P. Smith translated this place, "And do not turn aside after the nothings."[15]

"The Lord will not cast away his people" (1 Samuel 12:22). The great factor underlying a promise like this was the purpose of God as revealed to Abraham that through his Seed (singular), the Messiah, God would bless all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3). God's promise of the Messiah to be born of the posterity of Abraham absolutely required that God preserve and protect that posterity (Israel) until that goal was actually achieved in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unfortunately the Israelites took advantage of that promise by their countless rebellions.

"Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23). From this it is clear that Christians should never cease to pray for the Church (the true Israel).

In regard to this verse (1 Samuel 12:23), Willis observed that, "Samuel here reaffirms his intention to continue his role as a prophet, ... and priest in Israel, declaring that Israel's gaining a king will not interfere in this work."[16]

"If you do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king" (1 Samuel 12:25). "This probably looks forward to Saul's death at Gilboa."[17] It is the king not the prophet who receives this warning.