Samuel's Farewell

After Saul was made king at Gilgal, the aged prophet Samuel stood before all Israel and asked them to witness whether he had ever taken anyone's ox or ass or accepted a bribe; they agreed he had not. He recounted God's faithfulness from Moses to the judges and warned that asking for a king had been wrong. To confirm his words, he called on the LORD, who sent thunder and rain at wheat harvest. When the frightened people begged him to pray for them, Samuel told them not to fear, but to serve the LORD with all their heart, adding, 'God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you.'

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Strongest connections in Scripture

1 Samuel 12 2×

Key Passages

Witness Against Me

1 Samuel 12:1-5

Samuel lays his life open to examination, and the people confirm that he has led them with integrity.

A¹nd Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

² And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. ³ Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. ⁴ And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand. ⁵ And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

Only Fear the LORD

1 Samuel 12:16-25

After thunder at harvest humbles the people, Samuel promises to keep praying for them and urges wholehearted service.

N¹⁶ow therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.

¹⁷ Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. ¹⁸ So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. ¹⁹ And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. ²⁰ And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; ²¹ And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. ²² For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. ²³ Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: ²⁴ Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. ²⁵ But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.