Judgment of Thunder and Rain

Judgment of Thunder and Rain

1 Samuel 12:22 – Indeed, the LORD won’t abandon His people for the sake of His great name, for the LORD desires to make you a people for himself. 23 – Now as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. I’ll also instruct you in the way that is good and right.

Verse 24 – Only, fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Indeed, consider what great things he has done for you. 25 – But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

These were Samuel’s parting words to Israel after confirming Saul as their king. He testified in the presence of the people that he had never stolen or taken bribes from them. The people responded with agreement that Samuel had always been fair to them.

Samuel went on to pass judgment on them reminding them of their history of receiving blessing from the LORD only to return evil for blessing by forgetting the LORD. Samuel recounted for them all the people God had sent to deliver them from their enemies so they could live secure: Jerubbaal (Gideon), Barak, Jephthah and Samuel (himself).

Verse 12 – But when you saw that Nahash, king of the Ammonites, was coming to fight you, you told me, ‘No, let a king rule over us instead,’ even though the LORD your God was your king. 13 – “Now, here is the king you have chosen, the one whom you asked for. See, the Lord has appointed a king over you. 14 – If you fear the LORD, serve him, obey ,him, and don’t rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who rules over you will truly follow the LORD your God. 15 – But if you don’t obey the LORD and rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the LORD will turn against you as he did against your ancestors…

Samuel then called on the LORD to send thunder and rain upon their wheat harvest as a sign that asking for a king was a great evil in God’s sight. In the sight of all the people the sky grew dark, rumbling thunder began to echo all around them and rain began to fall. In great fear of the LORD and Samuel they spoke: “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so that we don’t die, because we made all our sins worse by asking for a king for ourselves.” – 1 Samuel 12:19.

As it continued to thunder and rain Samuel reaffirmed God’s intention to keep His covenant with them and make them His people and that he (Samuel) would never cease to pray for and instruct them in the good and right way.

Samuel’s words are for us today: Let us fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all our hearts and consider all the great things He has done for each of us!